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Poirot sat up suddenly in his chair。 A very faint green light glowed in his eyes。 He looked extraordinarily like a sleek； well…fed cat。
〃One more question； M。 Kettering；〃 he said。 〃Will you give me the date when you last saw your wife？〃
〃Let me see；〃 Kettering reflected。 〃It must have been – yes； over three weeks ago。 I am afraid I can't give you the date exactly。〃
〃No matter；〃 said Poirot drily； 〃that is all I wanted to know。〃
〃Well；〃 said Derek Kettering impatiently； 〃anything further？〃
He looked towards M。 Carrege。 The latter sought inspiration from Poirot； and received it in a very faint shake of the head。
〃No； M。 Kettering；〃 he said politely； 〃no； I do not think we need trouble you any further。 I wish you good morning。〃
〃Good morning；〃 said Kettering。 He went out； banging the door behind him。
Poirot leaned forward and spoke sharply； as soon as the young man was out of the room。 〃Tell me；〃 he said peremptorily； 〃when did you speak of these rubies to M。 Kettering？〃
〃I have not spoken of them；〃 said M。 Carrege。 〃It was only yesterday afternoon that we learnt about them from M。 Van Aldin。〃
〃Yes； but there was a mention of them in the te's letter。〃
M。 Carrege looked pained。
〃Naturally I did not speak of that letter to M。 Kettering；〃 he said in a shocked voice。 〃It would have been most indiscreet at the present juncture of affairs。〃
Poirot leaned forward and tapped the table。
〃Then how did he know about them？〃 he demanded softly。 〃Madame could not have told him； for he has not seen her for three weeks。 It seems unlikely that either M。 Van Aldin or his secretary would have mentioned them； their interviews with him have been on entirely different lines； and there has not been any hint or reference to them in the newspapers。〃
He got up and took his hat and stick。
〃And yet；〃 he murmured to himself； 〃our gentleman knows all about them。 I wonder now； yes； I wonder！〃
Chapter 18
DEREK LUNCHES
Derek Kettering went straight to the Negresco； where he ordered a couple of cocktails and disposed of them rapidly； then he stared moodily out over the dazzling blue sea。 He noted the passers…by mechanically … a damned dull crowd； badly dressed； and painfully uninteresting； one hardly ever saw anything worth while nowadays。 Then he corrected this last impression rapidly； as a woman placed herself at a table a little distance away from him。 She was wearing a marvellous confection of orange and black； with a little hat that shaded her face。 He ordered a third cocktail； again he stared out to sea； and then suddenly he started。 A well…known perfume assailed his nostrils； and he looked up to see the orange…and…black lady standing beside him。 He saw her face now； and recognized her … it was Mirelle。 She was smiling that insolent； seductive smile he knew so well。
〃Dereek！〃 she murmured。 〃You are pleased to see me； no？〃
She dropped into a seat the other side of the table。
〃But wele me； then； stupid one；〃 she mocked。
〃This is an unexpected pleasure；〃 said Derek。 〃When did you leave London？〃
She shrugged her shoulders。
〃A day or two ago。〃
〃And the Parthenon？〃
〃I have； how do you say it？ … given them the chuck！〃
〃Really？〃
〃You are not very amiable； Dereek。〃
〃Do you expect me to be？〃
Mirelle lit a cigarette and puffed at it for a few minutes before saying：
〃You think； perhaps； that it is not prudent so soon？〃
Derek stared at her； then he shrugged his shoulders； and remarked formally：
〃You are lunching here？〃
〃Mais oui。 I am lunching with you。〃
〃I am extremely sorry；〃 said Derek。 〃I have a very important engagement。〃
〃Mon Dieu！ But you men are like children；〃 exclaimed the dancer。 〃But yes； it's the spoilt child that you act to me； ever since that day in London when you flung yourself out of my flat； you sulk。 Ah！ mais c'est inou？！〃
〃My dear girl；〃 said Derek； 〃I really don't know what you are talking about。 We agreed in London that rats desert a sinking ship； that is all that there is to be said。〃
