38. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman

Air date: 14/02/1993
Published: Tenth story in "Poirot Investigates" (1924)

Blackmail, boats, Hastings' love of cars - and even something of a love interest for Miss Lemon are all part of the mix in the next episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot.

The original short story is simpler, of course. Poirot and Hastings are dining with a friend, Dr Hawker, when he is called to the flat of one Count Foscatini, who has apparently rung saying someone has killed him!

The three go to the flat and Foscatini is, indeed, found dead, killed by a blow to the back of the head. The doctor remarks that death would have been virtually instantaneous - an immediate clue that someone is trying to lead everyone up the garden path (how could he have made the phone call?).

Foscatini's valet, Graves, reports how the previous day Foscatini had a visit from a Mr Ascanio. This man returned for dinner the following night. After serving them Graves had been given the night off. Not surprisingly, Ascanio is arrested, but denies even knowing Foscatini.

After we are told that an Italian ambassador has given Ascanio an alibi, Poirot deduces that Graves was the murderer. He had fabricated the story about Ascanio's visit. Foscatini was a blackmailer. After killing him (for his money) Graves had ordered meals down from the kitchen (did blocks of flats have their own kitchen service in those days?) and had eaten them, to create the impression of someone having dined with Foscatini that evening. Much is made of the fact that the rice souffle was not really touched (Graves couldn't manage it), and that Foscatini's teeth had not been stained by the black coffee that the evidence implied he had drunk.

The adaptation goes in rather less for such detailed clues, but adds a number of other features. Graves is first introduced (before the murder takes place) as an admirer of Miss Lemon. The story opens with Hastings visiting an Italian car dealer, where he is contemplating buying a new car. The dealer, Bruno Vizzini, turns out to be the man Foscatini was blackmailing.

Japp (who is not in the original, although he is referred to briefly by Poirot) has Ascanio arrested, shortly after the latter is seen burning some incriminating papers.

The finale takes place at Chichester, where Graves had earlier claimed he had a boat. The boat, in fact, belonged to Vizzini (Graves had been trying to impress Miss Lemon and Poirot). When Graves arrives and sees the police he attempts to escape, but is followed by Hastings in the car Vizzini had been driving. It's a while since we've seen a car-chase finale. This one ends with Hastings cornering Graves and delivering a blow that sends him into a stream. "You swine. That's for Miss Lemon!" he declares.