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George　was　an　intensely　English；　rather　wooden…faced　individual。　

〃Yes；　sir。　I　was　here　two　years　ago　when　I　was　in　the　service　of　Lord　Edward　Frampton。〃　

〃And　today；〃　murmured　his　master；　〃you　are　here　with　Hercule　Poirot。　How　one　mounts　in　the　world！〃　

The　valet　made　no　reply　to　this　observation。　After　a　suitable　pause　he　asked：　

〃The　brown　lounge　suit；　sir？　The　wind　is　somewhat　chilly　today。〃　

〃There　is　a　grease　spot　on　the　waistcoat；〃　objected　Poirot。　〃A　morceau　of　Filet　de　sole　a　la　Jeate　alighted　there　when　I　was　lunching　at　the　Ritz　last　Tuesday。〃　

〃There　is　no　spot　there　now；　sir；〃　said　George　reproachfully。　〃I　have　removed　it。〃　

〃Très　bien！〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　am　pleased　with　you；　Georges。〃　

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　

There　was　a　pause；　and　then　Poirot　murmured　dreamily：　

〃Supposing；　my　good　Georges；　that　you　had　been　born　in　the　same　social　sphere　as　your　late　master；　Lord　Edward　Frampton　…　that；　penniless　yourself；　you　had　married　an　extremely　wealthy　wife；　but　that　that　wife　proposed　to　divorce　you；　with　excellent　reasons；　what　would　you　do　about　it？〃　

〃I　should　endeavour；　sir；〃　replied　George；　〃to　make　her　change　her　mind。〃　

〃By　peaceful　or　by　forcible　methods？〃　

George　looked　shocked。　

〃You　will　excuse　me；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃but　a　gentleman　of　the　aristocracy　would　not　behave　like　a　Whitechapel　coster。　He　would　not　do　anything　low。〃　

〃Would　he　not；　Georges？　I　wonder　now？　Perhaps　you　are　right。〃　

There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　George　went　to　it　and　opened　it　a　discreet　inch　or　two。　A　low　murmured　colloquy　went　on；　and　then　the　valet　returned　to　Poirot。　〃A　note；　sir。〃　

Poirot　took　it。　It　was　from　M。　Caux；　the　missary　of　Police。　

〃We　are　about　to　interrogate　the　te　de　la　Roche。　The　Juge　d'Instruction　begs　that　you　will　be　present。〃　

〃Quickly；　my　suit；　Georges。　I　must　hasten　myself。〃　

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　spick　and　span　in　his　brown　suit；　Poirot　entered　the　Examining　Magistrate's　room。　M。　Caux　was　already　there；　and　both　he　and　M。　Carrege　greeted　Poirot　with　polite　empressement。　

〃The　affair　is　somewhat　discouraging；〃　murmured　M。　Caux。　

〃It　appears　that　the　te　arrived　in　Nice　the　day　before　the　murder。〃　

〃If　that　is　true；　it　will　settle　your　affair　nicely　for　you；〃　responded　Poirot。　

M。　Carrege　cleared　his　throat。　

〃We　must　not　accept　this　alibi　without　very　cautious　inquiry；〃　he　declared。　He　struck　the　bell　upon　the　table　with　his　hand。　In　another　minute　a　tall　dark　man；　exquisitely　dressed；　with　a　somewhat　haughty　cast　of　countenance；　entered　the　room。　So　very　aristocratic…looking　was　the　Count；　that　it　would　have　seemed　sheer　heresy　even　to　whisper　that　his　father　had　been　an　obscure　corn…chandler　in　Nantes　…　which；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　was　the　case。　Looking　at　him；　one　would　have　been　prepared　to　swear　that　innumerable　ancestors　of　his　must　have　perished　by　the　guillotine　in　the　French　Revolution。〃　

〃I　am　here；　gentlemen；〃　said　the　Count　haughtily。　〃May　I　ask　why　you　wish　to　see　me？〃　

〃Pray　be　seated；　Monsieur　le　te；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　politely。　〃It　is　the　affair　of　the　death　of　Madame　Kettering　that　we　are　investigating。〃　

