The Mystery of the Blue Train · Chapter
XXVIII: Poirot Plays the Squirrel explained
Poirot dines with M.
What happens
Poirot dines with M. Papopolous and his daughter Zia, then visits Lady Tamplin's villa to inform Lenox of Derek Kettering's arrest. Lenox proposes a new theory about the murder, suggesting someone could have boarded the train at Lyons. Later, at the Casino, Poirot overhears Mirelle pleading for time to get money from Papopolous. He then confronts Zia about her secret, and she reveals that the rubies were handed over to her father by a woman, and that the mysterious 'Marquis' wore a mask but had a young voice.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearances
Poirot plays the squirrel, feigning innocence while gathering information; Zia's secret about the rubies and the masked Marquis underscores layers of disguise and hidden identities.
Justice and Morality
Poirot's pursuit of the truth, his refusal to blackmail Zia, and his focus on the murderer rather than the jewels reflect a moral approach to justice.
Characters to notice
- Hercule Poirot
Plays the squirrel, orchestrating meetings and gathering information; visits Lady Tamplin's villa, dines with Papopolous, and confronts Zia.
- Lenox Tamplin
Receives news of Derek's arrest from Poirot; proposes a new theory about the murder involving someone boarding the train at Lyons.
- Derek Kettering
Arrested for the murder of his wife; Lenox is informed of this by Poirot.
- M. Papopolous
Dines with Poirot and Zia; later seen talking with Mirelle in the Casino hall; is in possession of the rubies.
- Zia
Dines with Poirot and her father; later reveals that the rubies were handed over by a woman and that the Marquis wore a mask but had a young voice.
- Mirelle
Seen talking with Papopolous in the Casino hall, pleading for time to get money.
Key passages
“What is to stop anyone swinging themselves on to the train when it stopped at Lyons? They could go straight to her compartment, strangle her, and take the rubies and drop off the train again without anyone being the wiser.”
Lenox suggests that the murderer could have boarded the train during the stop at Lyons, committed the crime, and then left unnoticed.
Lenox proposes a new theory that challenges the assumption that the killer was a passenger.
“I do not hold your secret over your head and threaten you with it.”
Poirot assures Zia that he will not use her secret as leverage against her.
Poirot demonstrates his ethical stance, refusing to blackmail Zia for information.