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〃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　looked　a　little　puzzled；　but　he　readily　crossed　the　terrace　and　joined　Katherine。　

Poirot　saw　him　go　with　a　satisfied　nod　of　the　head；　and　then　joined　Lenox　and　the　American。　After　a　minute　or　two　they　joined　the　others。　Conversation　was　general　for　a　few　minutes；　then　the　millionaire　and　his　secretary　departed。　Poirot　also　prepared　to　take　his　departure。　

〃A　thousand　thanks　for　your　hospitality；　Mesdemoiselles；〃　he　cried；　〃it　has　been　a　most　charming　luncheon。　Ma　foi；　I　needed　it！〃　He　swelled　out　his　chest　and　thumped　it。　〃I　am　now　a　lion　…　a　giant。　Ah；　Mademoiselle　Katherine；　you　have　not　seen　me　as　I　can　be。　You　have　seen　the　gentle；　the　calm　Hercule　Poirot；　but　there　is　another　Hercule　Poirot。　I　go　now　to　bully；　to　threaten；　to　strike　terror　into　the　hearts　of　those　who　listen　to　me。〃　

He　looked　at　them　in　a　self…satisfied　way；　and　they　both　appeared　to　be　duly　impressed；　though　Lenox　was　biting　her　under　lip；　and　the　corners　of　Katherine's　mouth　had　a　suspicious　twitch。　

〃And　I　shall　do　it；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃Oh　yes；　I　shall　succeed。〃　

He　had　gone　but　a　few　steps　when　Katherine's　voice　made　him　turn。　

〃M。　Poirot；　I　…　I　want　to　tell　you。　I　think　you　were　right　in　what　you　said。　I　am　going　back　to　England　almost　immediately。〃　

Poirot　stared　at　her　very　hard；　and　under　the　directness　of　his　scrutiny　she　blushed。　

〃I　see；〃　he　said　gravely。　

〃I　don't　believe　you　do；〃　said　Katherine。　

〃I　know　more　than　you　think；　Mademoiselle；〃　he　said　quietly。　

He　left　her；　with　an　odd　little　smile　upon　his　lips。　Entering　a　waiting　car；　he　drove　to　Antibes。　

Hippolyte；　the　te　de　la　Roche's　wooden…faced　man…servant；　was　busy　at　the　Villa　Marina　polishing　his　master's　beautiful　cut…glass　table。　The　te　de　la　Roche　himself　had　gone　to　Monte　Carlo　for　the　day。　

Chancing　to　look　out　of　the　window；　Hippolyte　espied　a　visitor　walking　briskly　up　to　the　hall　door；　a　visitor　of　so　unmon　a　type　that　Hippolyte；　experienced　as　he　was；　had　some　difficulty　in　placing　him。　Calling　to　his　wife；　Marie；　who　was　busy　in　the　kitchen；　he　drew　her　attention　to　what　he　called　ce　type　là。　

〃It　is　not　the　police　again？〃　said　Marie　anxiously。　

〃Look　for　yourself；〃　said　Hippolyte。　

Marie　looked。　

〃Certainly　not　the　police；〃　she　declared。　〃I　am　glad。〃　

〃They　have　not　really　worried　us　much；〃　said　Hippolyte。　〃In　fact；　but　for　Monsieur　le　te's　warning；　I　should　never　have　guessed　that　stranger　at　the　wine…shop　to　be　what　he　was。〃　

The　hall　bell　pealed　and　Hippolyte；　in　a　grave　and　decorous　manner；　went　to　open　the　door。　

〃M。　le　te；　I　regret　to　say；　is　not　at　home。〃　

The　little　man　with　the　large　moustaches　beamed　placidly。　

〃I　know　that；〃　he　replied。　〃You　are　Hippolyte　Flavelle；　are　you　not？〃　

〃Yes；　Monsieur；　that　is　my　name。〃　

〃And　you　have　a　wife；　Marie　Flavelle？〃　

〃Yes；　Monsieur；　but　…〃　

〃I　desire　to　see　you　both；〃　said　the　stranger；　and　he　stepped　nimbly　past　Hippolyte　into　the　hall。　

〃Your　wife　is　doubtless　in　the　kitchen；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　go　there。〃　

Before　Hippolyte　could　recover　his　breath；　the　other　had　selected　the　right　door　at　the　back　of　the　hall　and　passed　along　the　passage　and　into　the　kitchen；　where　Marie　paused　open…mouthed　to　stare　at　him。　

〃Voilà；〃　said　the　stranger；　and　sank　into　a　wooden　armchair；　〃I　am　Hercule　Poirot。〃　

〃Yes；　Monsieur？〃　

〃You　do　not　know　the　name？〃　

〃I　have　never　heard　it；〃　said　Hippolyte。　

〃Permit　me　to　say　that　you　have　been　badly　educated。　It　is　the　name　of　one　of　the　great　ones　of　this　world。〃　

He　sighed　and　folded　his　hands　across　his　chest。　

Hippolyte　and　Marie　were　staring　at　him　uneasily。　They　were　at　a　loss　what　to　make　of　this　unexpected　and　extremely　strange　visitor。　

〃Monsieur　desires　…〃　murmured　Hippolyte　mechanically。　

〃I　desire　to　know　why　you　have　lied　to　the　police。〃　

〃Monsieur！〃　cried　Hippolyte；　〃I　…　lied　to　the　police？　Never　have　I　done　such　a　thing。〃　

M。　Poirot　shook　his　head。　

〃You　are　wrong；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　done　on　several　occasions。　Let　me　see。〃　He　took　small　notebook　from　his　pocket　and　consulted　it。　〃Ah；　yes；　on　seven　occasions　at　least。　I　will　recite　them　to　you。〃　

In　a　gentle　unemotional　voice　he　proceeded　to　outline　the　seven　occasions。　

Hippolyte　was　taken　aback。　

〃But　it　is　not　of　these　past　lapses　that　I　wish　to　speak；〃　continued　Poirot；　〃only；　my　dear　friend；　do　not　get　into　the　habit　of　thinking　yourself　too　clever。　I　e　now　to　the　particular　lie　in　which　I　am　concerned　…　your　statement　that　the　te　de　la　Roche　arrived　at　this　villa　on　the　morning　of　14th　January。〃　

〃But　that　was　no　lie；　Monsieur；　that　was　the　truth。　Monsieur　le　te　arrived　here　on　the　morning　of　Tuesday；　the　14th。　That　is　so；　Marie；　is　it　not？〃　

Marie　assented　eagerly。　

〃Ah；　yes；　that　is　quite　right。　I　remember　it　perfectly。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Poirot；　〃and　what　did　you　give　your　good　master　for　déjeuner　that　day？〃　

〃I　…〃　Marie　paused；　trying　to　collect　herself。　

〃Odd；〃　said　Poirot；　〃how　one　remembers　some　things　…　and　forgets　others。〃　

He　leant　forward　and　struck　the　table　a　blow　with　his　fist；　his　eyes　flashed　with　anger。　

〃Yes；　yes；　it　is　as　I　say。　You　tell　your　lies　and　you　think　nobody　knows。　But　there　are　two　people　who　know。　Yes　…　two　people。　One　is　le　bon　Dieu　…〃　

He　raised　a　hand　to　heaven；　and　then　settling　himself　back　in　his　chair　and　shutting　his　eyelids；　he　murmured　fortably：　

〃And　the　other　is　Hercule　Poirot。〃　

〃I　assure　you；　Monsieur；　you　are　pletely　mistaken。　Monsieur　le　te　left　Paris　on　Monday　night　…〃　

〃True；〃　said　Poirot；　〃by　the　Rapide。　I　do　not　know　where　he　broke　his　journey。　Perhaps　you　do　not　know　that。　What　I　do　know　is　that　he　arrived　here　on　Wednesday　morning；　and　not　on　Tuesday　morning。〃　

〃Monsieur　is　mistaken；〃　said　Marie　stolidly。　

Poirot　rose　to　his　feet。　

〃Then　the　law　must　take　its　course；〃　he　murmured。　〃A　pity。〃　

〃What　do　you　mean；　Monsieur？〃　asked　Marie；　with　a　shade　of　uneasiness。　

〃You　will　be　arrested　and　held　as　acplices　concerned　in　the　murder　of　Mrs　Kettering；　the　English　lady　who　was　killed。〃　

〃Murder！〃　

The　man's　face　had　gone　chalk　white；　his　knees　knocked　together。　Marie　dropped　the　rolling…pin　and　began　to　weep。　

〃But　it　is　impossible　…　impossible。　I　thought　…〃　

〃Since　you　stick　to　your　story；　there　is　nothing　to　be　said。　I　think　you　are　both　foolish。〃　

He　was　turning　towards　the　door　when　an　agitated　voice　arrested　him。　

〃Monsieur；　Monsieur；　just　a　little　moment。　I　…　I　had　no　idea　that　it　was　anything　of　this　kind。　I　…　I　thought　it　was　just　a　matter　concerning　a　lady。　There　have　been　little　awkwardnesses　with　the　police　over　ladies　before。　But　murder　…　that　is　very　different。〃　

〃I　have　no　patience　with　you；〃　cried　Poirot。　He　turned　round　on　them　and　angrily　shook　his　fist　in　Hippolyte's　face。　〃Am　I　to　stop　here　all　day；　arguing　with　a　couple　of　imbeciles　thus？　It　is　the　truth　I　want。　If　you　will　not　give　it　to　me；　that　is　your　look　out。　For　the　last　time；　when　did　Monsieur　le　te　arrive　at　the　Villa　Marina　…　Tuesday　morning　or　Wednesday　morning？〃　

〃Wednesday；〃　gasped　the　man；　and　behind　him　Marie　nodded　confirmation。　

Poirot　regarded　them　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　inclined　his　head　gravely。　

〃You　are　wise；　my　children；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Very　nearly　you　were　in　serious　trouble。〃　

He　left　the　Villa　Marina；　smiling　to　himself。　

〃One　guess　confirmed；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　〃Shall　I　take　a　chance　on　the　other？〃　

It　was　six　o'clock　when　the　card　of　Monsieur　Hercule　Poirot　was　brought　up　to　Mirelle。　

She　stared　at　it　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　nodded。　When　Poirot　entered；　he　found　her　walking　up　and　down　the　room　feverishly。　She　turned　on　him　furiously。　

〃Well？〃　she　cried。　〃Well？　What　is　it　now？　Have　you　not　tortured　me　enough；　all　of　you？　Have　you　not　made　me　betray　my　poor　Dereek？　What　more　do　you　want？〃　

〃Just　one　little　question；　Mademoiselle。　After　the　train　left　Lyons；　when　you　entered　Mrs　Kettering's　partment　…〃　

〃What　is　that？〃　

Poirot　looked　at　her　with　an　air　of　mild　reproach　and　began　again。　

〃I　say　when　you　entered　Mrs　Kettering's　partment　…〃　

〃I　never　did。〃　

〃And　found　her　…〃　

〃I　never　did。〃　

〃Ah；　sacré！〃　

He　turned　on　her　in　a　rage　and　shouted　at　her；　so　that　she　cowered　back　before　him。　

〃Will　you　lie　to　me？　I　tell　you　I　know　what　happened　as　well　as　though　I　had　been　there。　You　went　into　her　partment　and　you　found　her　dead。　I　tell　you　I　know　it。　To　lie　to　me　is　dangerous。　Be　careful；　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃　

Her　eyes　wavered　beneath　his　gaze　and　fell。　

〃I　…　I　didn't　…〃　she　began　uncertainly　and　stopped。　

〃There　is　only　one　thing　about　which　I　wonder；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　wonder；　Mademoiselle；　if　you　found　what　you　were　looking　for　or　whether　…〃　

〃Whether　what？〃　

〃Or　whether　someone　else　had　been　before　you。〃　

〃I　ed　the　dancer。　She　tore　herself　away　from　Poirot's　restraining　hand；　and　flinging　herself　down　on　the　floor　in　a　frenzy；　she　screamed　and　sobbed。　A　frightened　maid　came　rushing　in。　

Hercule　Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders；　raised　his　eyebro。　

But　he　seemed　satisfied。

Chapter　30　

MISS　VINER　GIVES　JUDGMENT

Katherine　looked　out　of　Miss　Viner's　bedroom　window。　It　was　raining；　not　violently；　but　with　a　quiet；　well…bred　persistence。　The　window　looked　out　on　a　strip　of　front　garden　with　a　path　down　to　the　gate　and　neat　little　flower…beds　on　either　side；　where　later　roses　and　pinks　and　blue　hyacinths　would　bloom。　Miss　Viner　was　lying　in　a　large　Victorian　bedstead。　A　tray　with　the　remains　of　breakfast　had　been　pushed　to　one　side　and　she　was　busy　opening　her　correspondence　and　making　various　caustic　ments　upon　it。　

Katherine　had　an　open　letter　in　her　hand　and　was　reading　it　through　for　the　second　time。　It　was　dated　from　the　Ritz　Hotel；　Paris。
〃Chère　Mademoiselle　Katherine　（it　began）；
〃I　trust　that　you　are　in　good　health　and　that　the　return　to　the　English　winter　has　not　proved　too　depressing。　Me；　I　prosecute　my　inquiries　with　the　utmost　diligence。　Do　not　think　that　it　is　the　holiday　that　I　take　here。　Very　shortly　I　shall　be　in　England；　and　I　hope　then　to　have　the　pleasure　of　meeting　you　once　more。　It　shall　be　so；　shall　it　not？　On　arrival　in　London　I　shall　write　to　you。　You　remember　that　we　are　the　colleagues　in　this　affair？　But　indeed　I　think　you　know　that　very　well。　

〃Be　assured；　Mademoiselle；　of　my　most　respectful　and　devoted　sentiments。
〃Hercule　Poirot。〃
Katherine　frowned　slightly。　It　was　as　though　something　in　the　letter　puzzled　and　intrigued　her。　

〃A　choir　boys'　picnic　indeed；〃　came　from　Miss　Viner。　〃Tommy　Saunders　and　Albert　Dykes　ought　to　be　left　behind；　and　I　shan't　subscribe　to　it　unless　they　are。　What　those　two　boys　think　they　are　doing　in　church　on　Sundays　I　don't　know。　Tommy　sang；　'O　God；　make　speed　to　save　us；'　and　never　opened　his　lips　again；　and　if　Albert　Dykes　wasn't　sucking　a　mint　humbug；　my　nose　is　not　what　it　is　and　always　has　been。〃　

〃I　know；　they　are　awful；〃　agreed　Katherine。　

She　opened　her　second　letter；　and　a　sudden　flush　came　to　her　cheeks。　Miss　Viner's　voice　in　the　room　seemed　to　recede　into　the　far　distance。　

When　she　came　back　to　a　sense　of　her　surroundings　Miss　Viner　was　bringing　a　long　speech　to　a　triumphant　termination。　

〃And　I　said　to　her；　'Not　at　all。　As　it　happens；　Miss　Grey　is　Lady　Tamplin's　own　cousin。'　What　do　you　think　of　that？〃　

〃Were　you　fighting　my　battles　for　me？　That　was　very　sweet　of　you。〃　

〃You　can　put　it　that　way　if　you　like。　There　is　nothing　to　me　in　a　title。　Vicar's　wife　or　no　vicar's　wife；　that　woman　is　a　cat。　Hinting　you　had　bought　your　way　into　Society。〃　

〃Perhaps　she　was　not　so　very　far　wrong。〃　

〃And　look　at　you；〃　continued　Miss　Viner。　〃Have　you　e　back　a　stuck…up　fine　lady；　as　well　you　might　have　done？　No；　there　you　are；　as　sensible　as　ever　you　were；　with　a　pair　of　good　Balbriggan　stockings　on　and　sensible　shoes。　I　spoke　to　Ellen　about　it　only　yesterday。　'Ellen；'　I　said；　'you　look　at　Miss　Grey。　She　has　been　hobnobbing　with　some　of　the　greatest　in　the　land；　and　does　she　go　about　as　you　do　with　skirts　up　to　her　knees　and　silk　stockings　that　ladder　when　you　look　at　them；　and　the