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never　understood　the　true　inwardness　of　it。〃　

〃No？〃　

〃When　he　asked　me　for　details；　for　explanations；　I　said　to　him　thus：　'Without　scandal；　I　have　got　back　for　you　that　which　was　lost。　You　must　ask　no　questions。'　Do　you　know；　Mademoiselle；　why　I　said　these　things？〃　

〃I　have　no　idea；〃　said　the　girl　coldly。　

〃It　was　because　I　had　a　soft　spot　in　my　heart　for　a　little　pensionnaire；　so　pale；　so　thin；　so　serious。〃　

〃I　don't　understand　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　cried　Zia　angrily。　

〃Do　you　not；　Mademoiselle？　Have　you　forgotten　Antonio　Pirezzio？〃　

He　heard　the　quick　intake　of　her　breath　…　almost　a　gasp。　

〃He　came　to　work　as　an　assistant　in　the　shop；　but　not　thus　could　he　have　got　hold　of　what　he　wanted。　An　assistant　can　lift　his　eyes　to　his　master's　daughter；　can　he　not？　If　he　is　young　and　handsome　with　a　glib　tongue。　And　since　they　cannot　make　love　all　the　time；　they　must　occasionally　talk　of　things　that　interest　them　both　…　such　as　that　very　interesting　thing　which　was　temporarily　in　M。　Papopolous'　possession。　And　since；　as　you　say；　Mademoiselle；　the　young　are　foolish　and　credulous；　it　was　easy　to　believe　him　and　to　give　him　a　sight　of　that　particular　thing；　to　show　him　where　it　was　kept。　And　afterwards　when　it　is　gone　…　when　the　unbelievable　catastrophe　has　happened。　Alas！　the　poor　little　pensionnaire。　What　a　terrible　position　she　is　in。　She　is　frightened；　the　poor　little　one。　To　speak　or　not　to　speak？　And　then　there　es　along　that　excellent　fellow；　Hercule　Poirot。　Almost　a　miracle　it　must　have　been；　the　way　things　arranged　themselves。　The　priceless　heirlooms　are　restored　and　there　are　no　awkward　questions。〃　

Zia　turned　on　him　fiercely。　

〃You　have　known　all　the　time？　Who　told　you？　Was　it　…　was　it　Antonio？〃　

Poirot　shook　his　head。　

〃No　one　told　me；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　guessed。　It　was　a　good　guess；　was　it　not；　Mademoiselle？　You　see；　unless　you　are　good　at　guessing；　it　is　not　much　use　being　a　detective。〃　

The　girl　walked　along　beside　him　for　some　minutes　in　silence。　Then　she　said　in　a　hard　voice：　

〃Well；　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it；　are　you　going　to　tell　my　father？〃　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot　sharply。　〃Certainly　not。〃　

She　looked　at　him　curiously。　

〃You　want　something　from　me？〃　

〃I　want　your　help；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃What　makes　you　think　that　I　can　help　you？〃　

〃I　do　not　think　so。　I　only　hope　so。〃　

〃And　if　I　do　not　help　you；　then　…　you　will　tell　my　father？〃　

〃But　no；　but　no！　Disembarrass　yourself　of　that　idea；　Mademoiselle。　I　am　not　a　blackmailer。　I　do　not　hold　your　secret　over　your　head　and　threaten　you　with　it。〃　

〃If　I　refuse　to　help　you　…〃　began　the　girl　slowly。　

〃Then　you　refuse；　and　that　is　that。〃　

〃Then　why　…〃　she　stopped。　

〃Listen；　and　I　will　tell　you　why。　Women；　Mademoiselle；　are　generous。　If　they　can　render　a　service　to　one　who　has　rendered　a　service　to　them；　they　will　do　it。　I　was　generous　once　to　you；　Mademoiselle。　When　I　might　have　spoken；　I　held　my　tongue。〃　

There　was　another　silence；　then　the　girl　said；　〃My　father　gave　you　a　hint　the　other　day。〃　

〃It　was　very　kind　of　him。〃　

〃I　do　not　think；〃　said　Zia　slowly；　〃that　there　is　anything　that　I　can　add　to　that。〃　

