Summary

In this section, Poirot begins the process of interviewing the passenger/suspects and gathering the information that eventually will lead him to the truth.

The first witness inter-viewed is the Conductor, Pierre Michel, described by M. Bouc as being French, good at his job, and perhaps not too bright. When Michel comes in, he immediately asks for (and receives) assurances that no one considers him to have been negligent in his duty. Poirot then asks a series of questions, beginning with confirmations of identity (to put the nervous Michel at ease), and continuing with questions of the chain of events the night before. These include Ratchett's ringing of his bell and answering Michel in French, the nervous ringing of Mrs. Hubbard, the later ringing of the Princess Dragomiroff, Poirot's appearances in the corridor, and the appearance of the woman in the silk kimono also...