The Evidence of the Valet

The next person to be interviewed by Inspector Poirot is the Ratchett’s valet, a pale, unexpressive Englishman named Edward Henry Masterman. He is thirty-nine years old and lives in Clerkenwell, England. The valet was shocked to learn of his employer’s death, of course. Masterman last saw Ratchett at about nine o’clock last night when he performed his usual duties: hung up Ratchett’s clothes, put his dental plate to soak in a glass of water, and saw that Ratchett was set for the night.

These are his usual nightly tasks, but last night Ratchett did seem rather upset over a letter he had been reading. Ratchett demanded to know if Masterman had put the letter in his compartment; he had not, but Ratchett swore at the valet and found fault with everything he did, which was not particularly unusual. When Poirot asks if Ratchett ever took something to help him sleep, Doctor Constantine listens alertly. Ratchett always had difficulty sleeping on trains and took something from a bottle which was labeled “The Sleeping Draught to be taken at bed-time.” Last night, Masterman poured the medicine into a glass as usual, but he did not see Ratchett drink it. Before leaving Ratchett for the night, he asked his employer when to waken him in the morning; Ratchett did not want to be disturbed until he rang for Masterman, something Ratchett often did. It was not unusual for Ratchett to stay in bed until lunch time.

Masterman unemotionally admits that Ratchett had enemies; he knows this because he heard Ratchett and MacQueen talking about some threatening letters. Masterman does not like Ratchett, though the man was a generous employer. When Poirot reveals Ratchett’s true identity, the impassive man finally shows some emotion, admitting that he is shocked at the revelation. After leaving Ratchett’s apartment, Masterman told MacQueen that Ratchett wanted to see him; then the valet went to his own compartment next to the dining car and read.

Masterman shares a compartment with a big Italian man from Chicago, though the two men did not talk much. At ten thirty, the Italian wanted to go to bed, so the conductor made up the beds. Masterson tried to sleep; however, he had a toothache and could not sleep until four o’clock in the morning. The Italian snored all night and never left the compartment. Masterman did not leave his compartment either, and he did not hear anything unusual, even though the train was exceptionally quiet because it had stopped.

Ratchett and MacQueen get along well, according to the valet, and Masterman has been with Ratchett for the past nine months, just after his previous employer left for East Africa. Poirot asks Masterman if he smokes a pipe; he does not. Masterman hesitates before saying that the American lady is distraught and claims to know everything about the murder. She has been demanding to talk to someone in authority, so Poirot tells Masterman to send her in next.