# Captain Hastings — The Murder on the Links character guide > Captain Hastings in The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Arthur Hastings, Hastings **First appearance:** 0002-i-a-fellow-traveller ## Snapshot Poirot's loyal English friend and narrator, whose romantic heart and hasty theories make him the perfect foil for the detective's patient reasoning. ## Who they are Hastings accompanies Poirot to France and promptly falls for two young women in as many days, a weakness Poirot teases mercilessly. He is brave, decent, and hopelessly impetuous, forever proposing solutions that Poirot demolishes with a sigh and a 'mon ami.' His running commentary gives the investigation its human texture, and his misreadings of the case let readers test their own deductions against the master's. ## Relationships ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _friendship_ Captain Hastings is Poirot's loyal friend and companion, assisting him in the investigation and providing a narrative perspective. ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _friendship_ Captain Hastings is Poirot's loyal friend and companion, assisting him in the investigation and providing a narrative perspective. ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _friendship_ Captain Hastings is Poirot's loyal friend and companion, assisting him in the investigation and providing a narrative perspective. ## In the story ### [The Murder on the Links](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/the-murder-on-the-links) Narrator of the chapter; meets a girl on the train and accompanies Poirot to the crime scene. ### [I: A Fellow Traveller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/i-a-fellow-traveller) Narrator of the chapter; traveling from Paris to London, shares rooms with Poirot, and engages in conversation with a young actress on the train. ### [II: An Appeal for Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/ii-an-appeal-for-help) Hastings accompanies Poirot, engaging in debates about detective work and feeling optimistic about the trip. ### [At the Villa Geneviève](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/iii-at-the-villa-genevi-ve) Accompanies Poirot and expresses impatience at Poirot's unspoken concerns. ### [IV: The Letter Signed "Bella"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/iv-the-letter-signed-bella) Accompanies Poirot and observes the investigation, noting Poirot's peculiarities and the discovery of the cheque fragment. ### [V: Mrs. Renauld’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/v-mrs-renauld-s-story) Accompanies Poirot and the magistrate, noting Poirot's zigzag ascent and his reaction to Mrs. Renauld's fainting. ### [VI: The Scene of the Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/vi-the-scene-of-the-crime) Accompanies Poirot and M. Bex to the crime scene; is initially impressed by Giraud's efficiency but vexed by Poirot's apparent lack of progress. ### [VII: The Mysterious Madame Daubreuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/vii-the-mysterious-madame-daubreuil) Defends Giraud's thoroughness, is captivated by Marthe Daubreuil's beauty, and recalls their past case. ### [VIII: An Unexpected Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/viii-an-unexpected-meeting) Narrates the chapter; explores the grounds and meets Cinderella, whom he reluctantly shows the crime scene. ### [IX: M. Giraud Finds Some Clues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/ix-m-giraud-finds-some-clues) Observes the proceedings and asks Auguste about his boots, but gains no useful information. ### [X: Gabriel Stonor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/x-gabriel-stonor) Narrator present in the room, observing the proceedings. ### [XI: Jack Renauld](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xi-jack-renauld) Confesses to taking a young lady to see the body and forgetting to lock the shed door, leading to the dagger's disappearance. ### [XII: Poirot Elucidates Certain Points](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xii-poirot-elucidates-certain-points) Engages in discussion with Poirot, proposing theories about the open door and Mrs. Renauld's possible knowledge. ### [XIII: The Girl with the Anxious Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xiii-the-girl-with-the-anxious-eyes) Reflects on his meeting with the mysterious girl, denies romantic interest, and later attempts to visit her at the Hôtel du Phare, only to find she is not there. ### [XIV: The Second Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xiv-the-second-body) Observes Giraud's methods and questions him about the case, noting the discovery of a woman's hair on the dagger. ### [XV: A Photograph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xv-a-photograph) Meets Poirot at the station, informs him of the second murder, and later recognizes the photograph of Madame Daubreuil. ### [XVII: We Make Further Investigations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xvii-we-make-further-investigations) Recalls the Beroldy case and jumps to the conclusion that Madame Daubreuil is guilty, but Poirot corrects him. ### [XVIII: Giraud Acts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xviii-giraud-acts) Accompanies Poirot, questions his methods, and observes the arrest and interview with Marthe. ### [XIX: I Use My Grey Cells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xix-i-use-my-grey-cells) Initially convinced of Jack's guilt, but later has a sudden insight about Georges Conneau. ### [XX: An Amazing Statement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xx-an-amazing-statement) Presents his own reconstruction of the crime involving Georges Conneau, which Poirot critiques as overly dramatic and inaccurate. ### [XXI: Hercule Poirot on the Case!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxi-hercule-poirot-on-the-case) Listens to Poirot's exposition, expresses admiration, and learns the truth behind the case. ### [XXII: I Find Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxii-i-find-love) Declares his love for Bella Duveen, helps her escape from Poirot, and later confronts her about the murder. ### [XXIII: Difficulties Ahead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxiii-difficulties-ahead) Hastings is anxious and conflicted, having devised an alibi for Bella but fearing Poirot's countermoves and the moral implications for Jack Renauld. ### [XXIV: “Save Him!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxiv-save-him) Accompanies Poirot, urges the dagger point, and feels heavy-hearted about Bella's potential guilt. ### [An Unexpected Denouement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxv-an-unexpected-denouement) Present at the examination, he observes the proceedings with shock and recognizes Bella as the girl from Jack's photograph, not Cinderella. ### [XXVI: I Receive a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxvi-i-receive-a-letter) Receives and reads Dulcie's confessional letter, then confronts Poirot about his deception. ### [XXVII: Jack Renauld's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxvii-jack-renauld-s-story) Accompanies Poirot during the stakeout and interacts with Cinderella. ### [XXVIII: Journey’s End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxviii-journey-s-end) Chronicles the events and becomes engaged to Dulcie Duveen, whom he calls Cinderella. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/captain_hastings - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters