Marguerita Clayton

In the short story The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest, Marguerita Clayton is a the wife of Edward Clayton. A beautiful young woman. She had, unfortunately, also been as a "siren" to many men. In her past, a young man had shot himself because of her (although she insists it is not her fault). Two Italians had also fought a duel over her. Major Jack Rich is also in love with the married Marguerita.

Mrs Clayton is also a close friend of Lady Chatterton. After the murder of Edward Clayton, the police arrest Major Rich. Lady Chatterton brings Poirot to Mrs Clayton and asks him to help her friend. Mrs Clayton admits that she loves Major Rich and lately he had also begun to reciprocate. Moreover she acknowledges that she no longer loves her husband. Her husband probably suspected this. However, Mrs Clayton tells Poirot that she knows Rich very well and that he could not possibly have murdered her husband. At the same time, Mrs Clayton admits that she cannot see any flaw in the police evidence against Rich.

How Poirot resolves the mystery forms the main plot of the story.

In the expanded story, The Mystery of the Spanish Chest, the character retains the same name "Mrs Marguerita Clayton" and plays the same role.

Portrayals
n ITV's 1991 adaptation of Spanish Chest, the character's name is changed slightly to "Marguerite Clayton" but she plays essentially the same role. The part of Mrs Clayton is played by Caroline Langrishe.