In spite of his careless words； his face looked haggard and strained。 Mirelle leaned forward suddenly。
〃You cannot deceive me；〃 she murmured。 〃I know … I know what you have done for me。〃
He looked up at her sharply。 Some undercurrent in her voice arrested his attention。
She nodded her head at him。
〃Ah！ have no fear； I am discreet。 You are magnificent！ You have a superb courage； but； all the same； it was I who gave you the idea that day； when I said to you in London that accidents sometimes happened。 And you are not in danger？ The police do not suspect you？〃
〃What the devil …〃
〃Hush！〃
She held up a slim olive hand with one big emerald on the little finger。
〃You are right； I should not have spoken in so a public place。 We will not speak of the matter again； but our troubles are ended； our life together will be wonderful … wonderful！〃
Derek laughed suddenly … a harsh； disagreeable laugh。
〃So the rats e back； do they？ Two million makes a difference … of course it does。 I ought to have known that。〃 He laughed again。 〃You will help me to spend that two million； won't you； Mirelle？ You know how； no woman better。〃 He laughed again。
〃Hush！〃 cried the dancer。 〃What is the matter with you； Dereek？ See … people are turning to stare at you。〃
〃Me？ I will tell you what is the matter。 I have finished with you； Mirelle。 Do you hear？ Finished！〃
Mirelle did not take it as he expected her to do。 She looked at him for a minute or two； and then she smiled softly。
〃But what a child！ You are angry … you are sore； and all because I am practical。 Did I not always tell you that I adored you？〃
She leaned forward。
〃But I know you； Dereek。 Look at me？ … see； it is Mirelle who speaks to you。 You cannot live without her； you know it。 I loved you before； I will love you a hundred times more now。 I will make life wonderful for you … but wonderful。 There is no one like Mirelle。〃 Her eyes burned into his。 She saw him grow pale and draw in his breath； and she smiled to herself contentedly。 She knew her own magic and power over men。
〃That is settled；〃 she said softly； and gave a little laugh。 〃And now； Dereek； will you give me lunch？〃
〃No。〃
He drew in his breath sharply and rose to his feet。
〃I am sorry； but I told you … I have got an engagement。〃
〃You are lunching with someone else？ Bah！ I don't believe it。〃
〃I am lunching with that lady over there。〃
He crossed abruptly to where a lady in white had just e up the steps。 He addressed her a little breathlessly。
〃Miss Grey； will you … will you have lunch with me？ You met me at Lady Tamplin's； if you remember。〃
Katherine looked at him for a minute or so with those thoughtful grey eyes that said so much。
〃Thank you；〃 she said； after a moment's pause； 〃I should like to very much。〃
Chapter 19
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
The te de la Roche had just finished déjeuner； consisting of an omelette fines herbes； an entrec？te Bearnaise； and a Savarin au Rhum。 Wiping his fine black moustache delicately with his table napkin； the te rose from the table。 He passed through the salon of the villa； noting with appreciation the few objets d'art which were carelessly scattered about。 The Louis XV snuff…box； the satin shoe worn by Marie Antoite； and the other historic trifles were part of the te's mise en scene。 They were； he would explain to his fair visitors； heirlooms in his family。 Passing through on to the terrace； the te looked out on the Mediterranean with an unseeing eye。 He was in no mood for appreciating the beauties of scenery。 A fully matured scheme had been rudely brought to naught； and his plans had to be cast afresh。 Stretching himself out in a basket chair； a cigarette held between his white fingers； the te pondered deeply。
Presently Hippolyte； his manservant； brought out coffee and a choice of liqueurs。 The te selected some very fine old brandy。
As the man…servant was preparing to depart； the te arrested him with a slight gesture。 Hippolyte stood respectfully to attention。
