Summary

In Chapter 1, Poirot began to investigate the case. He spoke first to Sir Montague Depleach, the lawyer who had represented Caroline in her trial. Depleach said the defense argument was that Amyas had committed suicide. However, that explanation was not convincing because Amyas was a “great blustering, vivid sort of chap” (14) who generally seemed to enjoy life. Depleach explained Amyas was not the type of person who was likely to just kill himself. Depleach added that he knew the case was lost because Caroline refused to defend herself.

When Poirot asked Depleach if he thought Caroline was guilty, Depleach indicated that he thought they were taking that for granted. When Poirot asked again, Depleach said he thought she was guilty because of the evidence against her. She and her husband, who was a famous painter, had fought often, mostly because he had...