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〃You　have　e　into　a　lot　of　money；　Monsieur。〃　

〃What　the　devil　has　that　got　to　do　with　you？〃　

The　te　drew　himself　up。　

〃Monsieur；　my　name　is　tarnished！　I　am　suspected　…　accused　…　of　foul　crime。〃　

〃The　accusation　does　not　e　from　me；〃　said　Derek　coldly；　〃as　an　interested　party　I　have　not　expressed　any　opinion。〃　

〃I　am　innocent；〃　said　the　te；　〃I　swear　before　heaven　…〃　he　raised　his　hand　to　heaven　…　〃that　I　am　innocent。〃　

〃M。　Carrege　is；　I　believe；　the　Juge　d'Instruction　in　charge　of　the　case；〃　hinted　Derek　politely。　

The　te　took　no　notice。　

〃Not　only　am　I　unjustly　suspected　of　a　crime　that　I　did　not　mit；　but　I　am　also　in　serious　need　of　money。〃　

He　coughed　softly　and　suggestively。　

Derek　rose　to　his　feet。　

〃I　was　waiting　for　that；〃　he　said　softly；　〃you　blackmailing　brute！　I　will　not　give　you　a　penny。　My　wife　is　dead；　and　no　scandal　that　you　can　make　can　touch　her　now。　She　wrote　you　foolish　letters；　I　dare　say。　If　I　were　to　buy　them　from　you　for　a　round　sum　at　this　minute；　I　am　pretty　certain　that　you　would　manage　to　keep　one　or　two　back；　and　I　will　tell　you　this；　M。　de　la　Roche；　blackmailing　is　an　ugly　word　both　in　England　and　in　France。　That　is　my　answer　to　you。　Good　afternoon。〃　

〃One　moment　…〃　the　te　stretched　out　a　hand　as　Derek　was　turning　to　leave　the　room。　〃You　are　mistaken；　Monsieur。　You　are　pletely　mistaken。　I　am；　I　hope；　a　'gentleman。'〃　

Derek　laughed。　

〃Any　letters　that　a　lady　might　write　to　me　I　should　hold　sacred。〃　He　flung　back　his　head　with　a　beautiful　air　of　nobility。　〃The　proposition　that　I　was　putting　before　you　was　of　quite　a　different　nature。　I　am；　as　I　said；　extremely　short　of　money；　and　my　conscience　might　impel　me　to　go　to　the　police　with　certain　information。〃　

Derek　came　slowly　back　into　the　room。　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　

The　te's　agreeable　smile　flashed　forth　once　more。　

〃Surely　it　is　not　necessary　to　go　into　details；〃　he　purred。　〃Seek　whom　the　crime　benefits；　they　say；　don't　they？　As　I　said　just　now；　you　have　e　into　a　lot　of　money　lately。〃　

Derek　laughed。　

〃If　that　is　all　…〃　he　said　contemptuously。　

But　the　te　was　shaking　his　head。　〃But　it　is　not　all；　my　dear　sir。　I　should　not　e　to　you　unless　I　had　much　more　precise　and　detailed　information　than　that。　It　is　not　agreeable；　Monsieur；　to　be　arrested　and　tried　for　murder。〃　

Derek　came　close　up　to　him。　His　face　expressed　such　furious　anger　that　involuntarily　the　te　drew　back　a　pace　or　two。　

〃Are　you　threatening　me？〃　the　young　man　demanded　angrily。　

〃You　shall　hear　nothing　more　of　the　matter；〃　the　te　assured　him。　

〃Of　all　the　colossal　bluffs　that　I　have　ever　struck　…〃　

The　te　raised　a　white　hand。　

〃You　are　wrong。　It　is　not　a　bluff。　To　convince　you　I　will　tell　you　this。　My　information　was　obtained　from　a　certain　lady。　It　is　she　who　holds　the　irrefutable　proof　that　you　mitted　the　murder。〃　

