Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie 
™
 MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS 
60
about 9.40 
Valet leaves Ratchett with sleeping draught beside him. 
about 10.00 
MacQueen leaves Ratchett. 
about 10.40 
Greta Ohlsson sees Ratchett (last seen alive). N.B. He was awake reading a book. 
0.10 
Train leaves Vincovci (late). 
0.30 
Train runs into a snowdrift. 
0.37 
Ratchett’s bell rings. Conductor answers it. Ratchett says: “
Ce n’est rien. Je me suis trompé
.” 
about 1.17 
Mrs. Hubbard thinks man is in her carriage. Rings for conductor. 
M. Bouc nodded approval. 
“That is very clear,” he said. 
“There is nothing there that strikes you as at all odd?” 
“No, it seems all quite clear and aboveboard. It seems quite plain that the crime was 
committed at 1.15. The evidence of the watch shows us that, and Mrs. Hubbard’s story fits in. 
For my mind, I will make a guess at the identity of the murderer. I say, my friend, that it is the 
big Italian. He comes from America—from Chicago—and remember an Italian’s weapon is the 
knife, and he stabs not once but several times.” 
“That is true.” 
“Without a doubt, that is the solution of the mystery. Doubtless he and this Ratchett were in 
this kidnapping business together. Cassetti is an Italian name. In some way Ratchett did on him 
what they call the double-cross. The Italian tracks him down, sends him warning letters first, and 
finally revenges himself upon him in a brutal way. It is all quite simple.” 
Poirot shook his head doubtfully. 
“It is hardly so simple as that, I fear,” he murmured. 
“Me, I am convinced it is the truth,” said M. Bouc, becoming more and more enamoured of 
his theory. 
“And what about the valet with the toothache who swears that the Italian never left the 
compartment?” 
“That is the difficulty.” 
Poirot twinkled. 
“Yes, it is annoying, that. Unlucky for your theory, and extremely lucky for our Italian friend 
that M. Ratchett’s valet should have had the toothache.” 
“It will be explained,” said M. Bouc with magnificent certainty. 
Poirot shook his head again. 
“No, it is hardly so simple as that,” he murmured again. 

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