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Derek Kettering did not stop。 He lifted his hat and passed straight on。
〃？a y est；〃 said M。 Hercule Poirot； 〃it is time； I think； that I return chez moi。〃
He found the imperturbable George pressing trousers。
〃A pleasant day； Georges； somewhat fatiguing； but not without interest；〃 he said。
George received these remarks in his usual wooden fashion。
〃Indeed； sir。〃
〃The personality of a criminal； Georges； is an interesting matter。 Many murderers are men of great personal charm。〃
〃I always heard； sir； that Dr Crippen was a pleasant…spoken gentleman。 And yet he cut up his wife like so much mincemeat。〃
〃Your instances are always apt； Georges。〃
The valet did not reply； and at that moment the telephone rang。 Poirot took up the receiver。
〃'Allo … 'allo … yes； yes； it is Hercule Poirot who speaks。〃
〃This is Knighton。 Will you hold the line a minute； M。 Poirot？ Mr Van Aldin would like to speak to you。〃
There was a moment's pause； then the millionaire's voice came through。
〃Is that you； M。 Poirot？ I just wanted to tell you； Mason came to me now of her own accord。 She has been thinking it over； and she says that she is almost certain that the man at Paris was Derek Kettering。 There was something familiar about him at the time； she says； but at the minute she could not place it。 She seems pretty certain now。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Poirot； 〃thank you； M。 Van Aldin。 That advances us。〃
He replaced the receiver； and stood for a minute or two with a very curious smile on his face。 George had to speak to him twice before obtaining an answer。
〃Eh？〃 said Poirot。 〃What is that that you say to me？〃
〃Are you lunching here； sir； or are you going out？〃
〃Neither；〃 said Poirot； 〃I shall go to bed and take a tisane。 The expected has happened； and when the expected happens； it always causes me emotion。〃
Chapter 25
DEFIANCE
As Derek Kettering passed the car； Mirelle leant out。
〃Dereek … I must speak to you for a moment …〃
But； lifting his hat； Derek passed straight on without stopping。
When he got back to his hotel； the concierge detached himself from his wooden pen and accosted him。
〃A gentleman is waiting to see you； Monsieur。〃
〃Who is it？〃 asked Derek。
〃He did not give me his name； Monsieur； but he said his business with you was important； and that he would wait。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃In the little salon； Monsieur。 He preferred it to the lounge he said； as being more private。〃
Derek nodded； and turned his steps in that direction。
The small salon was empty except for the visitor； who rose and bowed with easy foreign grace as Derek entered。 As it chanced； Derek had only seen the te de la Roche once； but found no difficulty in recognizing that aristocratic nobleman； and he frowned angrily。 Of all the consummate impertinence！
〃The te de la Roche； is it not？〃 he said。 〃I am afraid you have wasted your time in ing here。〃
〃I hope not；〃 said the te agreeably。
His white teeth glittered。
The te's charm of manner was usually wasted on his own sex。 All men； without exception； disliked him heartily。 Derek Kettering was already conscious of a distinct longing to kick the Count bodily out of the room。 It was only the realization that scandal would be unfortunate just at present that restrained him。 He marveled anew that Ruth could have cared； as she certainly had； for this fellow。 A bounder； and worse than a bounder。 He looked with distaste at the Count's exquisitely manicured hands。
〃I called；〃 said the te； 〃on a little matter of business。 It would be advisable I think； for you to listen to me。〃
Again Derek felt strongly tempted to kick him out； but again he refrained。 The hint of a threat was not lost upon him； but he interpreted it in his own way。 There were various reasons why it would be better to hear what the te had to say。
He sat down and drummed impatiently with his fingers on the table。
〃Well；〃 he said sharply； 〃what is it？〃
It was not the te's way to e out into the open at once。
〃Allow me； Monsieur； to offer you my condolences on your recent bereavement。〃
〃If I have any impertinence from you；〃 said Derek quietly； 〃you go out by that window。〃
He nodded his head towards the window beside the te； and the latter moved uneasily。
〃I will send my friends to you； Monsieur； if that is what you desire；〃 he said haughtily。
Derek laughed。
〃A duel； eh？ My dear Count； I don't take you seriously enough for that。 But I should take a good deal of pleasure in kicking you down the Promenade des Anglais。〃
The te was not at all anxious to take offence。 He merely raised his eyebrows and murmured：
〃The English are barbarians。〃
〃Well；〃 said Derek； 〃what is it you have to say to me？〃
〃I will be frank；〃 said the te； 〃I will e immediately to the point。 That will suit us both； will it not？〃
Again he smiled in his agreeable fashion。
〃Go on；〃 said Derek curtly。
The te looked at the ceiling； joined the tips of his fingers together； and murmured softly：
〃You have e into a lot of money； Monsieur。〃
〃What the devil has that got to do with you？〃
The te drew himself up。
〃Monsieur； my name is tarnished！ I am suspected … accused … of foul crime。〃
〃The accusation does not e from me；〃 said Derek coldly； 〃as an interested party I have not expressed any opinion。〃
〃I am innocent；〃 said the te； 〃I swear before heaven …〃 he raised his hand to heaven … 〃that I am innocent。〃
〃M。 Carrege is； I believe； the Juge d'Instruction in charge of the case；〃 hinted Derek politely。
The te took no notice。
〃Not only am I unjustly suspected of a crime that I did not mit； but I am also in serious need of money。〃
He coughed softly and suggestively。
Derek rose to his feet。
〃I was waiting for that；〃 he said softly； 〃you blackmailing brute！ I will not give you a penny。 My wife is dead； and no scandal that you can make can touch her now。 She wrote you foolish letters； I dare say。 If I were to buy them from you for a round sum at this minute； I am pretty certain that you would manage to keep one or two back； and I will tell you this； M。 de la Roche； blackmailing is an ugly word both in England and in France。 That is my answer to you。 Good afternoon。〃
〃One moment …〃 the te stretched out a hand as Derek was turning to leave the room。 〃You are mistaken； Monsieur。 You are pletely mistaken。 I am； I hope； a 'gentleman。'〃
Derek laughed。
〃Any letters that a lady might write to me I should hold sacred。〃 He flung back his head with a beautiful air of nobility。 〃The proposition that I was putting before you was of quite a different nature。 I am； as I said； extremely short of money； and my conscience might impel me to go to the police with certain information。〃
Derek came slowly back into the room。
〃What do you mean？〃
The te's agreeable smile flashed forth once more。
〃Surely it is not necessary to go into details；〃 he purred。 〃Seek whom the crime benefits； they say； don't they？ As I said just now； you have e into a lot of money lately。〃
Derek laughed。
〃If that is all …〃 he said contemptuously。
But the te was shaking his head。 〃But it is not all； my dear sir。 I shoul