Summary

In this section, Poirot concludes his interviews with the passengers/suspects.

To M. Bouc's satisfaction, Poirot asks to see the Italian - Antonio Foscarelli, whom narration describes as talking at length about his life in America as an immigrant and a successful used car salesman. His recounting of his activities the night before tallies with that of Masterman (with whom Foscarelli shares a compartment). Also, he (Foscarelli) reveals that he only smokes cigarettes, and that he knows of Ratchett/Cassetti and the Armstrongs only by reputation. After he leaves, M. Bouc repeats his strong suspicions of the Italian, because of his beliefs about Italians in general - that they are a passionate people, prone to violence and equally prone to using the knife as a weapon when aroused. Poirot suggests that these beliefs are perhaps true, but adds that Foscarelli has no motive and...