The Mystery of the Blue Train · Chapter
An Unexpected Visitor explained
The Comte de la Roche is visited by the dancer Mirelle, who accuses Derek Kettering of murdering his wife and urges the Comte to go to the police.
What happens
The Comte de la Roche is visited by the dancer Mirelle, who accuses Derek Kettering of murdering his wife and urges the Comte to go to the police. The Comte remains skeptical and takes precautions, hiding a small package and later retrieving it to mail it, while noting that his villa has been searched by the police.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearances
The Comte instructs his servant to lie about his arrival date, and later uses a decoy to mislead the police. Mirelle's visit is also driven by her own hidden motives.
Justice and Morality
Mirelle accuses Derek Kettering of murder, but the Comte is more concerned with his own safety than with justice. The police investigation is shown as methodical but easily evaded by the Comte.
Characters to notice
- Comte de la Roche
The Comte is at his villa, finishing déjeuner and pondering his disrupted plans. He is visited by Mirelle, who accuses Derek Kettering of murder. He later takes precautions by hiding and mailing a package, and notes that his rooms have been searched by the police.
- Mirelle
Mirelle arrives at the Comte's villa in a fury, accusing Derek Kettering of murdering his wife and urging the Comte to inform the police. She claims to have proof and leaves after delivering her message.
- Derek Kettering
Mirelle accuses Derek Kettering of murdering his wife, claiming he boasted of it beforehand and traveled on the same train to kill her.
- Hipolyte Flavelle
Hipolyte is the Comte's manservant. He is instructed to lie about the Comte's arrival date and later reports being summoned to Nice under false pretenses, allowing the police to search the villa.
Key passages
“He was in the presence of a very angry woman, and an angry woman, as the Comte was well aware, always says more than is prudent, and is occasionally a source of profit to a levelheaded gentleman who keeps cool.”
The Comte recognized that Mirelle's anger would make her speak carelessly, potentially benefiting him if he remained calm.
Reflects the Comte's manipulative and calculating nature.
“They are excellent, our French police—excellent. Nothing escapes them.”
The Comte sarcastically acknowledges the thoroughness of the French police, who searched his room despite his precautions.
Highlights the cat-and-mouse game between the Comte and the authorities.