Chapter 11, The Motive and Chapter 12, Ellen Summary

As Chapter 11 begins, Poirot explains that he deduced Nick's secret when he learned of Seton's death from the morning paper. Nick said she heard the news on the radio. Even now, she wishes that she had been killed since her fiancé is dead. Nick says she met Seton a year ago and became engaged after Christmas. They kept the engagement a secret because Seton's uncle, Sir Matthew Seton, hated women and wouldn't want Michael to marry. Nick didn't even tell Freddie, and she doesn't think Freddie guessed.

Sir Matthew Seton died a week ago, but Nick still felt like she shouldn't tell anyone about her engagement. She admits that she hinted to one person, and Poirot begins questioning her about Charles Vyse, revealing that Mrs. Croft told him about Charles's feelings for Nick...