Summary

The meaning of a key clue is revealed in this section, as Poirot confronts, and is con-fronted by, both the truth and more lies.

Narration describes how, at dinner, Poirot arranges for the Count and Countess Andrenyi to be delayed. After everyone else has left, he confronts them with the initialed handkerchief, saying it belongs to the Countess. When she denies it on the basis of the initial H embroidered on it not being hers, he then accuses her of having altered her passport - the Countess' real name, Poirot suggests, is not Elena but Helena. He also suggests that she is the younger sister of Mrs. Armstrong. At first, the Count denies the accusation but the Countess, whose exotic European accent suddenly disappears, tells him the time has come to stop lying, and she admits that what Poirot says is true - she...