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rs；　I　never　thought　of　that。〃　

Mason　seemed　a　little　flurried　by　the　suggestion。　

〃Ah！〃　M。　Carrege　passed　lightly　to　another　subject。　〃Your　mistress　later　requested　the　conductor　not　to　rouse　her　early　in　the　morning。　Was　that　a　likely　thing　for　her　to　do；　do　you　think？〃　

〃Oh　yes；　sir。　The　mistress　never　ate　any　breakfast　and　she　didn't　sleep　well　at　nights；　so　that　she　liked　sleeping　on　in　the　morning。〃　

Again　M。　Carrege　passed　to　another　subject。　

〃Amongst　the　luggage　there　was　a　scarlet　morocco　case；　was　there　not？〃　he　asked。　〃Your　mistress's　jewel…case？〃　

〃Yes；　sir。〃　

〃Did　you　take　that　case　to　the　Ritz？〃　

〃Me　take　the　mistress's　jewel…case　to　the　Ritz？　Oh　no；　indeed；　sir。〃　Mason's　tones　were　horrified。　

〃You　left　it　behind　you　in　the　carriage？〃　

〃Yes；　sir。〃　

〃Had　your　mistress　many　jewels　with　her；　do　you　know？〃　

〃A　fair　amount；　sir；　made　me　a　bit　uneasy　sometimes；　I　can　tell　you；　with　those　nasty　tales　you　hear　of　being　robbed　in　foreign　countries。　They　were　insured；　I　know；　but　all　the　same　it　seemed　a　frightful　risk。　Why；　the　rubies　alone；　the　mistress　told　me；　were　worth　several　hundred　thousand　pounds。〃　

〃The　rubies！　What　rubies？〃　barked　Van　Aldin　suddenly。　

Mason　turned　to　him。　

〃I　think　it　was　you　who　gave　them　to　her；　sir；　not　very　long　ago。〃　

〃My　God！〃　cried　Van　Aldin。　〃You　don't　imply　she　had　those　rubies　with　her？　I　told　her　to　leave　them　at　the　Bank。〃　

Mason　gave　once　more　the　discreet　cough　which　was　apparently　part　of　her　stock…in…trade　as　a　lady's　maid。　This　time　it　expressed　a　good　deal。　It　expressed　far　more　clearly　than　words　could　have　done；　that　Mason's　mistress　had　been　a　lady　who　took　her　own　way。　

〃Ruth　must　have　been　mad；〃　muttered　Van　Aldin。　〃What　on　earth　could　have　possessed　her？〃　

M。　Carrege　in　turn　gave　vent　to　a　cough；　again　a　cough　of　significance。　It　riveted　Van　Aldin's　attention　on　him。　

〃For　the　moment；〃　said　M。　Carrege；　addressing　Mason；　〃I　think　that　is　all。　If　you　will　go　into　the　next　room；　Mademoiselle；　they　will　read　over　to　you　the　questions　and　answers；　and　you　will　sign　accordingly。〃　

Mason　went　out　escorted　by　the　clerk；　and　Van　Aldin　said　immediately　to　the　Magistrate：　

〃Well？〃　

M。　Carrege　opened　a　drawer　in　his　desk；　took　out　a　letter；　and　handed　it　across　to　Van　Aldin。　

〃This　was　found　in　Madame's　handbag。〃
〃Chère　amie〃　（the　letter　ran）；　
〃I　will　obey　you；　I　will　be　prudent；　discreet　…　all　those　things　that　a　lover　most　hates。　Paris　would　perhaps　have　been　unwise；　but　the　Isles　d'Or　are　far　away　from　the　world；　and　you　may　be　assured　that　nothing　will　leak　out。　It　is　like　you　and　your　divine　sympathy　to　be　so　interested　in　the　work　on　famous　jewels　that　I　am　writing。　It　will；　indeed；　be　an　extraordinary　privilege　to　actually　see　and　handle　these　historic　rubies。　I　am　devoting　a　special　passage　to　'Heart　of　Fire。'　My　wonderful　one！　Soon　I　will　make　up　to　you　for　all　those　sad　years　of　separation　and　emptiness。
〃Your　ever…adoring；　
〃Armand。〃　