If　Poirot　was　disappointed　he　did　not　show　it。　Not　a　muscle　of　his　face　changed。　

〃Eh　bien！〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃then　we　must　talk　of　other　things。〃　

And　he　proceeded　to　chat　gaily。　The　girl　was　distrait；　however；　and　her　answers　were　mechanical　and　not　always　to　the　point。　It　was　when　they　were　approaching　the　Casino　once　more　that　she　seemed　to　e　to　a　decision。　

〃M。　Poirot？〃　

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle？〃　

〃I　…　I　should　like　to　help　you　if　I　could。〃　

〃You　are　very　amiable；　Mademoiselle　…　very　amiable。〃　

Again　there　was　a　pause。　Poirot　did　not　press　her。　He　was　quite　content　to　wait　and　let　her　take　her　own　time。　

〃Ah　bah；〃　said　Zia；　〃after　all；　why　should　I　not　tell　you？　My　father　is　cautious　…　very　cautious　in　everything　he　says。　But　I　know　that　with　you　it　is　not　necessary。　You　have　told　us　it　is　only　the　murderer　you　seek；　and　that　you　are　not　concerned　over　the　jewels。　I　believe　you。　You　were　quite　right　when　you　guessed　that　we　were　in　Nice　because　of　the　rubies。　They　have　been　handed　over　here　according　to　plan。　My　father　has　them　now。　He　gave　you　a　hint　the　other　day　as　to　who　our　mysterious　client　was。〃　

〃The　Marquis？〃　murmured　Poirot　softly。　

〃Yes；　the　Marquis。〃　

〃Have　you　ever　seen　the　Marquis；　Mademoiselle　Zia？〃　

〃Once；〃　said　the　girl。　〃But　not　very　well；〃　she　added。　〃It　was　through　a　keyhole。〃　

〃That　always　presents　difficulties；〃　said　Poirot　sympathetically；　〃but　all　the　same　you　saw　him。　You　would　know　him　again？〃　

Zia　shook　her　head。　

〃He　wore　a　mask；〃　she　explained。　

〃Young　or　old？〃　

〃He　had　white　hair。　It　may　have　been　a　wig；　it　may　not。　It　fitted　very　well。　But　I　do　not　think　he　was　old。　His　walk　was　young；　and　so　was　his　voice。〃　

〃His　voice？〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully。　〃Ah；　his　voice！　Would　you　know　it　again；　Mademoiselle　Zia？〃　

〃I　might；〃　said　the　girl。　

〃You　were　interested　in　him；　eh？　It　was　that　that　took　you　to　the　keyhole。〃　

Zia　nodded。　

〃Yes；　yes。　I　was　curious。　One　had　heard　so　much　…　he　is　not　the　ordinary　thief　…　he　is　more　like　a　figure　of　history　or　romance。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃yes；　perhaps　so。〃　

〃But　it　is　not　this　that　I　meant　to　tell　you；〃　said　Zia。　〃It　was　just　one　other　little　fact　that　I　thought　might　be　…　well　…　useful　to　you。〃　

〃Yes？〃　said　Poirot　encouragingly。　

〃The　rubies；　as　I　say；　were　handed　over　to　my　father　here　at　Nice。　I　did　not　see　the　person　who　handed　them　over；　but　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃I　know　one　thing。　It　was　a　woman。〃

