Murder in the Mews Trivia Quiz

Answer: Guy Fawkes Day

Guy Fawkes Day observed the treasonous plot of Guy Fawkes to blow up the parliament building. It is on November 5th. Japp's remark was referring to the number of firecrackers being used. It would certainly cover up any sound of gunfire. The victim was killed by a gunshot.

Answer: The body fell from the chair unnaturally.

Actually the Doctor pointed out that the body was in the right position for having shot herself and slipped out of the chair. Special mention was made that it was nearly impossible for Mrs. Allen to have shot herself with the right hand. The gun was also wiped of fingerprints and loosely held in the victim's hand.

Answer: She was away visiting friends.

Miss Plenderleith was cool and efficient with her answers. She claimed to have arrived home and found the door locked. She was full of information but seemed to be holding something back. She had known Mrs. Allen for five years and met her as Mrs. Allen was leaving India. She also informed them that Mrs. Allen had lost her daughter when the child was three years old.

Answer: Gas fires

Poirot noted that there was a gas fire in Mrs. Allen's sitting room, and the fire in the downstairs was a real wood fire. Japp became increasingly irritated with Poirot's interest in the mundane. He also noted the watch on Mrs. Allen's right wrist and her writing bureau. Japp was additionally amused by Poirot's investigation into the dust bins.

Answer: Half of a man's cuff link

The piece of cuff link was found at the crime scene. They would later discover that it belonged to Colonel Eustace who visited Mrs. Allen the previous night. Turkish cigarettes were also found in the room, but neither of the two women smoked that brand. It would be another clue to be linked with Colonel Eustace later.

Answer: Reserved

Japp described Laverton-West as a "bit of a stuffed fish" and a "boiled owl". No one seemed to like the up and coming politician, but Mrs. Allen was devoted to him. Mr. Laverton-West mentioned that he was trying to keep a stiff upper lip despite the loss of his fiance. His alibi was very weak, but Japp really never suspected him.

Answer: They were inaudible.

Mrs. James Hogg, the wife of the third chauffeur, told Japp about the overheard conversation. However, no one could remember what Mrs. Allen was wearing. This led Japp to believe that the conversation was faked for people to believe that she was there when she was not. They clearly heard Colonel Eustace's words of: "Think it over and let me know." and "All right. So long."

Answer: The golf clubs

Miss Plenderleith took great care to draw attention to the brief case. Later she went golfing and threw the case into the lake. Actually Poirot would point out that she was deliberately discarding the golf clubs, the actual clue. They belonged to Barbara Allen and revealed that she was actually left-handed.

This fact was also supported by the arrangement of her writing desk and her watch being on her right wrist.

Answer: Mrs. Allen had an illegitimate child.

Mrs. Allen was never married, but she used the widow story to cover up her child's lack of married parents. With her marriage to a snobby MP, it would be extremely important to keep this fact quiet. She was frequently overdrawn from her bank account. Japp did wonder why the blackmailer would kill his victim, but he suspected the Colonel anyway.

Answer: Mrs. Allen

Mrs. Allen finally realized that by marrying Laverton-West that she would be exposing him to blackmail as well. Loving him too much, she took her own life. Miss Plenderleith discovered the body and believed Colonel Eustace was to blame for Mrs. Allen's decision.

She took the cuff link and cigarettes to the room, discarded the suicide note, and disguised the suicide to look like a murder. Poirot's interest in dust bins was that he could not find the blotting paper that the suicide note was written on.

It was burned that morning by the wood fire in the downstairs room by Miss Plenderleith. Colonel Eustace would face other crimes that he was responsible for.