Chapter　15　

THE　TE　DE　LA　ROCHE

Van　Aldin　read　the　letter　through　in　silence。　His　face　turned　a　dull　angry　crimson。　The　men　watching　him　saw　the　veins　start　out　on　his　forehead；　and　his　big　hands　clench　themselves　unconsciously。　He　handed　back　the　letter　without　a　word。　M。　Carrege　was　looking　with　close　attention　at　his　desk；　M。　Caux's　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　ceiling；　and　M。　Hercule　Poirot　was　tenderly　brushing　a　speck　of　dust　from　his　coat　sleeve。　With　the　greatest　tact　they　none　of　them　looked　at　Van　Aldin。　

It　was　M。　Carrege；　mindful　of　his　status　and　his　duties；　who　tackled　the　unpleasant　subject。　

〃Perhaps；　Monsieur；〃　he　murmured；　〃you　are　aware　by　whom　…　er　…　this　letter　was　written？〃　

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Van　Aldin　heavily。　

〃Ah？〃　said　the　Magistrate　inquiringly。　

〃A　scoundrel　who　calls　himself　the　te　de　la　Roche。〃　

There　was　a　pause；　then　M。　Poirot　leaned　forward；　straightened　a　ruler　on　the　judge's　desk；　and　addressed　the　millionaire　directly。　

〃M。　Van　Aldin；　we　are　all　sensible；　deeply　sensible；　of　the　pain　it　must　give　you　to　speak　of　these　matters；　but　believe　me；　Monsieur；　it　is　not　the　time　for　concealments。　If　justice　is　to　be　done；　we　must　know　everything。　If　you　will　reflect　a　little　minute　you　will　realize　the　truth　of　that　clearly　for　yourself。〃　

Van　Aldin　was　silent　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　almost　reluctantly　he　nodded　his　head　in　agreement。　

〃You　are　quite　right；　M。　Poirot；〃　he　said。　〃Painful　as　it　is；　I　have　no　right　to　keep　anything　back。〃　

The　missary　gave　a　sigh　of　relief；　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　adjusted　a　pince…nez　on　his　long　thin　nose。　

〃Perhaps　you　will　tell　us　in　your　own　words；　M。　Van　Aldin；〃　he　said；　〃all　that　you　know　of　this　gentleman。〃　

〃It　began　eleven　or　twelve　years　ago　…　in　Paris。　My　daughter　was　a　young　girl　then；　and　of　foolish；　romantic　notions；　like　all　young　girls　are。　Unknown　to　me；　she　made　the　acquaintance　of　this　te　de　la　Roche。　You　have　heard　of　him；　perhaps？〃　

The　missary　and　Poirot　nodded　in　assent。　

〃He　calls　himself　the　te　de　la　Roche；〃　continued　Van　Aldin；　〃but　I　doubt　if　he　has　any　right　to　the　title。〃　

〃You　would　not　have　found　his　name　in　the　Almanac　de　Gotha；〃　agreed　the　missary。　

〃I　discovered　as　much；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃The　man　was　a　good…looking；　plausible　scoundrel；　with　a　fatal　fascination　for　women。　Ruth　was　infatuated　with　him；　but　I　soon　put　a　stop　to　the　whole　affair。　The　man　was　no　better　than　a　mon　swindler。〃　

〃You　are　quite　right；〃　said　the　missary。　〃The　te　de　la　Roche　is　well　known　to　us。　If　it　were　possible；　we　should　have　laid　him　by　the　heels　before　now；　but　to　foil　…　it　is　not　easy；　the　fellow　is　cunning；　his　affairs　are　always　conducted　with　ladies　of　high　social　position。　If　he　obtains　money　from　them　under　false　pretences　or　as　the　fruit　of　blackmail；　eh　bien！　naturally　they　will　not　prosecute。　To　look　foolish　in　the　eyes　of　the　world；　oh　no；　that　would　never　do；　and　he　has　an　extraordinary　power　over　women。〃　

