Chapter 7 Summary

Hastings starts to realize how sick Poirot is. This also makes him realize that his role in the investigation will be more so than usual. Hastings tries to understand the scientific experiments that Judith and Dr. Franklin are conducting. Hastings becomes more interested, however, when he overhears a conversation between Franklin and Poirot about the ordeal bean Franklin is testing.

Franklin tells Poirot the bean is thought to kill the guilty and spare the innocent in certain African tribes. Franklin suggests that the world could do without 80% of the population.

Hastings decides to speak with Judith about her relationship with Allerton. It doesn't go well. Judith gets angry and tells her father that she is an adult and that he shouldn't meddle in her affairs. Nurse Craven comes along after Judith leaves and they talk about Mrs. Franklin's health. Nurse Craven asks if...