〃The　death　of　Madame　Kettering？　I　do　not　understand。〃　

〃You　were　…　ahem！　…　acquainted　with　the　lady；　I　believe；　Monsieur　le　te？〃　

〃Certainly　I　was　acquainted　with　her。　What　has　that　to　do　with　the　matter？〃　

Sticking　an　eyeglass　in　his　eye；　he　looked　coldly　round　the　room；　his　glance　resting　longest　on　Poirot；　who　was　gazing　at　him　with　a　kind　of　simple；　innocent　admiration　which　was　most　pleasing　to　the　Count's　vanity。　M。　Carrege　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　cleared　his　throat。　

〃You　do　not　perhaps　know；　Monsieur　le　te　…〃　he　paused　…　〃that　Madame　Kettering　was　murdered？〃　

〃Murdered？　Mon　Dieu；　how　terrible！〃　

The　surprise　and　the　sorrow　were　excellently　done　…　so　well　done；　indeed；　as　to　seem　wholly　natural。　

〃Madame　Kettering　was　strangled　between　Paris　and　Lyons；〃　continued　M。　Carrege；　〃and　her　jewels　were　stolen。〃　

〃It　is　iniquitous！〃　cried　the　Count　warmly；　〃the　police　should　do　something　about　these　train　bandits。　Nowadays　no　one　is　safe。〃　

〃In　Madame's　handbag；〃　continued　the　Judge；　〃we　found　a　letter　to　her　from　you。　She　had；　it　seemed；　arranged　to　meet　you？〃　

The　Count　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　spread　out　his　hands。　

〃Of　what　use　are　concealments；〃　he　said　frankly。　〃We　are　all　men　of　the　world。　Privately　and　between　ourselves；　I　admit　the　affair。〃　

〃You　met　her　in　Paris　and　travelled　down　with　her；　I　believe？〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃That　was　the　original　arrangement；　but　by　Madame's　wish　it　was　changed。　I　was　to　meet　her　at　Hyeres。〃　

〃You　did　not　meet　her　on　the　train　at　the　Gare　de　Lyon　on　the　evening　of　the　14th？〃　

〃On　the　contrary；　I　arrived　in　Nice　on　the　morning　of　that　day；　so　what　you　suggest　is　impossible。〃　

〃Quite　so；　quite　so；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　you　would　perhaps　give　me　an　account　of　your　movements　during　the　evening　and　night　of　the　14th。〃　

The　Count　reflected　for　a　minute。　

〃I　dined　in　Monte　Carlo　at　the　Café　de　Paris。　Afterwards　I　went　to　the　Le　Sporting。　I　won　a　few　thousand　francs；〃　he　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃I　returned　home　at　perhaps　one　o'clock。〃　

〃Pardon　me；　Monsieur；　but　how　did　you　return　home？〃　

〃In　my　own　two…seater　car。〃　

〃No　one　was　with　you？〃　

〃No　one。〃　

〃You　could　produce　witnesses　in　support　of　this　statement？〃　

〃Doubtless　many　of　my　friends　saw　me　there　that　evening。　I　dined　alone。〃　

〃Your　servant　admitted　you　on　your　return　to　your　villa？〃　

〃I　let　myself　in　with　my　own　latchkey。〃　

〃Ah！〃　murmured　the　Magistrate。　

Again　he　struck　the　bell　on　the　table　with　his　hand。　The　door　opened；　and　a　messenger　appeared。　

〃Bring　in　the　maid；　Mason；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃Very　good；　Monsieur　le　Juge。〃　

Ada　Mason　was　brought　in。　

〃Will　you　be　so　good；　Mademoiselle；　as　to　look　at　this　gentleman。　To　the　best　of　your　ability　was　it　he　who　entered　your　mistress's　partment　in　Paris？〃　

The　woman　looked　long　and　searchingly　at　the　Count；　who　was；　Poirot　fancied；　rather　uneasy　under　this　scrutiny。　