〃That　is　so；〃　said　the　millionaire　heavily。　〃Well；　as　I　told　you；　I　broke　the　affair　up　pretty　sharply。　I　told　Ruth　exactly　what　he　was；　and　she　had；　perforce；　to　believe　me。　About　a　year　afterwards；　she　met　her　present　husband　and　married　him。　As　far　as　I　knew；　that　was　the　end　of　the　matter；　but　only　a　week　ago；　I　discovered；　to　my　amazement；　that　my　daughter　had　resumed　her　acquaintance　with　the　te　de　la　Roche。　She　had　been　meeting　him　frequently　in　London　and　Paris。　I　remonstrated　with　her　on　her　imprudence；　for　I　may　tell　you；　gentlemen；　that；　on　my　insistence；　she　was　preparing　to　bring　a　suit　for　divorce　against　her　husband。〃　

〃That　is　interesting；〃　murmured　Poirot　softly；　his　eyes　on　the　ceiling。　

Van　Aldin　looked　at　him　sharply；　and　then　went　on。　

〃I　pointed　out　to　her　the　folly　of　continuing　to　see　the　te　under　the　circumstances。　I　thought　she　agreed　with　me。〃　

The　Examining　Magistrate　coughed　delicately。　

〃But　according　to　this　letter　…〃　he　began　and　then　stopped。　

Van　Aldin's　jaw　set　itself　squarely。　

〃I　know。　It's　no　good　mincing　matters。　However　unpleasant；　we　have　got　to　face　facts。　It　seems　clear　that　Ruth　had　arranged　to　go　to　Paris　and　meet　de　la　Roche　there。　After　my　warnings　to　her；　however；　she　must　have　written　to　the　Count　suggesting　a　change　of　rendezvous。〃　

〃The　Isles　d'Or；〃　said　the　missary　thoughtfully；　〃are　situated　just　opposite　Hyeres；　a　remote　and　idyllic　spot。〃　

Van　Aldin　nodded。　

〃My　God！　How　could　Ruth　be　such　a　fool？〃　he　exclaimed　bitterly。　〃All　this　talk　about　writing　a　book　on　jewels！　Why；　he　must　have　been　after　the　rubies　from　the　first。〃　

〃There　are　some　very　famous　rubies；〃　said　Poirot；　〃originally　part　of　the　Crown　jewels　of　Russia；　they　are　unique　in　character；　and　their　value　is　almost　fabulous。　There　has　been　a　rumour　that　they　have　lately　passed　into　the　possession　of　an　American。　Are　we　right　in　concluding；　Monsieur；　that　you　were　the　purchaser？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃They　came　into　my　possession　in　Paris　about　ten　days　ago。〃　

〃Pardon　me；　Monsieur；　but　you　have　been　negotiating　for　their　purchase　for　some　time？〃　

〃A　little　over　two　months。　Why？〃　

〃These　things　bee　known；〃　said　Poirot。　〃There　is　always　a　pretty　formidable　crowd　on　the　track　of　jewels　such　as　these。〃　

A　spasm　distorted　the　other's　face。　

〃I　remember；〃　he　said　brokenly；　〃a　joke　I　made　to　Ruth　when　I　gave　them　to　her。　I　told　her　not　to　take　them　to　the　Riviera　with　her；　as　I　could　not　afford　to　have　her　robbed　and　murdered　for　the　sake　of　the　jewels。　My　God！　the　things　one　says　…　never　dreaming　or　knowing　they　will　e　true。〃　

There　was　a　sympathetic　silence；　and　then　Poirot　spoke　in　a　detached　manner。　

〃Let　us　arrange　our　facts　with　order　and　precision。　According　to　our　present　theory；　this　is　how　they　run。　The　te　de　la　Roche　knows　of　your　purchase　of　these　jewels。　By　an　easy　stratagem　he　induces　Madame　Kettering　to　bring　the　stones　with　her。　He；　then；　is　the　man　Mason　saw　in　the　train　at　Paris。〃　

The　other　three　nodded　in　agreement。　

〃Madame　is　surprised　to　see　him；　but　she　deals　with　the　situation　promptly。　Mason　is　got　out　of　the　way；　a　dinner　basket　is　ordered。　