〃She？　Who？〃　

〃Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃　

Derek　drew　back　as　though　struck。　

〃Mirelle；〃　he　muttered。　

The　te　was　quick　to　press　what　he　took　to　be　his　advantage。　

〃A　bagatelle　of　one　hundred　thousand　francs；〃　he　said。　〃I　ask　no　more。〃　

〃Eh？〃　said　Derek　absently。　

〃I　was　saying；　Monsieur；　that　a　bagatelle　of　one　hundred　thousand　francs　would　satisfy　my　…　conscience。〃　

Derek　seemed　to　recollect　himself。　He　looked　earnestly　at　the　te。　

〃You　would　like　my　answer　now？〃　

〃If　you　please；　Monsieur。〃　

〃Then　here　it　is。　You　can　go　to　the　devil。　See？〃　

Leaving　the　te　too　astonished　to　speak；　Derek　turned　on　his　heel　and　swung　out　of　the　room。　

Once　out　of　the　hotel　he　hailed　a　taxi　and　drove　to　Mirelle's　hotel。　On　inquiring；　he　learned　that　the　dancer　had　just　e　in。　Derek　gave　the　concierge　his　card。　

〃Take　this　up　to　Mademoiselle　and　ask　if　she　will　see　me。〃　

A　very　brief　interval　elapsed；　and　then　Derek　was　bidden　to　follow　a　chasseur。　

A　wave　of　exotic　perfume　assailed　Derek's　nostrils　as　he　stepped　over　the　threshold　of　the　dancer's　apartments。　The　room　was　filled　with　carnations；　orchids；　and　mimosa。　Mirelle　was　standing　by　the　window　in　a　peignoir　of　foamy　lace。　

She　came　towards　him；　her　hands　outstretched。　

〃Derek　…　you　have　e　to　me。　I　knew　you　would。〃　

He　put　aside　the　clinging　arms　and　looked　down　on　her　sternly。　

〃Why　did　you　send　the　te　de　la　Roche　to　me？〃　

She　looked　at　him　in　astonishment；　which　he　took　to　be　genuine。　

〃I？　Send　the　te　de　la　Roche　to　you？　But　for　what？〃　

〃Apparently　…　for　blackmail；〃　said　Derek　grimly。　

Again　she　stared。　Then　suddenly　she　smiled　and　nodded　her　head。　

〃Of　course。　It　was　to　be　expected。　It　is　what　he　would　do；　ce　type　là。　I　might　have　known　it。　No；　indeed；　Dereek；　I　did　not　send　him。〃　

He　looked　at　her　piercingly；　as　though　seeking　to　read　her　mind。　

〃I　will　tell　you；〃　said　Mirelle。　〃I　am　ashamed；　but　I　will　tell　you。　The　other　day　you　prehend；　I　ade　an　eloquent　gesture。　〃My　temperament；　it　is　not　a　patient　one。　I　want　to　be　revenged　on　you；　and　so　I　go　to　the　te　de　la　Roche；　and　I　tell　him　to　go　to　the　police　and　say　so　and　so；　and　so　and　so。　But　have　no　fear；　Dereek。　Not　pletely　did　I　lose　my　head；　the　proof　rests　with　me　alone。　The　police　can　do　nothing　without　my　word；　you　understand？　And　now　…　now？〃　

She　nestled　up　close　to　him；　looking　up　at　him　with　melting　eyes。　

He　thrust　her　roughly　away　from　him。　She　stood　there；　her　breast　heaving；　her　eyes　narrowing　to　a　catlike　slit。　

〃Be　careful；　Dereek；　be　very　careful。　You　have　e　back　to　me；　have　you　not？〃　

〃I　shall　never　e　back　to　you；〃　said　Derek　steadily。　

〃Ah！〃　

More　than　ever　the　dancer　looked　like　a　cat。　Her　eyelids　flickered。　

〃So　there　is　another　woman？　The　one　with　whom　you　lunched　that　day。　Eh；　am　I　right？〃　

〃I　intend　to　ask　that　lady　to　marry　me。　You　might　as　well　know。〃　

〃That　prim　Englishwoman！　Do　you　think　that　I　will　support　that　for　one　moment？　Ah；　no。〃　Her　beautiful　lithe　body　quivered。　

〃Listen；　Dereek；　do　you　remember　that　conversation　we　had　in　London？　You　said　the　only　thing　that　could　save　you　was　the　death　of　your　wife。　You　regretted　that　she　was　so　healthy。　Then　the　idea　of　an　accident　came　to　your　brain。　And　more　than　an　accident。〃　

