“I thought, perhaps, that by making him believe you knew, you might force him out into the open⁠—not necessarily by confession. He might try to silence you as he formerly silenced Mr. Ackroyd⁠—before you could act tomorrow morning.”

“A trap with myself as the bait! Merci, mon ami , but I am not sufficiently heroic for that.”

“Then I fail to understand you. Surely you are running the risk of letting the murderer escape by thus putting him on his guard?”

Poirot shook his head. “He cannot escape,” he said gravely. “There is only one way out⁠—and that way does not lead to freedom.”

“You really believe that one of those people here tonight committed the murder?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes, my friend.”