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〃I　have　been　gambling；〃　he　said；　with　a　light　laugh；　〃gambling　unsuccessfully。　I　have　lost　everything　…　everything；　that　is；　that　I　have　with　me。〃　

Katherine　looked　at　him　with　a　troubled　face。　She　was　aware　at　once　of　something　new　in　his　manner；　some　hidden　excitement　that　betrayed　itself　in　a　hundred　different　infinitesimal　signs。　

〃I　should　think　you　were　always　a　gambler。　The　spirit　of　gambling　appeals　to　you。〃　

〃Every　day　and　in　every　way　a　gambler？　You　are　about　right。　Don't　you　find　something　stimulating　in　it？　To　risk　all　on　one　throw　…　there　is　nothing　like　it。〃　

Calm　and　stolid　as　she　believed　herself　to　be；　Katherine　felt　a　faint　answering　thrill。　

〃I　want　to　talk　to　you；〃　went　on　Derek；　〃and　who　knows　when　I　may　have　another　opportunity？　There　is　an　idea　going　about　that　I　murdered　my　wife　…　no；　please　don't　interrupt。　It　is　absurd；　of　course。〃　He　paused　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　went　on；　speaking　more　deliberately。　〃In　dealing　with　the　police　and　Local　Authorities　here　I　have　had　to　pretend　to　…　well　…　a　certain　decency。　I　prefer　not　to　pretend　with　you。　I　meant　to　marry　money。　I　was　on　the　look　out　for　money　when　I　first　met　Ruth　Van　Aldin。　She　had　the　look　of　a　slim　Madonna　about　her；　and　I　…　well　…　I　made　all　sorts　of　good　resolutions　…　and　was　bitterly　disillusioned。　My　wife　was　in　love　with　another　man　when　she　married　me。　She　never　cared　for　me　in　the　least。　Oh；　I　am　not　plaining；　the　thing　was　a　perfectly　respectable　bargain。　She　wanted　Leconbury　and　I　wanted　money。　The　trouble　arose　simply　through　Ruth's　American　blood。　Without　caring　a　pin　for　me；　she　would　have　liked　me　to　be　continually　dancing　attendance。　Time　and　again　she　as　good　as　told　me　that　she　had　bought　me　and　that　I　belonged　to　her。　The　result　was　that　I　behaved　abominably　to　her。　My　father…in…law　will　tell　you　that；　and　he　is　quite　right。　At　the　time　of　Ruth's　death；　I　was　faced　with　absolute　disaster。〃　He　laughed　suddenly。　〃One　is　faced　with　absolute　disaster　when　one　is　up　against　a　man　like　Rufus　Van　Aldin。〃　

〃And　then？〃　asked　Katherine　in　a　low　voice。　

〃And　then；〃　Derek　shrugged　his　shoulders；　〃Ruth　was　murdered　…　very　providentially。〃　

He　laughed；　and　the　sound　of　his　laugh　hurt　Katherine。　She　winced。　

〃Yes；〃　said　Derek。　〃that　wasn't　in　very　good　taste。　But　it　is　quite　true。　Now　I　am　going　to　tell　you　something　more。　From　the　very　first　moment　I　saw　you　I　knew　you　were　the　only　woman　in　the　world　for　me。　I　was　…　afraid　of　you。　I　thought　you　might　bring　me　bad　luck。〃　

〃Bad　luck？〃　said　Katherine　sharply。　

He　stared　at　her。　〃Why　do　you　repeat　it　like　that？　What　have　you　got　in　your　mind？〃　

〃I　was　thinking　of　things　that　people　have　said　to　me。〃　

Derek　grinned　suddenly。　〃They　will　say　a　lot　to　you　about　me；　my　dear；　and　most　of　it　will　be　true。　Yes；　and　worse　things　too　…　things　that　I　shall　never　tell　you。　I　have　been　a　gambler　always　…　and　I　have　taken　some　long　odds。　I　shan't　confess　to　you　now　or　at　any　other　time。　The　past　is　done　with。　There　is　one　thing　I　do　wish　you　to　believe。　I　swear　to　you　solemnly　that　I　did　not　kill　my　wife。〃　

He　said　the　words　earnestly　enough；　yet　there　was　somehow　a　theatrical　touch　about　them。　He　met　her　troubled　gaze　and　went　on：　

〃I　know。　I　lied　the　other　day。　It　was　my　wife's　partment　I　went　into。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Katherine。　

〃It's　difficult　to　explain　just　why　I　went　in；　but　I'll　try。　I　did　it　on　an　impulse。　You　see；　I　was　more　or　less　spying　on　my　wife。　I　kept　out　of　sight　on　the　train。　Mirelle　had　told　me　that　my　wife　was　meeting　the　te　de　la　Roche　in　Paris。　Well；　as　far　as　I　had　seen；　that　was　not　so。　I　felt　ashamed；　and　I　thought　suddenly　that　it　would　be　a　good　thing　to　have　it　out　with　her　once　and　for　all；　so　I　pushed　open　the　door　and　went　in。〃　

He　paused。　

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine　gently。　

〃Ruth　was　lying　on　the　bunk　asleep　…　her　face　was　turned　away　from　me　…　I　could　only　see　the　back　of　her　head。　I　could　have　waked　her　up；　of　course。　But　suddenly　I　felt　a　reaction。　What；　after　all；　was　there　to　say　that　we　hadn't　both　of　us　said　a　hundred　times　before？　She　looked　so　peaceful　lying　there。　I　left　the　partment　as　quietly　as　I　could。〃　

〃Why　lie　about　it　to　the　police？〃　asked　Katherine。　

〃Because　I'm　not　a　plete　fool。　I've　realized　from　the　beginning　that；　from　the　point　of　view　of　motive；　I'm　the　ideal　murderer。　If　I　once　admitted　that　I　had　been　in　her　partment　just　before　she　was　murdered；　I'd　do　for　myself　once　and　for　all。〃　

〃I　see。〃　

Did　she　see？　She　could　not　have　told　herself。　She　was　feeling　the　magic　attraction　of　Derek's　personality；　but　there　was　something　in　her　that　resisted；　that　held　back。。。　

〃Katherine　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃You　know　that　I　care　for　you。　Do　…　do　you　care　for　me？〃　

〃I　…　I　don't　know。〃　

Weakness　there。　Either　she　knew　or　she　did　not　know。　

If　…　if　only　…　

She　cast　a　look　round　desperately　as　though　seeking　something　that　would　help　her。　A　soft　colour　rose　in　her　cheeks　as　a　tall　fair　man　with　a　limp　came　hurrying　along　the　path　towards　them　…　Major　Knighton。　

There　was　relief　and　an　unexpected　warmth　in　her　voice　as　she　greeted　him。　

Derek　stood　up　scowling；　his　face　black　as　a　thundercloud。　

〃Lady　Tamplin　having　a　flutter？〃　he　said　easily。　〃I　must　join　her　and　give　her　the　benefit　of　my　system。〃　

He　swung　round　on　his　heel　and　left　them　together。　Katherine　sat　down　again。　Her　heart　was　beating　rapidly　and　unevenly；　but　as　she　sat　there　talking　monplaces　to　the　quiet；　rather　shy　man　beside　her；　her　self…mand　came　back。　

Then　she　realized　with　a　shock　that　Knighton　also　was　laying　bare　his　heart；　much　as　Derek　had　done；　but　in　a　very　different　manner。　

He　was　shy　and　stammering。　The　words　came　haltingly　。　

〃From　the　first　moment　I　saw　you　…　I　…　I　ought　not　to　have　spoken　so　soon　…　but　Mr　Van　Aldin　may　leave　here　any　day；　and　I　might　not　have　another　chance。　I　know　you　can't　care　for　me　so　soon　…　that　is　impossible。　I　dare　say　it　is　presumption　anyway　on　my　part。　I　have　private　means；　but　not　very　much　…　no；　please　don't　answer　now。　I　know　what　your　answer　would　be。　But　in　case　I　went　away　suddenly　I　just　wanted　you　to　know　…　that　I　care。〃　

