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Chapter　33　

A　NEW　THEORY

〃Monsieur　Poirot　wants　to　see　you；　sir。〃　

〃Damn　the　fellow！〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

Knighton　remained　sympathetically　silent。　Van　Aldin　got　up　from　his　chair　and　paced　up　and　down。　

〃I　suppose　you　have　seen　the　cursed　newspapers　this　morning？〃　

〃I　have　glanced　at　them；　sir。〃　

〃Still　at　it　hammer　and　tongs？〃　

〃I　am　afraid　so；　sir。〃　

The　millionaire　sat　down　again　and　pressed　his　hand　to　his　forehead。　

〃If　I　had　had　an　idea　of　this；〃　he　groaned。　〃I　wish　to　God　I　had　never　got　that　little　Belgian　to　ferret　out　the　truth。　Find　Ruth's　murderer　…　that　was　all　I　thought　about。〃　

〃You　wouldn't　have　liked　your　son…in…law　to　go　scot　free？〃　

Van　Aldin　sighed。　

〃I　would　have　preferred　to　take　the　law　into　my　own　hands。〃　

〃I　don't　think　that　would　have　been　a　very　wise　proceeding；　sir。〃　

〃All　the　same　…　are　you　sure　the　fellow　wants　to　see　me？〃　

〃Yes；　Mr　Van　Aldin。　He　is　very　urgent　about　it。〃　

〃Then　I　suppose　he　will　have　to。　He　can　e　along　this　morning　if　he　likes。〃　

It　was　a　very　fresh　and　debonair　Poirot　who　was　ushered　in。　He　did　not　seem　to　see　any　lack　of　cordiality　in　the　millionaire's　manner；　and　chatted　pleasantly　about　various　trifles。　He　was　in　London；　he　explained；　to　see　his　doctor。　He　mentioned　the　name　of　an　eminent　surgeon。　

〃No；　no；　pas　la　guerre　…　a　memory　of　my　days　in　the　police　force；　a　bullet　of　a　rascally　Apache。〃　

He　touched　his　left　shoulder　and　winced　realistically。　

〃I　always　consider　you　a　lucky　man；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　you　are　not　like　our　popular　idea　of　American　millionaires；　martyrs　to　the　dyspepsia。〃　

〃I　am　pretty　tough；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃I　lead　a　very　simple　life；　you　know；　plain　fare　and　not　too　much　of　it。〃　

〃You　have　seen　something　of　Miss　Grey；　have　you　not？〃　inquired　Poirot；　innocently　turning　to　the　secretary。　

〃I　…　yes；　once　or　twice；〃　said　Knighton。　

He　blushed　slightly　and　Van　Aldin　exclaimed　in　surprise：　

〃Funny　you　never　mentioned　to　me　that　you　had　seen　her；　Knighton？〃　

〃I　didn't　think　you　would　be　interested；　sir。〃　

〃I　like　that　girl　very　much；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃It　is　a　thousand　pities　that　she　should　have　buried　herself　once　more　in　St　Mary　Mead；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃It　is　very　fine　of　her；〃　said　Knighton　hotly。　〃There　are　very　few　people　who　would　bury　themselves　down　there　to　look　after　a　cantankerous　old　woman　who　has　no　earthly　claim　on　her。〃　

〃I　am　silent；〃　said　Poirot；　his　eyes　twinkling　a　little；　〃but　all　the　same　I　say　it　is　a　pity。　And　now；　Messieurs；　let　us　e　to　business。〃　

Both　the　other　men　looked　at　him　in　some　surprise。　

〃You　must　not　be　shocked　or　alarmed　at　what　I　am　about　to　say。　Supposing；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　that；　after　all；　Monsieur　Derek　Kettering　did　not　murder　his　wife？〃　

〃What？〃　

Both　men　stared　at　him　in　blank　surprise。　

〃Supposing；　I　say；　that　Monsieur　Derek　Kettering　did　not　murder　his　wife？〃　

〃Are　you　mad；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

It　was　Van　Aldin　who　spoke。　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　am　not　mad。　I　am　eccentric；　perhaps　…　at　least　certain　people　say　so；　but　as　regards　my　profession；　I　am　very　much；　as　one　says；　'all　there。'　I　ask　you；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　whether　you　would　be　glad　or　sorry　if　what　I　tell　you　should　be　the　case？〃　

Van　Aldin　stared　at　him。　〃Naturally　I　should　be　glad；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Is　this　an　exercise　in　suppositions；　Monsieur　Poirot；　or　are　there　any　facts　behind　it？〃　

Poirot　looked　at　the　ceiling。　

〃There　is　an　off…chance；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃that　it　might　be　the　te　de　la　Roche　after　all。　At　least　I　have　succeeded　in　upsetting　his　alibi。〃　

〃How　did　you　manage　that？〃　

Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders　modestly。　

〃I　have　my　own　methods。　The　exercise　of　a　little　tact；　a　little　cleverness　…　and　the　thing　is　done。〃　

〃But　the　rubies；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃these　rubies　that　the　Count　had　in　his　possession　were　false。〃　

〃And　clearly　he　would　not　have　mitted　the　crime　except　for　the　rubies。　But　you　are　overlooking　one　point；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin。　Where　the　rubies　were　concerned；　someone　might　have　been　before　him。〃　

〃But　this　is　an　entirely　new　theory；〃　cried　Knighton。　

〃Do　you　really　believe　all　this　rigmarole；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　demanded　the　millionaire。　

〃The　thing　is　not　proved；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃It　is　as　yet　only　a　theory；　but　I　tell　you　this；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　the　facts　are　worth　investigating。　You　must　e　out　with　me　to　the　south　of　France　and　go　into　the　case　on　the　spot。〃　

〃You　really　think　this　is　necessary　…　that　I　should　go；　I　mean。〃　

〃I　thought　it　would　be　what　you　yourself　would　wish；〃　said　Poirot。　

There　was　a　hint　of　reproach　in　his　tone　which　was　not　lost　upon　the　other。　

〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；〃　he　said。　〃When　do　you　wish　to　start；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

〃You　are　very　busy　at　present；　sir；〃　murmured　Knighton。　

But　the　millionaire　had　now　made　up　his　mind；　and　he　waved　the　other's　objections　aside。　

〃I　guess　this　business　es　first；〃　he　said。　〃All　right；　Monsieur　Poirot；　tomorrow。　What　train？〃　

〃We　will　go；　I　think；　by　the　Blue　Train；〃　said　Poirot；　and　he　smiled。　

Chapter　34　

THE　BLUE　TRAIN　AGAIN

'The　millionaire's　train；'　as　it　is　sometimes　called；　swung　round　a　curve　of　line　at　what　seemed　a　dangerous　speed。　Van　Aldin；　Knighton　and　Poirot　sat　together　in　silence。　

Knighton　and　Van　Aldin　had　two　partments　connecting　with　each　other；　as　Ruth　Kettering　and　her　maid　had　had　on　the　fateful　journey。　Poirot's　own　partment　was　further　along　the　coach。　

The　journey　was　a　painful　one　for　Van　Aldin；　recalling　as　it　did　the　most　agonizing　memories。　Poirot　and　Knighton　conversed　occasionally　in　low　tones　without　disturbing　him。　

When；　however；　the　train　had　pleted　its　slow　journey　round　the　ceinture　and　reached　the　Gare　de　Lyon；　Poirot　became　suddenly　galvanized　into　activity。　Van　Aldin　realized　that　part　of　his　object　in　travelling　by　the　train　had　been　to　attempt　to　reconstruct　the　crime。　Poirot　himself　acted　every　part。　He　was　in　turn　the　maid；　hurriedly　shut　into　her　own　partment；　Mrs　Kettering；　recognizing　her　husband　with　surprise　and　a　trace　of　anxiety；　and　Derek　Kettering　discovering　that　his　wife　was　travelling　on　the　train。　He　tested　various　possibilities；　such　as　the　best　way　for　a　person　to　conceal　himself　in　the　second　partment。　

