Death on the Nile: Chapter Five  Summary & Analysis

Poirot figures that Jacqueline has probably not gone to bed yet, so he goes looking and comes upon her sitting on some rocks near the hotel that have a view out on the Nile. He asks to speak with her briefly. She gives a little smile and guesses that he’s come to see her on behalf of Linnet. He responds that while he did recently speak to Linnet, he’s not acting on her behalf.

Jacqueline asks what, then, Poirot is doing talking to her. He dodges the question by asking her if she has ever seen him before. She says no, so he tells her about when he saw her with Simon Doyle at Chez Ma Tante. She remembers going to the restaurant, just as Poirot describes, but she says bitterly that much has changed since then. Poirot agrees. He entreats her, “Bury your dead!” and give up the past. Jacqueline counters that this would certainly be convenient for Linnet, but Poirot insists that he only has Jacqueline’s own best interest in mind. He says she must be suffering, but she disagrees and says that sometimes in following Linnet and Simon, she almost enjoys herself. “And that, Mademoiselle,” says Poirot, “is the worst of all.”

Jacqueline acknowledges that Poirot’s intentions are probably good but insists he doesn’t understand. “Simon is my world,” she tells him. Poirot replies, “I know that you loved him,” and Jacqueline takes offense at the way he says this. She insists their love was mutual and that her love as a friend for Linnet was equally genuine. The problem, according to her, was that Linnet was used to always getting whatever she wanted, and that this time what she wanted was Simon.

Poirot asks Jacqueline how Simon allowed himself to be taken in by Linnet. Jacqueline says it’s complicated—that Simon wasn’t marrying Linnet for the money. “There’s such a thing as glamour, Monsieur Poirot,” she says. She says Simon was so dazzled by Linnet that his shift from Jacqueline to Linnet was like the way a radiant sun obscures the moon. Linnet used her glamor to seduce Simon, who wouldn’t have fallen in love with her otherwise, according to Jacqueline.

After hearing Jacqueline’s explanation, Poirot observes, “That is what you think—yes,” causing Jacqueline to insist that Simon will always love her. She admits he hates her at the moment but adds, “He’d better be careful!” before showing Poirot a delicate-looking little pistol that she keeps with her in a silk bag. She insists that despite its dinky appearance, it can kill a person with one bullet, and that she’s a good shot.

Jacqueline reminisces to Poirot about her childhood in South Carolina, where her grandfather taught her how to shoot. She reveals that her father once killed a man in a duel over a woman. She talks about buying the pistol and how she couldn’t decide whether to kill Simon or Linnet—killing both would be “unsatisfactory.” Ultimately, Jacqueline discovers that just “wait[ing]” would be more fun—she realizes that the best way to get under Linnet’s skin is just to stalk her like she’s been doing. The best aspect of this tactic, as Jacqueline explains, is that there’s nothing Linnet can do to stop her, which is poisoning everything for Linnet.

Poirot insists that Jacqueline must give up on what she is doing. “Do not open your heart to evil,” he says. When Jacqueline is confused, he adds “Because—if you do—evil will come…” Jacqueline hesitates but ultimately says that there’s nothing Poirot can do to stop her. Poirot admits this is true, that if she “were willing to pay the price,” nothing could be done to prevent her from killing Linnet. Jacqueline says that she isn’t afraid of death because she has nothing left to live for. 

Jacqueline asks Poirot if he believes killing someone who hurt you is always wrong. Poirot responds that killing is “the unforgivable offence.” Jacqueline argues that that means Poirot should approve of her current plan—to stalk Linnet and Simon instead of killing them. She admits sometimes she dreams of stabbing Linnet or “to put my dear little pistol close against her head and then—just press with my finger.” But as Jacqueline is saying this, she’s suddenly startled and says “Oh!” Poirot asks her what’s the matter.

Jacqueline turns her head and stares into the shadows. She tells Poirot that she thought she saw someone standing nearby, but Poirot says they seem to be alone. Then, he says he’s already told her everything he wanted to and stands to go. Jacqueline asks Poirot if he understands why she can’t just give up her revenge as he suggested. He insists that there is always a chance to change direction and notes that Linnet, too, had the chance to choose not to do what she did. But after considering Poirot’s words, Jacqueline remains defiant. He shakes his head in dismay as he follows her back to the hotel.