She　was　shaken　…　touched。　His　manner　was　so　gentle　and　appealing。　

〃There's　one　thing　more。　I　just　wanted　to　say　that　if　…　if　you　are　ever　in　trouble；　anything　that　I　can　do　…〃　

He　took　her　hand　in　his；　held　it　tightly　for　a　minute；　then　dropped　it　and　walked　rapidly　away　towards　the　Casino　without　looking　back。　

Katherine　sat　perfectly　still；　looking　after　him。　Derek　Kettering　…　Richard　Knighton　…　two　men　so　different　…　so　very　different。　There　was　something　kind　about　Knighton；　kind　and　trustworthy。　As　to　Derek　…　Then　suddenly　Katherine　had　a　very　curious　sensation。　She　felt　that　she　was　no　longer　sitting　alone　on　the　seat　in　the　Casino　gardens；　but　that　someone　was　standing　beside　her；　and　that　that　someone　was　the　dead　woman；　Ruth　Kettering。　She　had　a　further　impression　that　Ruth　wanted　…　badly　…　to　tell　her　something。　The　impression　was　so　curious；　so　vivid；　that　it　could　not　be　driven　away。　She　felt　absolutely　certain　that　the　spirit　of　Ruth　Kettering　was　trying　to　convey　something　of　vital　importance　to　her。　The　impression　faded。　Katherine　got　up；　trembling　a　little。　What　was　it　that　Ruth　Kettering　had　wanted　so　badly　to　say？　

Chapter　27　

INTERVIEW　WITH　MIRELLE

When　Knighton　left　Katherine　he　went　in　search　of　Hercule　Poirot；　whom　he　found　in　the　Rooms；　jauntily　placing　the　minimum　stake　on　the　even　numbers。　As　Knighton　joined　him；　the　number　thirty…three　turned　up；　and　Poirot's　stake　was　swept　away。　

〃Bad　luck！〃　said　Knighton；　〃are　you　going　to　stake　again？〃　

Poirot　shook　his　head。　

〃Not　at　present。〃　

〃Do　you　feel　the　fascination　of　gambling？〃　asked　Knighton　curiously。　

〃Not　at　roulette。〃　

Knighton　shot　a　swift　glance　at　him。　His　own　face　became　troubled。　He　spoke　haltingly；　with　a　touch　of　deference。　

〃I　wonder；　are　you　busy；　M。　Poirot？　There　is　something　I　would　like　to　ask　you　about。〃　

〃I　am　at　your　disposal。　Shall　we　go　outside？　It　is　pleasant　in　the　sunshine。〃　

They　strolled　out　together；　and　Knighton　drew　a　deep　breath。

〃I　love　the　Riviera；〃　he　said。　〃I　came　here　first　twelve　years　ago；　during　the　war；　when　I　was　sent　to　Lady　Tamplin's　Hospital。　It　was　like　Paradise；　ing　from　Flanders　to　this。〃

〃It　must　have　been；〃　said　Poirot。

〃How　long　ago　the　war　seems　now！〃　mused　Knighton。

They　walked　on　in　silence　for　some　little　way。

〃You　have　something　on　your　mind？〃　said　Poirot。

Knighton　looked　at　him　in　some　surprise。

〃You　are　quite　right；〃　he　confessed。　〃　I　don't　know　how　you　knew　it；　though。〃

〃It　showed　itself　only　too　plainly；〃　said　Poirot　drily。

〃I　did　not　know　that　I　was　so　transparent。〃

〃It　is　my　business　to　observe　the　physiognomy；〃　the　little　man　explained；　with　dignity。

〃I　will　tell　you；　M。　Poirot。　You　have　heard　of　this　dancer　woman　…　Mirelle？''　

〃She　who　is　the　chère　amie　of　M。　Derek　Kettering？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　the　one；　and；　knowing　this；　you　will　understand　that　Mr。　Van　Aldin　is　naturally　prejudiced　against　her。　She　wrote　to　him；　asking　for　an　interview。　He　told　me　to　dictate　a　curt　refusal；　which　of　course　I　did。　This　morning　she　came　to　the　hotel　and　sent　up　her　card；　saying　that　it　was　urgent　and　vital　that　she　should　see　Mr。　Van　Aldin　at　once。〃

