Summary

This section focuses on Poirot's initial investigation into the murder.

After making arrangements for the collection of the passports of the various passengers/suspects and making plans to interview each of them in the dining car, Poirot conducts his first interrogation - of MacQueen, Ratchett's secretary. MacQueen explains that he worked for Ratchett as an interpreter as well as a secretary, saying that he (Ratchett) spoke no languages other than English. He (MacQueen) then surprises Poirot by not being surprised when Poirot tells him that Ratchett is dead, explaining that he (MacQueen) had had the feeling Ratchett was keeping secrets about himself and his past, and that Ratchett had been receiving threatening letters. When he shows a couple of the letters to Poirot, Poirot points out that each word in each letter was written by a different individual, apparently to prevent the identity of...