t　through　undefended。〃

〃A　pretty　sum　of　money；〃　said　Poirot　appreciatively；　〃and　the　answer　of　Monsieur；　your　son…in…law？〃

〃He　sent　back　word　that　I　could　go　to　hell；〃　replied　the　millionaire　succinctly。

〃Ah！〃　said　Poirot。

He　betrayed　no　emotion　of　any　kind。　At　the　moment　he　was　engaged　in　methodically　recording　facts。

〃Monsieur　Kettering　has　told　the　police　that　he　neither　saw　nor　spoke　to　his　wife　on　the　journey　from　England。　Are　you　inclined　to　believe　that　statement；　Monsieur？〃

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃He　would　take　particular　pains　to　keep　out　of　her　way；　I　should　say。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　he　had　got　that　woman　with　him。〃

〃Mirelle？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃How　did　you　e　to　know　that　fact？〃

〃A　man　of　mine；　whom　I　had　put　on　to　watch　him；　reported　to　me　that　they　had　both　left　by　that　train。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Poirot。　〃In　that　case；　as　you　said　before；　he　would　not　be　likely　to　attempt　to　hold　any　munication　with　Madame　Kettering。〃

The　little　man　fell　silent　for　some　time。

Van　Aldin　did　not　interrupt　his　meditation。

Chapter　17

AN　ARISTOCRATIC　GENTLEMAN

〃You　have　been　to　the　Riviera　before；　Georges？〃　said　Poirot　to　his　valet　the　following　morning。

George　was　an　intensely　English；　rather　wooden…faced　individual。

〃Yes；　sir。　I　was　here　two　years　ago　when　I　was　in　the　service　of　Lord　Edward　Frampton。〃

〃And　today；〃　murmured　his　master；　〃you　are　here　wit