# VII: The Mysterious Madame Daubreuil explained — The Murder on the Links > Chapter companion for The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie. ## What happens Poirot and Hastings observe Giraud's meticulous search for clues, then visit the mysterious Madame Daubreuil, who is questioned about her relationship with the murdered M. Renauld. She denies knowing anything, but her daughter Marthe later runs after Poirot to ask if anyone is suspected. Poirot evasively mentions two unnamed Chileans, and Hastings is captivated by Marthe's beauty. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Appearance Madame Daubreuil's charming and helpless demeanor contrasts with her evasive answers; Poirot notes the discrepancy between appearance and reality. ### Psychology and Deduction Poirot's dissatisfaction with the straightforward explanation and his focus on the wrist watch and other inconsistencies highlight his deductive method. ## Character check-ins ### Hercule Poirot Criticizes Giraud's methods, examines footprints in the flower bed, and leads the interview with Madame Daubreuil. ### Captain Hastings Defends Giraud's thoroughness, is captivated by Marthe Daubreuil's beauty, and recalls their past case. ### M. Giraud Crawls on all fours searching for clues; Poirot compares him to a human foxhound. ### Madame Daubreuil The mysterious neighbor; questioned about her relationship with M. Renauld, she denies knowing anything and is offended by the magistrate's insinuations. ### Marthe Daubreuil Beautiful and anxious; runs after Poirot to ask about suspects, and later appears frightened when the magistrate visits. ### M. Hautet Examining magistrate; leads the questioning of Madame Daubreuil with calculated brutality. ## Key lines > At last you have seen the detective you admire—the human foxhound! Is it not so, my friend? Poirot teases Hastings for admiring Giraud's dogged, physical search methods. _Poirot contrasts his own intellectual approach with Giraud's brute-force investigation._ > Mon ami, a clue of two feet long is every bit as valuable as one measuring two millimetres! Poirot argues that the size of a clue doesn't determine its importance. _Poirot defends his discovery of the lead-piping against Hastings's romantic notion of tiny clues._ > Because of the wrist watch that is two hours fast. And then there are several curious little points that do not seem to fit in. Poirot is troubled by the fast wrist watch and other inconsistencies in the case. _Poirot's dissatisfaction stems from details that contradict the apparent straightforwardness of the crime._ > A man tells to his mistress what he does not always tell to his wife. The magistrate suggests that Renauld might have confided in his mistress more than in his wife. _M. Hautet uses this blunt remark to pressure Madame Daubreuil into revealing information._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/vii-the-mysterious-madame-daubreuil - 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