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Derek　contemptuously；　〃that　it　was　this　conversation　that　you　repeated　to　the　te　de　la　Roche。〃　

Mirelle　laughed。　

〃Am　I　a　fool？　Could　the　police　do　anything　with　a　vague　story　like　that？　See　…　I　will　give　you　a　last　chance。　You　shall　give　up　this　Englishwoman。　You　shall　return　to　me。　And　then；　cheri；　never；　never　will　I　breathe　…〃　

〃Breathe　what？〃　

She　laughed　softly。　〃You　thought　no　one　saw　you　…〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　

〃As　I　say；　you　thought　no　one　saw　you　…　but　I　saw　you；　Dereek；　mon　ami；　I　saw　you　ing　out　of　the　partment　of　Madame　your　wife　just　before　the　train　got　into　Lyons　that　night。　And　I　know　more　than　that。　I　know　that　when　you　came　out　of　her　partment　she　was　dead。〃　

He　stared　at　her。　Then；　like　a　man　in　a　dream　he　turned　very　slowly　and　went　out　of　the　room；　swaying　slightly　as　he　walked。　

Chapter　26　

A　WARNING

〃And　so　it　is；〃　said　Poirot；　〃that　we　are　the　good　friends　and　have　no　secrets　from　each　other。〃　

Katherine　turned　her　head　to　look　at　him。　There　was　something　in　his　voice；　some　undercurrent　of　seriousness；　which　she　had　not　heard　before。　

They　were　sitting　in　the　gardens　of　Monte　Carlo。　Katherine　had　e　over　with　her　friends；　and　they　had　run　into　Knighton　and　Poirot　almost　immediately　on　arrival。　Lady　Tamplin　had　seized　upon　Knighton　and　had　overwhelmed　him　with　reminiscences；　most　of　which　Katherine　had　a　faint　suspicion　were　invented。　They　had　moved　away　together；　Lady　Tamplin　with　her　hand　on　the　young　man's　arm。　Knighton　had　thrown　a　couple　of　glances　back　over　his　shoulder；　and　Poirot's　eyes　twinkled　a　little　as　he　saw　them。　

〃Of　course　we　are　friends；〃　said　Katherine。

〃From　the　beginning　we　have　been　sympathetic　to　each　other；〃　mused　Poirot。

〃When　you　told　me　that　a　'roman　policier'　occurs　in　real　life。〃

〃And　I　was　right；　was　I　not？〃　he　challenged　her；　with　an　emphatic　forefinger。　〃Here　we　are；　plunged　in　the　middle　of　one。　That　is　natural　for　me　…　it　is　my　métier　…　but　for　you　it　is　different。　Yes；〃　he　added　in　a　reflective　tone；　〃for　you　it　is　different。〃

She　looked　sharply　at　him。　It　was　as　though　he　were　warning　her；　pointing　out　to　her　some　menace　that　she　had　not　seen。

〃Why　do　you　say　that　I　am　in　the　middle　of　it？　It　is　true　that　I　had　that　conversation　with　Mrs。　Kettering　just　before　she　died；　but　now　…　now　all　that　is　over。　I　am　not　connected　with　the　case　any　more。〃

〃Ah；　Mademoiselle；　Mademoiselle；　can　we　ever　say；　'I　have　finished　with　this　or　that'？〃

Katherine　turned　defiantly　round　to　face　him。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。　〃You　are　trying　to　tell　me　something　…　to　convey　it　to　me　rather。　But　I　am　not　clever　at　taking　hints。　I　would　much　rather　that　you　said　anything　you　have　to　say　straight　out。〃

Poirot　looked　at　her　sadly。　〃Ah；　mais　c'est　anglais　？a；〃　he　murmured；　〃everything　in　black　and　white；　everything　clear　cut　and　well　defined。　But　life；　it　is　not　like　that；　Mademoiselle。　There　are　the　things　that　are　not　yet；　but　which　cast　their　shadow　before。〃

