The ABC Murders

Alone with Hastings, Poirot laments that Megan Barnard was too observant to find the meeting comforting. He notes that he had an agenda and she saw through it. Poirot chuckles when he recalls the emotional dramas playing out before them, as they remind him of the events of his first adventure with Hastings, recounted in The Mysterious Affair at Styles when Poirot reunited an estranged couple by allowing one of them to be arrested as a decoy, drawing out the real killer. When Hastings rejects the idea that murder and romance may be related, Poirot points out that his friend has been humming a popular tune about a Swedish beauty, no doubt still consumed with thoughts of Thora Grey.

They are interrupted by Thora’s return, when she informs Poirot of the real circumstances of her departure. Lady Clarke fired her, despite her willingness to remain and organize Sir Carmichael’s papers. She claims she does not want to rely on Franklin Clarke’s “chivalry” to protect her from the truth (146). Hastings finds the gesture heroic, while Poirot calls it “calculation” (147). Musing to himself, Poirot realizes something about the conversation has reminded him of another detail, but he cannot recall it. He goes back to teasing Hastings, humming the song about the beautiful lady from Sweden.

Hastings and Poirot return to the Clarke estate, finding the house silent and somewhat gloomy, in keeping with the rainy weather. They meet Lady Clarke’s optimistic and brisk nurse, who refuses to actually admit her client’s condition is terminal, but admits that Lady Clarke is less impacted by the recent tragedy due to her medications. The nurse says the Clarke marriage was happy and expresses regret that Lady Clarke came to dislike Thora Grey.

They meet Lady Clarke, who expresses her gratitude and echoes Poirot’s sentiment that Franklin is impetuous and impulsive. Lady Clarke expresses regret that her medication and pain have made her unable to recall what she wanted to ask Poirot. When Poirot informs her Miss Grey saw no strangers, Lady Clarke insists this is a lie.

She goes on to indicate her further dislike, especially that her husband was too sentimental about Thora’s orphan status: “Said she was so brave and such a good worker. I dare say she did her work well! I don’t know where all this bravery came in!” (153). She says that Franklin could not argue with her desire to fire Thora, and that she prevented him from developing his own attachment to her. Lady Clarke explains that she saw an unremarkable person outside speaking to Miss Grey. Before she can say more, her pain overtakes her and she dismisses them.

On the train back to London, Hastings speculates that Thora may have had reasons for lying, but that she cannot possibly be cooperating with the killer. Poirot states that there are many possible reasons for the lie, but he denies suspecting Thora. Hastings, waxing poetic, suggests that life is hard for beautiful women like Miss Grey, but Poirot dismisses this, suggesting that Lady Clarke saw clearly where others may not have. Poirot admits that he enjoys the argument, particularly teasing Hastings about women: “Perhaps it is that I like to mount you on your romantic high horse, Hastings. You are always the true knight—ready to come to the rescue of damsels in distress” (156).

Poirot reflects that the case is full of family dramas: Alice Ascher’s unhappy marriage, the Barnard family’s grief and Megan’s passionate nature, and the Clarke family, with the dying mistress of the household, Sir Carmichael’s interest in Thora, and Franklin’s air of mystery as a man recently returned from abroad. Only the killer has woven these stories together, Poirot notes. At their lodgings, they find Donald Fraser waiting. He asks for Poirot’s help with a matter plaguing him personally. Donald reports that he has nightmares of being on the beach and finding a woman in white whom he has strangled—the woman is Megan. Before Poirot can explain the dream, the post arrives, with another letter from ABC instructing them that the next murder will be in Doncaster on September 11.

Hastings recalls “with the printed words jeering from the white stiff paper, the hunt was up once more” (161). Megan Barnard arrives, followed by Crome. Crome is unhappy and stiff when Franklin informs him of the civilian involvement, but he launches into a speech about how thorough the police resources will be. Catching the killer, he insists, will be inevitable. Franklin Clarke disabuses him of this idea, reminding him that a national horse race, the St. Leger, will take place in Doncaster that day. Crome departs, somewhat deflated, and Thora Grey enters, immediately seeking proximity to Franklin. He informs her of the letter’s contents.

As the group gathers again, Hastings feels pessimistic. Poirot urges them not to despair, that their collective knowledge may still prove significant. Franklin is dubious, but Poirot continues undeterred, insisting that each of them knows something, even if they do not know the significance of the details. He informs the group that Thora met a man on the day of the murder, which she at first denies, but then remembers. Thora recalls that he was a war veteran selling stockings door to door, which spurs Poirot to an epiphany. Megan’s mother had purchased stockings, and Megan confirms the man was a door-to-door salesman. Alice Ascher’s neighbor had accused Poirot of being just that type of salesman. Thora, somewhat wretchedly, declares: “He wasn’t the sort of man you’d notice” and Poirot responds:

You are quite right, mademoiselle. The whole secret of the murders lies there in your description of the murderer—for without a doubt he was the murderer! ‘He wasn’t the sort of man you’d notice.’ Yes—there is no doubt about it…You have described the murderer! (167).