〃I　could　not　say；　sir；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Mason　at　last。　〃It　might　be　and　again　it　might　not。　Seeing　as　how　I　only　saw　his　back；　it's　hard　to　say。　I　rather　think　it　was　the　gentleman。〃　

〃But　you　are　not　sure？〃　

〃No…o；〃　said　Mason　unwillingly；　〃n…no；　I　am　not　sure。〃　

〃You　have　seen　this　gentleman　before　in　Curzon　Street？〃　

Mason　shook　her　head。　

〃I　should　not　be　likely　to　see　any　visitors　that　e　to　Curzon　Street；〃　she　explained；　〃unless　they　were　staying　in　the　house。〃　

〃Very　well；　that　will　do；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　sharply。　

Evidently　he　was　disappointed。　

〃One　moment；〃　said　Poirot。　〃There　is　a　question　I　would　like　to　put　to　Mademoiselle；　if　I　may？〃　

〃Certainly；　M。　Poirot　…　certainly；　by　all　means。〃　

Poirot　addressed　himself　to　the　maid。　

〃What　happened　to　the　tickets？〃　

〃The　tickets；　sir？〃　

〃Yes；　the　tickets　from　London　to　Nice。　Did　you　or　your　mistress　have　them？〃　

〃The　mistress　had　her　own　Pullman　ticket；　sir；　the　others　were　in　my　charge。〃　

〃What　happened　to　them？〃　

〃I　gave　them　to　the　conductor　on　the　French　train；　sir；　he　said　it　was　usual。　I　hope　I　did　right；　sir？〃　

〃Oh；　quite　right；　quite　right。　A　mere　matter　of　detail。〃　

Both　M。　Caux　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　looked　at　him　curiously。　Mason　stood　uncertainly　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　the　Magistrate　gave　her　a　brief　nod　of　dismissal；　and　she　went　out。　Poirot　scribbled　something　on　a　scrap　of　paper　and　handed　it　across　to　M。　Carrege。　The　latter　read　it　and　his　brow　cleared。　

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　demanded　the　Count　haughtily；　〃am　I　to　be　detained　further？〃　

〃Assuredly　not；　assuredly　not；〃　M。　Carrege　hastened　to　say；　with　a　great　deal　of　amiability。　〃Everything　is　now　cleared　up　as　regards　your　own　position　in　this　affair。　Naturally；　in　view　of　Madame's　letter；　we　were　bound　to　question　you。〃　

The　Count　rose；　picked　up　his　handsome　stick　from　the　corner；　and；　with　rather　a　curt　bow；　left　the　room。　

〃And　that　is　that；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃You　。　Poirot　…　much　better　to　let　him　feel　he　is　not　suspected。　Two　of　my　men　will　shadow　him　night　and　day；　and　at　the　same　time　we　will　go　into　the　question　of　the　alibi。　It　seems　to　me　rather　…　er　…　a　fluid　one。〃　

〃Possibly；〃　agreed　Poirot　thoughtfully。　

〃I　asked　M。　Kettering　to　e　here　this　morning；〃　continued　the　Magistrate；　〃though　really　I　doubt　if　we　have　much　to　ask　him；　but　there　are　one　or　two　suspicious　circumstances　…〃　He　paused；　rubbing　his　nose。　

〃Such　as？〃　asked　Poirot。　

〃Well　…〃　the　Magistrate　coughed　…　〃this　lady　with　whom　he　is　said　to　be　travelling　…　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。　She　is　staying　at　one　hotel　and　he　at　another。　That　strikes　me　…　er　…　as　rather　odd。〃　

〃It　looks；〃　said　M。　Caux；　〃as　though　they　were　being　careful。〃　

〃Exactly；〃　said　M。　Carrege　triumphantly；　〃and　what　should　they　have　to　be　careful　about？〃　

〃An　excess　of　caution　is　suspicious；　eh？〃　said　Poirot。　

〃Précisément。〃　

〃We　might；　I　think；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃ask　M。　Kettering　one　or　two　questions。〃　

The　Magistrate　gave　instructions。　A　moment　or　two　later；　Derek　Kettering；　debonair　as　ever；　entered　the　room。　