His countenance was hardly a prepossessing one； but the correctitude of his demeanour went far to obliterate the fact。
He was now the picture of respectful attention。
〃It is possible；〃 said the te； 〃that in the course of the next few days various strangers may e to the house。 They will endeavour to scrape acquaintance with you and with Marie。 They will probably ask you various questions concerning me。〃
〃Yes； Monsieur le te。〃
〃Perhaps this has already happened？〃
〃No； Monsieur le te。〃
〃There have been no strangers about the place？ You are certain？〃
〃There has been no one； Monsieur le te。〃
〃That is well；〃 said the te drily； 〃nevertheless they will e … I am sure of it。 They will ask questions。〃
Hippolyte looked at his master in intelligent anticipation。
The te spoke slowly； without looking at Hippolyte。
〃As you know； I arrived here last Tuesday morning。 If the police or any other inquirer should question you； do not forget that fact。 I arrived on Tuesday； the 14th … not Wednesday； the 15th。 You understand？〃
〃Perfectly； Monsieur le te。〃
〃In an affair where a lady is concerned； it is always necessary to be discreet。 I feel certain； Hippolyte； that you can be discreet。〃
〃I can be discreet； Monsieur。〃
〃And Marie？〃
〃Marie also。 I will answer for her。〃
〃That is well then；〃 murmured the te。
When Hippolyte had withdrawn； the te sipped his black coffee with a reflective air。 Occasionally he frowned； once he shook his head slightly； twice he nodded it … into the midst of these cogitations came Hippolyte once more。
〃A lady； Monsieur。〃
〃A lady？〃
The te was surprised。 Not that a visit from a lady was an unusual thing at the Villa Marina； but at this particular moment the te could not think who the lady was likely to be。
〃She is； I think； a lady not known to Monsieur；〃 murmured the valet helpfully。
The te was more and more intrigued。
〃Show her out here； Hippolyte；〃 he manded。
A moment later a marvellous vision in orange and black stepped out on the terrace； acpanied by a strong perfume of exotic blossoms。
〃Monsieur le te de la Roche？〃
〃At your service； Mademoiselle；〃 said the te； bowing。
〃My name is Mirelle。 You may have heard of me。〃
〃Ah； indeed； Mademoiselle； but who has not been enchanted by the dancing of Mademoiselle Mirelle？ Exquisite！〃
The dancer acknowledged this pliment with a brief mechanical smile。
〃My descent upon you is unceremonious；〃 she began。
〃But seat yourself； I beg of you； Mademoiselle；〃 cried the te； bringing forward a chair。
Behind the gallantry of his manner he was observing her narrowly。 There were very few things that the te did not know about women。 True； his experience had not lain much in ladies of Mirelle's class； who were themselves predatory。 He and the dancer were； in a sense； birds of a feather。 His arts； the te knew； would be thrown away on Mirelle。 She was a Parisienne； and a shrewd one。 Nevertheless； there was one thing that the te could recognize infallibly when he saw it。 He knew at once that he was in the presence of a very angry woman； and an angry woman； as the te was well aware； always says more than is prudent； and is occasionally a source of profit to a level…headed gentleman who keeps cool。
〃It is most amiable of you； Mademoiselle； to honour my poor abode thus。〃
〃We have mutual friends in Paris；〃 said Mirelle。 〃I have heard of you from them； but I e to see you today for another reason。 I have heard of you since I came to Nice … in a different way； you understand。〃
〃Ah？〃 said the te softly。
〃I will be brutal；〃 continued the dancer； 〃nevertheless； believe that I have your welfare at heart。 They are saying in Nice； Monsieur le te； that you are the murderer of the English lady； Madame Kettering。〃
〃I … the murderer of Madame Kettering？ Pah！ But how absurd！〃
He spoke more languidly than indignantly； knowing that he would thus provoke her further。
〃But yes；〃 she insisted； 〃it is as I tell you。〃
〃It amuses people to talk；〃 murmured the te indifferently。 〃It would be beneath me to take such wild accusations seriously。〃
〃You do not understand。〃 Mirelle bent for