no motive for his murder; the telephone call to Adams was to confirm if their deception had yet to be exposed; the pince-nez belong to Ellis, used in a disguise that she and Wilkinson wore to keep their hotel meetings secret; the gold case was created a week before the murder, not nine months as its inscription implied - Wilkinson had it made under a false name and then sent Ellis to collect it; a corner of a page in Adams' letter was torn by Wilkinson, changing the word "she" to "he", to imply that a man hired Adams. Poirot reveals that the butler stole the missing money, whom Marsh had witnessed entering Regent Gates to hide it elsewhere; his disappearance was because he panicked when the police sought another suspect. Wilkinson is arrested and writes to Poirot from prison about wishing an audience for her hanging, surprisingly evincing no anger at being foiled by him - nor any remorse. Characters Hercule Poirot - The famed Belgian detective. Drawn into the case, after being asked by Wilkinson to aid her in getting a divorce from her husband. Captain Hastings - Poirot's friend and assistant on the case. He is the narrator of the story. Inspector Japp - The investigating officer for the case. Lord Edgware - The first victim of the case. A wealthy English peer with a harsh personality, who is a noted collector of objects d'art. Carlotta Adams - An American impersonator conducting a tour in London and Paris. Hired to impersonate Edgware's wife by an unknown employer. Donald Ross - A young actor who attends the dinner party Wilkinson joins. Jane Wilkinson - A beautiful but amoral American actress and Edgware's estranged wife. Geraldine Marsh - Edgware's daughter from his first marriage. Captain Ronald Marsh - Edgware's nephew and heir to his title. Genevieve "Jenny" Driver - Adams' friend in London. Bryan Martin - A successful actor who worked with Wilkinson and was recently in love with her. Miss Carroll - Edgware's housekeeper. Alton - Edgware's butler. Ellis - Wilkinson's personal maid at her new accommodations. Duke of Merton - A devout Anglo-Catholic, and the current love of Jane Wilkinson, whom he plans to marry. Dowager Duchess of Merton - The Duke's mother, vehemently opposed to his planned marriage to Jane Wilkinson. Alternative title Lord Edgware Dies is alternatively titled Thirteen at Dinner. This second title, used