〃You　interest　me；〃　said　Poirot。

〃Mr。　Van　Aldin　was　furious。　He　told　me　what　message　to　send　down　to　her。　I　ventured　to　disagree　with　him。　It　seemed　to　me　both　likely　and　probable　that　this　woman　Mirelle　might　give　us　valuable　information。　We　know　that　she　was　on　the　Blue　Train；　and　she　may　have　seen　or　heard　something　that　it　might　be　vital　for　us　to　know。　Don't　you　agree　with　me；　M。　Poirot？〃

〃I　do；〃　said　Poicot　drily。　〃M。　Van　Aldin；　if　I　may　say　so；　behaved　exceedingly　foolishly。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　take　that　view　of　the　matter；〃　said　the　secretary。　〃Now　I　am　going　to　tell　you　something；　M。　Poirot。　So　strongly　did　I　feel　the　unwisdom　of　Mr。　Van　Aidin's　attitude　that　I　went　down　privately　and　had　an　interview　with　the　lady。〃

〃Eh　bien？〃　

〃The　difficulty　was　that　she　insisted　on　seeing　Mr　Van　Aldin　himself。　I　softened　his　message　as　much　as　I　possibly　could。　In　fact　…　to　be　candid　…　I　gave　it　in　a　very　different　form。　I　said　that　Mr　Van　Aldin　was　too　busy　to　see　her　at　present；　but　that　she　might　make　any　munication　she　wished　to　me。　That；　however；　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　do；　and　she　left　without　saying　anything　further。　But　I　have　a　strong　impression；　M。　Poirot　that　that　woman　knows　something。〃　

〃This　is　serious；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃You　know　where　she　is　staying？〃　

〃Yes。〃　Knighton　mentioned　the　name　of　the　hotel。　

〃Good；〃　said　Poirot；　〃we　will　go　there　immediately。〃　

The　secretary　looked　doubtful。　

〃And　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃　he　queried　doubtfully。　

〃M。　Van　Aldin　is　an　obstinate　man；〃　said　Poirot　drily。　〃I　do　not　argue　with　obstinate　men。　I　act　in　spite　of　them。　We　will　go　and　see　the　lady　immediately。　I　will　tell　her　that　you　are　empowered　by　M。　Van　Aldin　to　act　for　him；　and　you　will　guard　yourself　well　from　contradicting　me。〃　

Knighton　still　looked　slightly　doubtful；　but　Poirot　took　no　notice　of　his　hesitation。　

At　the　hotel；　they　were　told　that　Mademoiselle　was　in；　and　Poirot　sent　up　both　his　and　Knighton's　cards；　with　〃From　Mr　Van　Aldin〃　pencilled　upon　them。　

Word　came　down　that　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　would　receive　them。　

When　they　were　ushered　into　the　dancer's　apartments；　Poirot　immediately　took　the　lead。　

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　murmured；　bowing　very　low；　〃we　are　here　on　behalf　of　M。　Van　Aldin。〃　

〃Ah！　And　why　did　he　not　e　himself？〃　

〃He　is　indisposed；〃　said　Poirot　mendaciously；　〃the　Riviera　throat；　it　has　him　in　its　grip；　but　me；　I　am　empowered　to　act　for　him；　as　is　Major　Knighton；　his　secretary。　Unless；　of　course；　Mademoiselle　would　prefer　to　wait　a　fortnight　or　so。〃　

If　there　was　one　thing　of　which　Poirot　was　tolerably　certain；　it　was　that　to　a　temperament　such　as　Mirelle's　the　mere　word　〃wait〃　was　anathema。　

〃Eh　bien；　I　will　speak；　Messieurs；〃　she　cried。　〃I　have　been　patient。　I　have　held　my　hand。　And　for　what？　That　I　should　be　insulted！　Yes；　insulted！　Ah！　Does　he　think　to　treat　Mirelle　like　that？　To　throw　her　off　like　an　old　glove。　I　tell　you　nev