Hercule Poirot and Mirelle Milesi in “Unfinished Business”

Hercule Poirot

May Poirot sit, signora? He wishes to tell to you a little story.

I despise fiction.

Hercule Poirot

Ah. But this little story, it is true. It is about Monsieur Rufus Van Aldin, a man of authority accustomed to acquiring whatever he wants whenever he wants it. But he is not able to secure the divorce of his daughter, Ruth, without the evidence of the adultery of his son-in-law, Monsieur Derek Kettering. Alors, he learns that his son-in-law plans to join his daughter, Ruth, on the Blue Train.

I don't know any of these people.

Hercule Poirot

And, you know, he does a thing most extraordinary. He sends his lover on the train, also, to offer herself to Monsieur Derek Kettering. Et quel cauchemar. The plan, it fails, no? Monsieur Kettering proves immune to her powerful charms because he has a secret that nobody else knows.

He loves his wife.

Hercule Poirot

C'est ça. Why did you enter the compartment of Madame Kettering?

That was weakness. I wanted to see her things.

Hercule Poirot

But while you were in there, you found and kept the page of a letter concerning the wife of Monsieur Van Aldin. And reading it at dinner, it naturally upset you. But you resolved to see the woman for yourself.

I was curious to see what would be my fate should I ever marry Rufus. She was convinced that I was her daughter. Color-blind as well as mad. However, it seemed cruel to disabuse her. Her life has been sufficiently unfortunate.

Hercule Poirot

Well, that was kind.

I've spent most of my life being kind, monsieur. Mostly to men of about your age. And look where it has got me. Whoring for no pay. Life. Grossly overrated, I find.