Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie 
™
 MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS 
61
6 
THE EVIDENCE OF THE RUSSIAN PRINCESS 
“Let us hear what Pierre Michel has to say about this button,” he said. 
The Wagon Lit conductor was recalled. He looked at them inquiringly. 
M. Bouc cleared his throat. 
“Michel,” he said, “here is a button from your tunic. It was found in the American lady’s 
compartment. What have you to say for yourself about it?” 
The conductor’s hand went automatically to his tunic. “I have lost no button, Monsieur,” he 
said. “There must be some mistake.” 
“That is very odd.” 
“I cannot account for it, Monsieur.” The man seemed astonished, but not in any way guilty or 
confused. 
M. Bouc said meaningly: “Owing to the circumstances in which it was found, it seems fairly 
certain that this button was dropped by the man who was in Mrs. Hubbard’s compartment last 
night when she rang the bell.” 
“But, Monsieur, there was no one there. The lady must have imagined it.” 
“She did not imagine it, Michel. The assassin of M. Ratchett passed that way—
and dropped 
that button
.” 
As the significance of M. Bouc’s words became plain to him, Pierre Michel flew into a 
violent state of agitation. 
“It is not true, Monsieur; it is not true!” he cried. “You are accusing me of the crime. Me, I am 
innocent. I am absolutely innocent! Why should I want to kill a Monsieur whom I have never 
seen before?” 
“Where were you when Mrs. Hubbard’s bell rang?” 
“I told you, Monsieur, in the next coach talking to my colleague.” 
“We will send for him.” 
“Do so, Monsieur, I implore you, do so.” 
The conductor of the next coach was summoned. He immediately confirmed Pierre Michel’s 
statement. He added that the conductor from the Bucharest coach had also been there. The three 
of them had been discussing the situation caused by the snow. They had been talking some ten 
minutes when Michel fancied he heard a bell. As he opened the doors connecting the two 
coaches, they had all heard it plainly—a bell ringing repeatedly. Michel had run post-haste to 
answer it. 
“So you see, Monsieur, I am not guilty,” cried Michel anxiously. 
“And this button from a Wagon Lit tunic, how do you explain it?” 
“I cannot, Monsieur. It is a mystery to me. All my buttons are intact.” 
Both of the other conductors also declared that they had not lost a button; also that they had 
not been inside Mrs. Hubbard’s compartment at any time. 
“Calm yourself, Michel,” said M. Bouc, “and cast your mind back to the moment when you 
ran to answer Mrs. Hubbard’s bell. Did you meet anyone at all in the corridor?” 
“No, Monsieur.” 
“Did you see anyone going away from you down the corridor in the other direction?” 

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