He　dabbed　his　brow　with　a　very　large　silk　pocket…handkerchief　and　murmured：　〃Ah；　but　it　is　that　I　bee　poetical。　Let　us；　as　you　say；　speak　only　of　facts。　And；　speaking　of　facts；　tell　me　what　you　think　of　Major　Knighton。〃

〃I　like　him　very　much　indeed；〃　said　Katherine　warmly；　〃he　is　quite　delightful。〃

Poirot　sighed。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　Katherine。

〃You　reply　so　heartily；〃　said　Poirot。　〃If　you　had　said　in　an　indifferent　voice；　'Oh；　quite　nice；'　eh　bien；　do　you　know　I　should　have　been　better　pleased。〃

Katharine　did　not　answer。　She　felt　slightly　unfortable。　Poirot　went　on　dreamily：　〃And　yet；　who　knows？　With　les　femmes；　they　have　so　many　ways　of　concealing　what　they　feel　…　and　heartiness　is　perhaps　as　good　a　way　as　any　other。〃

He　sighed。

〃I　don't　see　…〃　began　Katherine。　

He　interrupted　her。　

〃You　do　not　see　why　I　am　being　so　impertinent；　Mademoiselle？　I　am　an　old　man　and　now　and　then　…　not　very　often　…　I　e　across　someone　whose　welfare　is　dear　to　me。　We　are　friends；　Mademoiselle。　You　have　said　so　yourself。　And　it　is　just　this　…　I　should　like　to　see　you　happy。〃　

Katherine　stared　very　straight　in　front　of　her。　She　had　a　cretonne　sunshade　with　her；　and　with　its　point　she　traced　little　designs　in　the　gravel　at　her　feet。　

〃I　have　asked　you　a　question　about　Major　Knighton；　now　I　will　ask　you　another。　Do　you　like　Mr　Derek　Kettering？〃　

〃I　hardly　know　him；〃　said　Katherine。　

〃That　is　not　an　answer；　that。〃　

〃I　think　it　is。〃　

He　looked　at　her；　struck　by　something　in　her　tone。　Then　he　nodded　his　head　gravely　and　slowly。　

〃Perhaps　you　are　right；　Mademoiselle。　See　you；　I　who　speak　to　you　have　seen　much　of　the　world；　and　I　know　that　there　are　two　things　which　are　true。　A　good　man　may　be　ruined　by　his　love　for　a　bad　woman　…　but　the　other　way　holds　good　also。　A　bad　man　may　equally　be　ruined　by　his　love　for　a　good　woman。〃　

Katherine　looked　up　sharply。　

〃When　you　say　ruined　…〃　

〃I　mean　from　his　point　of　view。　One　must　be　wholehearted　in　crime　as　in　everything　else。〃　

〃You　are　trying　to　warn　me；〃　said　Katherine　in　a　low　voice。　〃Against　whom？〃　

〃I　cannot　look　into　your　heart；　Mademoiselle；　I　do　not　think　you　would　let　me　if　I　could。　I　will　just　say　this。　There　are　men　who　have　a　strange　fascination　for　women。〃　

〃The　te　de　la　Roche；〃　said　Katherine；　with　a　smile。　

〃There　are　others　…　more　dangerous　than　the　te　de　la　Roche。　They　have　qualities　that　appeal　…　recklessness；　daring；　audacity。　You　are　fascinated；　Mademoiselle；　I　see　that；　but　I　think　that　it　is　no　more　than　that。　I　hope　so。　This　man　of　whom　I　speak；　the　emotion　he　feels　is　genuine　enough；　but　all　the　same　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

He　got　up　and　stood　looking　down　at　her。　Then　he　spoke　in　a　low；　distinct　voice：　

〃You　could；　perhaps；　love　a　thief；　Mademoiselle；　but　not　a　murderer。〃　

He　wheeled　sharply　away　on　that　and　left　her　sitting　there。　

He　heard　the　little　gasp　she　gave　and　paid　no　attention。　He　had　said　what　he　meant　to　say。　He　left　her　there　to　digest　that　last　unmistakable　phrase。　

Derek　Kettering；　ing　out　of　the　Casino　into　the　sunshine；　saw　her　sitting　alone　on　the　bench　and　joined　her。