Then　suddenly　an　idea　seemed　to　strike　him。　He　clutched　at　Van　Aldin's　arm。　

〃Mon　Dieu；　but　that　is　something　I　have　not　thought　of！　We　must　break　our　journey　in　Paris。　Quick；　quick；　let　us　alight　at　once。〃　

Seizing　suitcases　he　hurried　from　the　train。　Van　Aldin　and　Knighton；　bewildered　but　obedient；　followed　him。　Van　Aldin　having　once　formed　his　opinion　of　Poirot's　ability　was　slow　to　part　from　it。　At　the　barrier　they　were　held　up。　Their　tickets　were　in　charge　of　the　conductor　of　the　train；　a　fact　which　all　three　of　them　had　forgotten。　

Poirot's　explanations　were　rapid；　fluent；　and　impassioned；　but　they　produced　no　effect　upon　the　stolid…faced　official。　

〃Let　us　get　quit　of　this；〃　said　Van　Aldin　abruptly。　〃I　gather　you　are　in　a　hurry；　Monsieur　Poirot。　For　God's　sake　pay　the　fares　from　Calais　and　let　us　get　right　on　with　whatever　you　have　got　in　your　mind。〃　

But　Poirot's　flood　of　language　had　suddenly　stopped　dead；　and　he　had　the　appearance　of　a　man　turned　to　stone。　His　arm　still　outflung　in　an　impassioned　gesture；　remained　there　as　though　stricken　with　paralysis。　

〃I　have　been　an　imbecile；〃　he　said　simply。　〃Ma　foi；　I　lose　my　head　nowadays。　Let　us　return　and　continue　our　journey　quietly。　With　reasonable　luck　the　train　will　not　have　gone。〃　

They　were　only　just　in　time；　the　train　moving　off　as　Knighton；　the　last　of　the　three；　swung　himself　and　his　suitcase　on　board。　

The　conductor　remonstrated　with　them　feelingly；　and　assisted　them　to　carry　their　luggage　back　to　their　partments。　Van　Aldin　said　nothing；　but　he　was　clearly　disgusted　at　Poirot's　extraordinary　conduct。　

Alone　with　Knighton　for　a　moment　or　two；　he　remarked：　

〃This　is　a　wild　goose　chase。　The　man　has　lost　his　grip　on　things。　He　has　got　brains　up　to　a　point；　but　any　man　who　loses　his　head　and　scuttles　round　like　a　frightened　rabbit　is　no　earthly　darned　good。〃　

Poirot　came　to　them　in　a　moment　or　two；　full　of　abject　apologies　and　clearly　so　crestfallen　that　harsh　words　would　have　been　superfluous。　

Van　Aldin　received　his　apologies　gravely；　but　managed　to　restrain　himself　from　making　acid　ments。　

They　had　dinner　on　the　train；　and　afterwards；　somewhat　to　the　surprise　of　the　other　two；　Poirot　suggested　that　they　should　all　three　sit　up　in　Van　Aldin's　partment。　

The　millionaire　looked　at　him　curiously。　

〃Is　there　anything　that　you　are　keeping　back　from　us；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

〃I？〃　Poirot　opened　his　eyes　in　innocent　surprise。　〃But　what　an　idea。〃　

Van　Aldin　did　not　answer；　but　he　was　not　satisfied。　The　conductor　was　told　that　he　need　not　make　up　the　beds。　Any　surprise　he　might　have　felt　was　obliterated　by　the　largeness　of　the　tip　which　Van　Aldin　handed　to　him。　The　three　men　sat　in　silence。　Poirot　fidgeted　and　seemed　restless。　Presently　he　turned　to　the　secretary。　

〃Major　Knighton；　is　the　door　of　your　partment　bolted？　The　door　into　the　corridor；　I　mean。〃　

