After the mysterious fire in his laboratory, where he was developing a synthetic rubber called “Astropene”, Sir Reuben Astwell takes the file home. Returning from dinner with Poirot and his friends Hastings and Charles Leverson, he overhears Lily, his wife’s lady-in-waiting, rummaging through the “Astropene” folder. He sends her back. The next day, Sir Reuben is assassinated. Poirot finds a piece of Lily’s dress in the garden, while Charles is caught trying to remove a bloodstain from his shirt. He is arrested, but Lady Astwell is convinced of his innocence…
