The Evidence of the Russian Princess
- The Wagon Lit conductor is called in and his uniform is examined. He's not missing a button! The plot thickens.
- Pierre Michel also has an alibi: he was talking with other conductors when Mrs. Hubbard rang her bell.
- Poirot concludes that button might belong to the person in Mrs. Hubbard's room, who ran out and then back – into his or her own room. That means the murderer is still on the train.
- Does that mean there was only one murderer? Well, it's not so simple.
- Next on the interview list is Princess Dragomiroff. Poirot asks her to write down her name and address, but she has Poirot do it instead. Next, the questions:
- After dinner, Princess Dragomiroff went to bed and read until 11 p.m. She had some pain, so at 12:45 a.m. she rang for her maid and got a massage. Some time later the maid left. The train had stopped.
- The maid, Hildegarde Schmidt, has been with her for 15 years.
- Also, a revelation: Princess Dragomiroff was BFF with Linda Arden, the mother of Sonia Armstrong, who was Daisy's mother. Sonia was the princess's goddaughter. Coincidence? Hmm.
- We learn that Linda Arden is still alive, living in retirement. There is a second daughter, too, though the Princess says she has lost touch with her.
- When Poirot tells her that Ratchett was connected with the Armstrong case, she says the murder is "an entirely admirable happening" (2.6.90).
- She does not wear a red silk kimono.
- Princess Dragomiroff asks for Poirot's name, and says she recognizes him. Then she says, "This is Destiny" (2.6.104).
- Poirot wonders what in the world she meant by that.