# V: Mrs. Renauld’s Story explained — The Murder on the Links > Chapter companion for The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie. ## What happens Mrs. Renauld recounts the night of the murder, describing two masked men who bound her and forced her husband into the dressing-room before taking him away. She reveals that her husband had been anxious for about ten days but had not confided in her. The investigators note a broken wristwatch that still runs, and Mrs. Renauld identifies her husband's body before fainting. Poirot, initially suspicious, is convinced of her genuine grief. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Appearance Mrs. Renauld's initial composure and the false beards of the attackers underscore the theme of deceptive appearances, which Poirot later questions. ### Love and Sacrifice Mrs. Renauld's emotional breakdown upon seeing her husband's body reveals deep love and grief, altering Poirot's perspective. ### Crime and Its Consequences The detailed recounting of the murder and its aftermath emphasizes the immediate and lasting impact of the crime on the victim's family. ## Character check-ins ### Mrs. Renauld Provides a detailed account of the attack, shows strong self-control, and faints upon identifying her husband's body. ### Hercule Poirot Observes the scene, examines the wristwatch, and revises his initial suspicion after witnessing Mrs. Renauld's genuine grief. ### Captain Hastings Accompanies Poirot and the magistrate, noting Poirot's zigzag ascent and his reaction to Mrs. Renauld's fainting. ### M. Hautet Leads the questioning of Mrs. Renauld and expresses concern for her well-being during the identification. ### M. Bex Discovers the broken wristwatch and points out the significance of the hands pointing to seven o'clock. ### Dr. Durand Attends to Mrs. Renauld on the couch and assists her during the identification of the body. ## Key lines > I am an imbecile, my friend! If ever there was love and grief in a woman’s voice, I heard it then. My little idea was all wrong. Eh bien! I must start again! Poirot admits his earlier suspicion was mistaken after hearing the genuine emotion in Mrs. Renauld's cry, and resolves to begin his investigation anew. _Poirot's self-correction highlights his reliance on psychological insight over initial assumptions._ > The hands of the watch point to seven o'clock! M. Bex is shocked to find that the broken wristwatch shows seven o'clock, though it is only five, suggesting a clue. _The watch's discrepancy becomes a point of investigation, though it is later explained as a gain in time._ > Paul tried to break away to come to me. I saw his agonized eyes. He turned to his captors. ‘I must speak to her,’ he said. Then, coming to the side of the bed, ‘It is all right, Eloise,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid. I shall return before morning.’ Mrs. Renauld describes how her husband attempted to comfort her despite being under threat, showing his concern for her even in danger. _This moment underscores the couple's bond and adds emotional weight to the narrative._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/v-mrs-renauld-s-story - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters