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er　when　you　look　at　them；　and　the　most　ridiculous　shoes　that　ever　I　set　eyes　on'。〃　

Katherine　smiled　a　little　to　herself；　it　had　apparently　been　worth　while　to　conform　to　Miss　Viner's　prejudices。　The　old　lady　went　on　with　increasing　gusto。　

〃It　has　been　a　great　relief　to　me　that　you　have　not　had　your　head　turned。　Only　the　other　day　I　was　looking　for　my　cuttings。　I　have　several　about　Lady　Tamplin　and　her　War　Hospital　and　what　not；　but　I　cannot　lay　my　hand　upon　them。　I　wish　you　would　look；　my　dear；　your　eyesight　is　better　than　mine。　They　are　all　in　a　box　in　the　bureau　drawer。〃　

Katherine　glanced　down　at　the　letter　in　her　hand　and　was　about　to　speak；　but　checked　herself；　and　going　over　to　the　bureau　found　the　box　of　cuttings　and　began　to　look　over　them。　Since　her　return　to　St　Mary　Mead　her　heart　had　gone　out　to　Miss　Viner　in　admiration　of　the　old　woman's　stoicism　and　pluck。　She　felt　that　there　was　little　she　could　do　for　her　old　friend；　but　she　knew　from　experience　how　much　those　seemingly　small　trifles　meant　to　old　people。　

〃Here　is　one；〃　she　said　presently。　〃'Viscountess　Tamplin；　who　is　running　her　villa　at　Nice　as　an　Officers'　Hospital；　has　just　been　the　victim　of　a　sensational　robbery；　her　jewels　having　been　stolen。　Amongst　them　were　some　very　famous　emeralds；　heirlooms　of　the　Tamplin　family。'〃　

〃Probably　paste；〃　said　Miss　Viner；　〃a　lot　of　these　Society　women's　jewels　are。〃　

〃Here　is　another；〃　said　Katherine。　〃A　picture　of　her；　'A　charming　camera　study　of　Viscountess　Tamplin　with　her　little　daughter　Lenox。'〃　

〃Let　me　look；〃　said　Miss　Viner。　〃You　can't　see　much　of　the　child's　face；　can　you？　But　I　dare　say　that　is　just　as　well。　Things　go　by　contraries　in　this　world　and　beautiful　mothers　have　hideous　children。　I　dare　say　the　photographer　realized　that　to　take　the　back　of　the　child's　head　was　the　best　thing　he　could　do　for　her。〃　

Katherine　laughed。　

〃'One　of　the　smartest　hostesses　on　the　Riviera　this　season　is　Viscountess　Tamplin；　who　has　a　villa　at　Cap　Martin。　Her　cousin；　Miss　Grey；　who　recently　inherited　a　vast　fortune　in　a　most　romantic　manner；　is　staying　with　her　there。'〃　

〃That　is　the　one　I　wanted；〃　said　Miss　Viner。　〃I　expect　there　has　been　a　picture　of　you　in　one　of　the　papers　that　I　have　missed；　you　know　the　kind　of　thing。　Mrs　Somebody　or　other　Jones…Williams；　at　the　something　or　other　point…to…point；　usually　carrying　a　shooting…stick　and　having　one　foot　lifted　up　in　the　air。　It　must　be　a　trial　to　some　of　them　to　see　what　they　look　like。〃　

Katherine　did　not　answer。　She　was　smoothing　out　the　cutting　with　her　finger；　and　her　face　had　a　puzzled；　worried　look。　Then　she　drew　the　second　letter　out　of　its　envelope　and　mastered　its　contents　once　more。　She　turned　to　her　friend。　

〃Miss　Viner？　I　wonder　…　there　is　a　friend　of　mine；　someone　I　met　on　the　Riviera；　who　wants　very　much　to　e　down　and　see　me　here？〃　

〃A　man；〃　said　Miss　Viner。　

〃Yes。〃　

〃Who　is　he？〃　

〃He　is　secretary　to　Mr　Van　Aldin；　the　American　millionaire。〃　

〃What　is　his　name？〃　

〃Knighton；　Major　Knighton。〃　

〃Hm　…　secretary　to　a　millionaire。　And　wants　to　e　down　here。　Now；　Katherine；　I　am　going　to　say　something　to　you　for　your　own　good。　You　are　a　nice　girl　and　a　sensible　girl；　and　though　you　have　your　head　screwed　on　the　right　way　about　most　things；　every　woman　makes　a　fool　of　herself　once　in　her　life。　Ten　to　one　what　this　man　is　after　is　your　money。〃　

With　a　gesture　she　arrested　Katherine's　reply。　〃I　have　been　waiting　for　something　of　this　kind。　What　is　a　secretary　to　a　millionaire？　Nine　times　out　of　ten　it　is　a　young　man　who　likes　living　soft。　A　young　man　with　nice　manners　and　a　taste　for　luxury　and　no　brains　and　no　enterprise；　and　if　there　is　anything　that　is　a　softer　job　than　being　a　secretary　to　a　millionaire　it　is　marrying　a　rich　woman　for　her　money。　I　am　not　saying　that　you　might　not　be　some　man's　fancy。　But　you　are　not　young；　and　though　you　have　a　very　good　plexion　you　are　not　a　beauty；　and　what　I　say　to　you　is；　don't　make　a　fool　of　yourself；　but　if　you　are　determined　to　do　so；　do　see　that　your　money　is　properly　tied　up　on　yourself。　There；　now　I　have　finished。　What　have　you　got　to　say？〃　

〃Nothing；〃　said　Katherine；　〃but　would　you　mind　if　he　did　e　down　to　see　me？〃　

〃I　wash　my　hands　of　it；〃　said　Miss　Viner。　〃I　have　done　my　duty；　and　whatever　happens　now　is　on　your　own　head。　Would　you　like　him　to　lunch　or　to　dinner？　I　dare　say　Ellen　could　manage　dinner　…　that　is；　if　she　didn't　lose　her　head。〃　

〃Lunch　would　be　very　nice；〃　said　Katherine。　〃It　is　awfully　kind　of　you；　Miss　Viner。　He　asked　me　to　ring　him　up；　so　I　will　do　so　and　say　that　we　shall　be　pleased　if　he　will　lunch　with　us。　He　will　motor　down　from　town。〃　

〃Ellen　does　a　steak　with　grilled　tomatoes　pretty　fairly；〃　said　Miss　Viner。　〃She　doesn't　do　it　well；　but　she　does　it　better　than　anything　else。　It　is　no　good　having　a　tart　because　she　is　heavy　handed　with　pastry；　but　her　little　castle　puddings　are　not　bad；　and　I　dare　say　you　could　find　a　nice　piece　of　Stilton　at　Abbot's。　I　have　always　heard　that　gentlemen　like　a　nice　piece　of　Stilton；　and　there　is　a　good　deal　of　father's　wine　left；　a　bottle　of　sparkling　Moselle；　perhaps。〃　

〃Oh　no；　Miss　Viner；　that　is　really　not　necessary。〃　

〃Nonsense；　my　child。　No　gentleman　is　happy　unless　he　drinks　something　with　his　meal。　There　is　some　good　pre…war　whisky　if　you　think　he　would　prefer　that。　Now　do　as　I　say　and　don't　argue。　The　key　of　the　wine…cellar　is　in　the　third　drawer　down　in　the　dressing…table；　in　the　second　pair　of　stockings　on　the　left…hand　side。〃　

Katherine　went　obediently　to　the　spot　indicated。　

〃The　second　pair；　now　mind；〃　said　Miss　Viner。　〃The　first　pair　has　my　diamond　earrings　and　my　filigree　brooch　in　it。〃　

〃Oh；〃　said　Katherine；　rather　taken　aback；　〃wouldn't　you　like　them　put　in　your　jewel…case？〃　

Miss　Viner　gave　vent　to　a　terrific　and　prolonged　snort。　

〃No；　indeed！　I　have　much　too　much　sense　for　that　sort　of　thing；　thank　you。　Dear；　dear；　I　well　remember　how　my　poor　father　had　a　safe　built　in　downstairs。　Pleased　as　Punch　he　was　with　it；　and　he　said　to　my　mother；　'Now；　Mary；　you　bring　me　your　jewels　in　their　case　every　night　and　I　will　lock　them　away　for　you。'　My　mother　was　a　very　tactful　woman；　and　she　knew　that　gentlemen　like　having　their　own　way；　and　she　brought　him　the　jewel…case　locked　up　just　as　he　said。　

〃And　one　night　burglars　broke　in；　and　of　course　…　naturally　…　the　first　thing　they　went　for　was　the　safe！　It　would　be；　with　my　father　talking　up　and　down　the　village　and　bragging　about　it　until　you　might　have　thought　he　kept　all　King　Solomon's　diamonds　there。　They　made　a　clean　sweep；　got　the　tankards；　the　silver　cups；　and　the　presentation　gold　plate　that　my　father　had　had　presented　to　him；　and　the　jewel…case。〃　

She　sighed　reminiscently。　〃My　father　was　in　a　great　state　over　my　mother's　jewels。　There　was　the　Veian　set　and　some　very　fine　cameos；　and　some　pale　pink　corals；　and　two　diamond　rings　with　quite　large　stones　in　them。　And　then；　of　course；　she　had　to　tell　him　that；　being　a　sensible　woman；　she　had　kept　her　jewellery　rolled　up　in　a　pair　of　corsets；　and　there　it　was　still　as　safe　as　anything。〃　

〃And　the　jepty？〃　

〃Oh　no；　dear；〃　said　Miss　Viner；　〃it　would　have　been　too　light　a　weight　then。　My　mother　was　a　very　intelligent　woman；　she　saw　to　that。　She　kept　her　buttons　in　the　jewel…case；　and　a　very　handy　place　it　was。　Boot　buttons　in　the　top　tray；　trouser　buttons　in　the　second　tray；　and　assorted　buttons　below。　Curiously　enough；　my　father　was　quite　annoyed　with　her。　He　said　he　didn't　like　deceit。　But　I　mustn't　go　chattering　on；　you　want　to　go　and　ring　up　your　friend；　and　mind　you　choose　a　nice　piece　of　steak；　and　tell　Ellen　she　is　not　to　have　holes　in　her　stockings　when　she　waits　at　lunch。〃　

〃Is　her　name　Ellen　or　Helen；　Miss　Viner？　I　thought　…〃　

Miss　Viner　closed　her　eyes。　

〃I　can　sound　my　h's；　dear；　as　well　as　anyone；　but　Helen　is　not　a　suitable　name　for　a　servant。　I　don't　know　what　the　mothers　in　the　lower　classes　are　ing　to　nowadays。〃　

The　rain　had　cleared　away　when　Knighton　arrived　at　the　cottage。　The　pale　fitful　sunshine　shone　down　on　it　and　burnished　Katherine's　head　as　she　stood　in　the　doorway　to　wele　him。　He　came　up　to　her　quickly；　almost　boyishly。　

〃I　say；　I　hope　you　don't　mind。　I　simply　had　to　see　you　again　soon。　I　hope　the　friend　you　are　staying　with　does　not　mind。〃　

〃e　in　and　make　friends　with　her；〃　said　Katherine。　〃She　can　be　most　alarming；　but　you　will　soon　find　that　she　has　the　softest　heart　in　the　world。〃　

Miss　Viner　was　enthroned　majestically　in　the　drawing…room；　wearing　a　plete　set　of　the　cameos　which　had　been　so　providentially　preserved　in　the　family。　She　greeted　Knighton　with　dignity　and　an　austere　politeness　which　would　have　damped　many　men。　Knighton；　however；　had　a　charm　of　manner　which　was　not　easily　set　aside；　and　after　about　ten　minutes　Miss　Viner　thawed　perceptibly。　Luncheon　was　a　merry　meal；　and　Ellen；　or　Helen；　in　a　new　pair　of　silk　stockings　devoid　of　ladders　performed　prodigies　of　waiting。　Afterwards；　Katherine　and　Knighton　went　for　a　walk　and　they　came　back　to　have　tea　tête…а…tête；　since　Miss　Viner　had　gone　to　lie　down。　

When　the　car　had　finally　driven　off　Katherine　went　slowly　upstairs。　A　voice　called　her　and　she　went　in　to　Miss　Viner's　bedroom。　

〃Friend　gone？〃　

〃Yes。　Thank　you　so　much　for　letting　me　ask　him　down。〃　

〃No　need　to　thank　me。　Do　you　think　I　am　the　sort　of　old　curmudgeon　who　will　never　do　anything　for　anybody？〃　

〃I　think　you　are　a　dear；〃　said　Katherine　affectionately。　

〃Humph；〃　said　Miss　Viner　mollified。　

As　Katherine　was　leaving　the　room　she　called　her　back。　

〃Katherine？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃I　was　wrong　about　that　young　man　of　yours。　A　man　when　he　is　making　up　to　anybody　can　be　cordial　and　gallant　and　full　of　little　attentions　and　altogether　charming。　But　when　a　man　is　really　in　love　he　can't　help　looking　like　a　sheep。　Now；　whenever　that　young　man　looked　at　you　he　looked　like　a　sheep。　I　take　back　all　I　said　this　morning。　It　is　genuine。〃　


Chapter　31　

MR　AARONS　LUNCHES

〃Ah！〃　said　Mr　Joseph　Aarons　appreciatively。　

He　took　a　long　draught　from　his　tankard；　set　it　down　with　a　sigh；　wiped　the　froth　from　his　lips；　and　beamed　across　the　table　at　his　host；　Monsieur　Hercule　Poirot。　

〃Give　me；〃　said　Mr　Aarons；　〃a　good　Porterhouse　steak　and　a　tankard　of　something　worth　drinking；　and　anyone　can　have　your　French　fallals　and　whatnots；　your　ordoovres　and　your　omelettes　and　your　little　bits　of　quail。　Give　me；〃　he　reiterated；　〃a　Porterhouse　steak。〃　

Poirot；　who　had　just　plied　pathetically。　

〃Not　that　there　is　much　wrong　with　a　steak　and　kidney　pudding；〃　continued　Mr　Aarons。　〃Apple　tart？　Yes；　I　will　take　apple　tart；　thank　you；　Miss；　and　a　jug　of　cream。〃　

The　meal　proceeded。　Finally；　with　a　long　sigh；　Mr　Aarons　laid　down　his　spoon　and　fork　preparatory　to　toying　with　some　cheese　before　turning　his　mind　to　other　matters。　

〃There　was　a　little　matter　of　business　I　think　you　said；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　he　remarked。　〃Anything　I　can　do　to　help　you　I　am　sure　I　shall　be　most　happy。〃　

〃That　is　very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　said　to　myself；　'If　you　want　to　know　anything　about　the　dramatic　profession　there　is　one　person　who　knows　all　that　is　to　be　known　and　that　is　my　old　friend；　Mr　Joseph　Aarons。'〃　

〃And　you　don't　say　far　wrong；〃　said　Mr　Aarons　placently；　〃whether　it　is　past；　present；　or　future；　Joe　Aarons　is　the　man　to　e　to。〃　

〃Précisément。　Now　I　want　to　ask　you；　Monsieur　Aarons；　what　you　know　about　a　young　woman　called　Kidd。〃　

〃Kidd？　Kitty　Kidd？〃　

〃Kitty　Kidd。〃　

〃Pretty　smart；　she　was。　Male　impersonator；　song　and　a　dance　…　That　one？〃　

〃That　is　the　one。〃　

〃Very　smart；　she　was。　Made　a　good　ine。　Never　out　of　an　engagement。　Male　impersonation　mostly；　but；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　you　could　not　touch　her　as　a　character　actress。〃　

〃So　I　have　heard；〃　said　Poirot；　〃but　she　has　not　been　appearing　lately；　has　she？〃　

〃No。　Dropped　right　out　of　things。　Went　over　to　France　and　took　up　with　some　swell　nobleman　there。　She　quitted　the　stage　then　for　good　and　all；　I　guess。〃　

〃How　long　ago　was　that？〃　

〃Let　me　see。　Three　years　ago。　And　she　has　been　a　loss　…　let　me　tell　you　that。〃　

〃She　was　clever？〃　

〃Clever　as　a　cartload　of　monkeys。〃　

〃You　don't　know　the　name　of　the　man　she　became　fri