Death On The Nile

The passengers assemble in the dining-saloon for lunch. Everyone is in a somber mood, and Tim Allerton is particularly on edge. He explains to his mother: “What you don’t seem to realize is that it’s no joke being mixed up in a murder case...[e]veryone on this damned boat is under suspicion—you and I as well as the rest of them” (276). He mentions that Linnet’s pearls have been stolen, but vehemently insists that the theft of the pearls is not necessarily connected to the murder.

Poirot joins the Allertons at their table and orders a bottle of wine. Mrs. Allerton observes that Poirot always drinks wine, while Tim always has a whisky and soda and she tries different brands of mineral water. Her offhand remark seems to suggest a sudden thought to Poirot, but he does not articulate the thought.

Mrs. Allerton mentions that she hopes Simon is not too angry with Jackie for shooting him, and Poirot remarks to Tim: “You know, it is a pretty little problem of psychology, that. All the time that Mademoiselle Jacqueline was following them from place to place, he was absolutely furious; but now, when she has actually shot him, and wounded him dangerously—perhaps made him lame for life—all his anger seems to have evaporated” (279).