S05E05 - The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman

Poirot and Hastings are in their rooms enjoying the company of a near neighbour, Dr Hawker, when the medical man's housekeeper, Miss Rider, arrives with a message that a client, Count Foscatine, has rung him up crying out for help. Poirot and Hastings join the doctor as he rushes round to Foscatine's flat in Regent's Court.The lift attendant there is unaware of any problems, saying that Graves, the Count's man, left half an hour earlier with no indication that anything is wrong. The flat is locked but the manager of the building opens it for them. Inside, they find a table set for three people with the meals finished. The Count is alone and dead – his head crushed in by a small marble statue. Poirot is interested in what remains on the table. He then questions the kitchen staff at the top of the building who outline the meal served and what dirty plates were passed up to them. Poirot seems especially interested in the fact that little of the dessert was eaten. He also points out that after crying out for help on the phone, the man seemed to replace the receiver. The police arrive at the flat together with the return of the valet, Graves.