After the funerals of Ackroyd and Mrs. Ferrars, Poirot calls Parker to his house. He reveals a relationship between Parker and a former drug-connected employer. Parker panics and confesses to listening at the door to gather information about the blackmail, to confirm the past was not catching up to him.

Poirot, Sheppard, and Caroline have lunch together. Caroline talks about Sheppard’s apparent weakness and lack of a strong character. Poirot responds by telling a story about a man who does not think about murder but has growing malice in him. When the opportunity arises, he kills and returns to the person he was before, but now he has the potential within him to kill again.

The American stranger is in custody, and the police want Sheppard to confirm it is the same person he met. Poirot and Sheppard meet the man, Charles Kent, who refuses to provide information until they say what the charges are. When they inform him about the murder of Ackroyd, he confirms he was at Fernly Park that night but was gone before the murder occurred.

Poirot produces the goose quill, which Kent recognizes. Poirot asks Charles where he was born and if it was in Kent. Kent neither confirms nor denies, but that is enough of an answer for Poirot.