Chapter　29　

A　LETTER　FROM　HOME

〃Dear　Katherine；
〃Living　among　grand　friends　as　you　are　doing　now；　I　don't　suppose　you　will　care　to　hear　any　of　our　news；　but　as　I　always　thought　you　were　a　sensible　girl；　perhaps　you　are　a　trifle　less　swollen…headed　than　I　suppose。　Everything　goes　on　much　the　same　here。　There　was　great　trouble　about　the　new　curate；　who　is　scandalously　high。　In　my　view；　he　is　neither　more　nor　less　than　a　Roman。　Everybody　has　spoken　to　the　Vicar　about　it；　but　you　know　what　the　Vicar　is　…　all　Christian　charity　and　no　proper　spirit。　I　have　had　a　lot　of　trouble　with　maids　lately。　That　girl　Annie　was　no　good　…　skirts　up　to　her　knees　and　wouldn't　wear　sensible　woollen　stockings。　Not　one　of　them　can　bear　being　spoken　to。　I　have　had　a　lot　of　pain　with　my　rheumatism　one　way　and　another；　and　Dr　Harris　persuaded　me　to　go　and　see　a　London　specialist　…　a　waste　of　three　guineas　and　a　railway　fare；　as　I　told　him；　but　by　waiting　until　Wednesday　I　managed　to　get　a　cheap　return。　The　London　doctor　pulled　a　long　face　and　talked　all　round　about　and　never　straight　out；　until　I　said　to　him；　'I'm　a　plain　woman；　Doctor；　and　I　like　things　to　be　plainly　stated。　Is　it　cancer；　or　is　it　not？'　And　then；　of　course；　he　had　to　say　it　was。　They　say　a　year　with　care；　and　not　too　much　pain；　though　I　am　sure　I　can　bear　pain　as　well　as　any　other　Christian　woman。　Life　seems　rather　lonely　at　times；　with　most　of　my　friends　dead　or　gone　before。　I　wish　you　were　in　St　Mary　Mead；　my　dear；　and　that　is　a　fact。　If　you　hadn't　e　into　this　money　and　gone　off　into　grand　society；　I　would　have　offered　you　double　the　salary　poor　Jane　gave　you　to　e　and　look　after　me；　but　there　…　there's　no　good　wanting　what　we　can't　get。　However；　if　things　should　go　ill　with　you　…　and　that　is　always　possible。　I　have　heard　no　end　of　tales　of　bogus　noblemen　marrying　girls　and　getting　hold　of　their　money　and　then　leaving　them　at　the　church　door。　I　dare　say　you　are　too　sensible　for　anything　of　the　kind　to　happen　to　you；　but　one　never　knows；　and　never　having　had　much　attention　of　any　kind　it　might　easily　go　to　your　head　now。　So　just　in　case；　my　dear；　remember　there　is　always　a　home　for　you　here；　and　though　a　plain…spoken　woman　I　am　a　warm…hearted　one　too。

〃Your　affectionate　old　friend；　
〃Amelia　Viner。
〃P。S。　…　I　saw　a　mention　of　you　in　the　paper　with　your　cousin；　Viscountess　Tamplin；　and　I　cut　it　out　and　put　it　with　my　cuttings。　I　prayed　for　you　on　Sunday　that　you　might　be　kept　from　pride　and　vain　glory。〃

Katherine　read　this　characteristic　epistle　through　twice；　then　she　laid　it　down　and　stared　out　of　her　bedroom　window　across　the　blue　waters　of　the　Mediterranean。　She　felt　a　curious　lump　in　her　throat。　A　sudden　wave　of　longing　for　St　Mary　Mead　swept　over　her。　So　full　of　familiar；　everyday；　stupid　little　things　…　and　yet　…　home。　She　felt　very　inclined　to　lay　her　head　down　on　her　arms　and　indulge　in　a　real　good　cry。　

Lenox；　ing　in　at　the　moment；　saved　her。　

〃Hello；　Katherine；〃　said　Lenox。　〃I　say　…　what　is　the　matter？〃　

〃Nothing；〃　said　Katherine；　grabbing　up　Miss　Viner's　letter　and　thrusting　it　into　her　handbag。　

〃You　looked　rather　queer；〃　said　Lenox。　〃I　say　…　I　hope　you　don't　mind　…　I　rang　up　your　detective　friend；　M。　Poirot；　and　asked　him　to　lunch　with　us　in　Nice。　I　said　you　wanted　to　see　him；　as　I　thought　he　might　not　e　for　me。〃　

〃Did　you　want　to　see　him　then？〃　asked　Katherine。　

〃Yes；〃　said　Lenox。　〃I　have　rather　lost　my　heart　to　him。　I　never　met　a　man　before　whose　eyes　were　really　green　like　a　cat's。〃　

