uch　as？〃　asked　Poirot。

〃Well　…〃　the　Magistrate　coughed　…　〃this　lady　with　whom　he　is　said　to　be　travelling　…　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。　She　is　staying　at　one　hotel　and　he　at　another。　That　strikes　me　…　er　…　as　rather　odd。〃

〃It　looks；〃　said　M。　Caux；　〃as　though　they　were　being　careful。〃

〃Exactly；〃　said　M。　Carrege　triumphantly；　〃and　what　should　they　have　to　be　careful　about？〃

〃An　excess　of　caution　is　suspicious；　eh？〃　said　Poirot。

〃Précisément。〃

〃We　might；　I　think；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃ask　M。　Kettering　one　or　two　questions。〃

The　Magistrate　gave　instructions。　A　moment　or　two　later；　Derek　Kettering；　debonair　as　ever；　entered　the　room。

〃Good　morning；　Monsieur；〃　said　the　Judge　politely。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Derek　Kettering　curtly。　〃You　sent　for　me。　Has　anything　fresh　turned　up？〃

〃Pray　sit　down；　Monsieur。〃

Derek　took　a　seat　and　flung　his　hat　and　stick　on　the　table。

〃Well？〃　he　asked　impatiently。

〃We　have；　so　far；　no　fresh　data；〃　said　M。　Carrege　cautiously。

〃That's　very　interesting；〃　said　Derek　drily。　〃Did　you　get　me　here　in　order　to　tell　me　that？〃

〃We　naturally　thought；　Monsieur；　that　you　would　like　to　be　informed　of　the　progress　of　the　case；〃　said　the　Magistrate　severely。　〃Even　if　the　progress　was　nonexistent。〃

〃We　also　wished　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃

〃Ask　away。〃

〃You　are　quite　sure　that　you　neither　saw　nor　spoke　with　your　wife　on　the　train？〃

〃I've　answered　t