〃Good　morning；　Monsieur；〃　said　the　Judge　politely。　

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Derek　Kettering　curtly。　〃You　sent　for　me。　Has　anything　fresh　turned　up？〃　

〃Pray　sit　down；　Monsieur。〃　

Derek　took　a　seat　and　flung　his　hat　and　stick　on　the　table。　

〃Well？〃　he　asked　impatiently。　

〃We　have；　so　far；　no　fresh　data；〃　said　M。　Carrege　cautiously。　

〃That's　very　interesting；〃　said　Derek　drily。　〃Did　you　get　me　here　in　order　to　tell　me　that？〃　

〃We　naturally　thought；　Monsieur；　that　you　would　like　to　be　informed　of　the　progress　of　the　case；〃　said　the　Magistrate　severely。　〃Even　if　the　progress　was　nonexistent。〃　

〃We　also　wished　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃　

〃Ask　away。〃　

〃You　are　quite　sure　that　you　neither　saw　nor　spoke　with　your　wife　on　the　train？〃　

〃I've　answered　that　already。　I　did　not。〃　

〃You　had；　no　doubt；　your　reasons。〃　

Derek　stared　at　him　suspiciously。　

〃I　…　did　…　not　…　know　…　she　…　was　…　on　…　the　…　train；〃　he　explained；　spacing　his　words　elaborately；　as　though　to　someone　dull　of　intellect。　

〃That　is　what　you　say；　yes；〃　murmured　M。　Carrege。　

A　frown　suffused　Derek's　face。　

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　you're　driving　at。　Do　you　know　what　I　think；　M。　Carrege？〃　

〃What　do　you　think；　Monsieur？〃　

〃I　think　the　French　police　are　vastly　overrated。　Surely　you　must　have　some　data　as　to　these　gangs　of　train　robbers。　It's　outrageous　that　such　a　thing　could　happen　on　a　train　de　luxe　like　that；　and　that　the　French　police　should　be　helpless　to　deal　with　the　matter。〃　

〃We　are　dealing　with　it；　Monsieur；　never　fear。〃　

〃Madame　Kettering；　I　understand；　did　not　leave　a　will；〃　interposed　Poirot　suddenly。　His　fingertips　were　joined　together；　and　he　was　looking　intently　at　the　ceiling。　

〃I　don't　think　she　ever　made　one；〃　said　Kettering。　〃Why？〃　

〃It　is　a　very　pretty　little　fortune　that　you　inherit　there；〃　said　Poirot　…　〃a　very　pretty　little　fortune。〃　

Although　his　eyes　were　still　on　the　ceiling；　he　managed　to　see　the　dark　flush　that　rose　to　Derek　Kettering's　face。　

〃What　do　you　mean；　and　who　are　you？〃　

Poirot　gently　uncrossed　his　knees；　withdrew　his　gaze　from　the　ceiling；　and　looked　the　young　man　full　in　the　face。　

〃My　name　is　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃and　I　am　probably　the　greatest　detective　in　the　world。　You　are　quite　sure　that　you　did　not　see　or　speak　to　your　wife　on　that　train？〃　

〃What　are　you　getting　at？　Do　you　…　do　you　mean　to　insinuate　that　I　…　I　killed　her？〃　

He　laughed　suddenly。　

〃I　mustn't　lose　my　temper；　it's　too　palpably　absurd。　Why；　if　I　killed　her　I　should　have　had　no　need　to　steal　her　jewels；　would　I？〃　

〃That　is　true；〃　murmured　Poirot；　with　a　rather　crestfallen　air。　〃I　did　not　think　of　that。〃　

〃If　ever　there　were　a　clear　case　of　murder　and　robbery；　this　is　it；〃　said　Derek　Kettering。　〃Poor　Ruth；　it　was　those　damned　rubies　did　for　her。　It　must　have　got　about　she　had　them　with　her。　There　has　been　murder　done　for　those　same　stones　before　now；　I　believe。〃　

Poirot　sat　up　suddenly　in　his　chair。　A　very　faint　green　light　glowed　in　his　eyes。　He　looked　extrao