〃All　right；〃　said　Katherine。　She　spoke　listlessly。　The　last　few　days　had　been　trying。　Derek　Kettering's　arrest　had　been　the　topic　of　the　hour；　and　the　Blue　Train　Mystery　had　been　thrashed　out　from　every　conceivable　standpoint。　

〃I　have　ordered　the　car；〃　said　Lenox；　〃and　I　have　told　Mother　some　lie　or　other　…　unfortunately　I　can't　remember　exactly　what；　but　it　won't　matter；　as　she　never　remembers。　If　she　knew　where　we　were　going；　she　would　want　to　e　too；　to　pump　M。　Poirot。〃　

The　two　girls　arrived　at　the　Negresco　to　find　Poirot　waiting。　

He　was　full　of　Gallic　politeness；　and　showered　so　many　pliments　upon　the　two　girls　that　they　were　soon　helpless　with　laughter；　yet　for　all　that　the　meal　was　not　a　gay　one。　Katherine　was　dreamy　and　distracted；　and　Lenox　made　bursts　of　conversation；　interspersed　by　silences。　As　they　were　sitting　on　the　terrace　sipping　their　coffee　she　suddenly　attacked　Poirot　bluntly。　

〃How　are　things　going？　You　know　what　I　mean？〃　

Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃They　take　their　course；〃　he　said。　

〃And　you　are　just　letting　them　take　their　course？〃　

He　looked　at　Lenox　a　little　sadly。　

〃You　are　young；　Mademoiselle；　but　there　are　three　things　that　cannot　be　hurried　…　le　bon　Dieu；　Nature；　and　old　people。〃　

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Lenox。　〃You　are　not　old。〃　

〃Ah；　it　is　pretty　what　you　say　there。〃　

〃Here　is　Major　Knighton；〃　said　Lenox。　Katherine　looked　round　quickly　and　then　turned　back　again。　

〃He　is　with　Mr　Van　Aldin；〃　continued　Lenox。　〃There　is　something　I　want　to　ask　Major　Knighton　about。　I　won't　be　a　minute。〃　

Left　alone　together；　Poirot　bent　forward　and　murmured　to　Katherine：　

〃You　are　distraite；　Mademoiselle；　your　thoughts；　they　are　far　away；　are　they　not？〃　

〃Just　as　far　as　England；　no　farther。〃　

Guided　by　a　sudden　impulse；　she　took　the　letter　she　had　received　that　morning　and　handed　it　across　to　him　to　read。　

〃That　is　the　first　word　that　has　e　to　me　from　my　old　life；　somehow　or　other　…　it　hurts。〃　

He　read　it　through　and　then　handed　it　back　to　her。　〃So　you　are　going　back　to　St　Mary　Mead？〃　he　said　slowly。　

〃No；　I　am　not；〃　said　Katherine；　〃why　should　I？〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Poirot；　〃it　is　my　mistake。　You　will　excuse　me　one　little　minute。〃　

He　strolled　across　to　where　Lenox　Tamplin　was　talking　to　Van　Aldin　and　Knighton。　

The　American　looked　old　and　haggard。　He　greeted　Poirot　with　a　curt　nod　but　without　any　other　sign　of　animation。　

As　he　turned　to　reply　to　some　observation　made　by　Lenox；　Poirot　drew　Knighton　aside。　

〃M。　Van　Aldin　looks　ill；〃　he　said。　

〃Do　you　wonder？〃　asked　Knighton。　〃The　scandal　of　Derek　Kettering's　arrest　has　about　put　the　lid　on　things；　as　far　as　he　is　concerned。　He　is　even　regretting　that　he　asked　you　to　find　out　the　truth。〃　

〃He　should　go　back　to　England；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃We　are　going　the　day　after　tomorrow。〃　

〃That　is　good　news；〃　said　Poirot。　

He　hesitated；　and　looked　across　the　terrace　to　where　Katherine　was　sitting。　

〃I　wish；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　you　could　tell　Miss　Grey　that。〃　

〃Tell　her　what？〃　

〃That　you　…　I　mean　that　M。　Van　Aldin　is　I　returning　to　England。〃　

Knighton