〃Yes；　I　bolted　it　myself　just　now。〃　

〃Are　you　sure？〃　said　Poirot。　

〃I　will　go　and　make　sure；　if　you　like；〃　said　Knighton　smiling。　

〃No；　no；　do　not　derange　yourself。　I　will　see　for　myself。〃　

He　passed　through　the　connecting　door　and　returned　in　a　second　or　two；　nodding　his　head。　

〃Yes；　yes；　it　is　as　you　said。　You　must　pardon　an　old　man's　fussy　ways。〃　

He　closed　the　connecting　door　and　resumed　his　place　in　the　right…hand　corner。　

The　hours　passed。　The　three　men　dozed　fitfully；　waking　with　unfortable　starts。　

Probably　never　before　had　three　people　booked　berths　on　the　most　luxurious　train　available；　then　declined　to　avail　themselves　of　the　acmodation　they　had　paid　for。　

Every　now　and　then　Poirot　glanced　at　his　watch；　and　then　nodded　his　head　and　posed　himself　to　slumber　once　more。　On　one　occasion　he　rose　from　his　seat　and　opened　the　connecting　door；　peered　sharply　into　the　adjoining　partment；　and　then　returned　to　his　seat；　shaking　his　head。　

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　whispered　Knighton。　〃You　are　expecting　something　to　happen；　aren't　you？〃　

〃I　have　the　nerves；〃　confessed　Poirot。　〃I　am　like　the　cat　upon　the　hot　tiles。　Every　little　noise　it　makes　me　jump。〃　

Knighton　yawned。　

〃Of　all　the　darned　unfortable　journeys；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　suppose　you　know　what　you　are　playing　at；　Monsieur　Poirot。〃　

He　posed　himself　to　sleep　as　best　he　could。　Both　he　and　Van　Aldin　had　succumbed　to　slumber；　when　Poirot；　glancing　for　the　fourteenth　time　at　his　watch；　leant　across　and　tapped　the　millionaire　on　the　shoulder。　

〃Eh？　What　is　it？〃　

〃In　five　or　ten　minutes；　Monsieur；　we　shall　arrive　at　Lyons。〃　

〃My　God！〃　Van　Aldin's　face　looked　white　and　haggard　in　the　dim　light。　〃Then　it　must　have　been　about　this　time　that　poor　Ruth　was　killed。〃　

He　sat　staring　straight　in　front　of　him。　His　lips　twitched　a　little；　his　mind　reverting　back　to　the　terrible　tragedy　that　had　saddened　his　life。　

There　was　the　usual　long　screaming　sigh　of　the　brake；　and　the　train　slackened　speed　and　drew　into　Lyons。　Van　Aldin　let　down　the　window　and　leant　out。　

〃If　it　wasn't　Derek　…　if　your　new　theory　is　correct；　it　is　here　that　the　man　left　the　train？〃　he　asked　over　his　shoulder。　

Rather　to　his　surprise　Poirot　shook　his　head。　

〃No；〃　he　said　thoughtfully；　〃no　man　left　the　train；　but　I　think　…　yes；　I　think；　a　woman　may　have　done　so。〃　

Knighton　gave　a　gasp。　

〃A　woman？〃　demanded　Van　Aldin　sharply。　

〃Yes；　a　woman；〃　said　Poirot；　nodding　his　head。　〃You　may　not　remember；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　but　Miss　Grey　in　her　evidence　mentioned　that　a　youth　in　a　cap　and　overcoat　descended　on　to　the　platform　ostensibly　to　stretch　his　legs。　Me；　I　think　that　that　youth　was　most　probably　a　woman。〃　

〃But　who　was　she？〃　

Van　Aldin's　face　expressed　incredulity；　but　Poirot　replied　seriously　and　categorically。　

〃Her　name　…　or　the　name　under　which　she　was　known；　for　many　years　…　is　Kitty　Kidd；　but　you；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　knew　her　by　another　name　…　that　of　Ada　Mason。〃　

Knighton　sprang　to　his　feet。　

〃What？〃　he　cried。　

Poirot　swung　round　to　him。　

〃Ah！　…　before　I　forget　it。〃　He　whipped　something　from