Chapter Two opens in Assuan, Egypt. Mrs. Allerton, sitting outside the Cataract Hotel, notices Hercule Poirot. She points Poirot out to Tim, who sits up “in an unusually alert fashion” and asks, “What on earth’s he doing here?” (51). Mrs. Allerton responds, “Darling, you sound quite excited. Why do men enjoy crime so much?” (51).

Poirot is walking with Rosalie Otterbourne, who appears to be in a bad mood, and “prattling gently” (52). When Rosalie remarks that she finds Assuan gloomy because everyone is old, Poirot points out that there is one young man, Tim. Rosalie responds that she finds Tim conceited.

Rosalie makes an offhand remark about being uninterested in crime, and Poirot answers in mock solemnity that he is happy Rosalie has nothing to hide. In response, “just for a moment the sulky mask of her face was transformed as she shot him a swift questioning glance” (54). Poirot appears not to notice, and inquires after the health of Mrs. Otterbourne, who was not present at lunch. Rosalie says that her mother isn’t suited to Assuan and confirms that she and her mother will be Poirot’s fellow-passengers on the Nile cruise.