We　know　from　the　conductor　that　he　made　up　the　berth　for　the　first　partment；　that　he　did　not　go　into　the　second　partment；　and　that　a　man　could　quite　well　have　been　concealed　from　him。　So　far　the　te　would　have　been　hidden　to　a　marvel。　No　one　knows　of　his　presence　on　the　train　except　Madame；　he　has　been　careful　that　the　maid　did　not　see　his　face。　All　that　she　could　say　is　that　he　was　tall　and　dark。　It　is　all　most　conveniently　vague。　They　are　alone　…　and　the　train　rushes　through　the　night。　There　would　be　no　outcry；　no　struggle；　for　the　man　is；　so　she　thinks；　her　lover。〃　

He　turned　gently　to　Van　Aldin。　

〃Death；　Monsieur；　must　have　been　almost　instantaneous。　We　te　takes　the　jewel…case　which　lies　ready　to　his　hand。　Shortly　afterwards　the　train　draws　into　Lyons。〃　

M。　Carrege　nodded　his　approval。　

〃Precisely。　The　conductor　descends。　It　would　be　easy　for　our　man　to　leave　the　train　unseen；　it　would　be　easy　to　catch　a　train　back　to　Paris　or　anywhere　he　pleases。　And　the　crime　would　be　put　down　as　an　ordinary　train　robbery。　But　for　the　letter　found　in　Madame's　bag；　the　te　would　not　have　been　mentioned。〃　

〃It　was　an　oversight　on　his　part　not　to　search　that　bag；〃　declared　the　missary。　

〃Without　doubt　he　thought　she　had　destroyed　that　letter。　It　was　…　pardon　me；　Monsieur　…　it　was　an　indiscretion　of　the　first　water　to　keep　it。〃　

〃And　yet；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃it　was　an　indiscretion　the　te　might　have　foreseen。〃　

〃You　mean？〃　

〃I　mean　we　are　all　agreed　on　one　point；　and　that　is　that　the　te　de　la　Roche　knows　one　subject　à　fond：　Women。　How　was　it　that；　knowing　women　as　he　does；　he　did　not　foresee　that　Madame　would　have　kept　that　letter？〃　

〃Yes　…　yes；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　doubtfully；　〃there　is　something　in　what　you　say。　But　at　such　times；　you　understand；　a　man　is　not　master　of　himself。　He　does　not　reason　calmly。　Mon　Dieu！〃　he　added；　with　feeling；　〃if　our　criminals　kept　their　heads　and　acted　with　intelligence；　how　should　we　capture　them？〃　

Poirot　smiled　to　himself。　

〃It　seems　to　me　a　clear　case；〃　said　the　other；　〃but　a　difficult　one　to　prove。　He　is　a　slippery　customer；　and　unless　the　maid　can　identify　him　…〃　

〃Which　is　most　unlikely；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃True；　true。〃　The　Examining　Magistrate　rubbed　his　chin。　〃It　is　going　to　be　difficult。〃　

〃If　he　did　indeed　mit　the　crime　…〃　began　Poirot。　M。　Caux　interrupted。　

〃If　…　you　say　if？〃　

〃Yes；　Monsieur　le　Juge；　I　say　if。〃　

The　other　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃You　are　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃we　go　too　fast。　It　is　possible　that　the　te　may　have　an　alibi。　Then　we　should　look　foolish。〃　

〃Ah；　？a　par　exemple；〃　replied　Poirot；　〃that　is　of　no　importance　whatever。　Naturally；　if　he　mitted　the　crime　he　will　have　an　alibi。　A　man　with　the　te's　experience　does　not　neglect　to　take　precautions。　No；　I　said　if　for　a　very　different　reason。〃　

〃And　what　was　that？〃　

Poirot　wagged　an　emphatic　forefinger。　

〃The　psychology。〃　

〃Eh？〃　said　the　missary。　

〃The　psychology　is　at　fault。　The　te　is　a　scoundrel　…　yes。　The　te　is　a　swindler　…　yes。　The　te　preys　upon　women　…　yes。　He　proposes　to　steal　Madame's　jewels　…　aga