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Knighton still looked slightly doubtful； but Poirot took no notice of his hesitation。
At the hotel； they were told that Mademoiselle was in； and Poirot sent up both his and Knighton's cards； with 〃From Mr Van Aldin〃 pencilled upon them。
Word came down that Mademoiselle Mirelle would receive them。
When they were ushered into the dancer's apartments； Poirot immediately took the lead。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he murmured； bowing very low； 〃we are here on behalf of M。 Van Aldin。〃
〃Ah！ And why did he not e himself？〃
〃He is indisposed；〃 said Poirot mendaciously； 〃the Riviera throat； it has him in its grip； but me； I am empowered to act for him； as is Major Knighton； his secretary。 Unless； of course； Mademoiselle would prefer to wait a fortnight or so。〃
If there was one thing of which Poirot was tolerably certain； it was that to a temperament such as Mirelle's the mere word 〃wait〃 was anathema。
〃Eh bien； I will speak； Messieurs；〃 she cried。 〃I have been patient。 I have held my hand。 And for what？ That I should be insulted！ Yes； insulted！ Ah！ Does he think to treat Mirelle like that？ To throw her off like an old glove。 I tell you never has a man tired of me。 Always it is I who tire of them。〃
She paced up and down the room； her slender body trembling with rage。 A small table impeded her free passage and she flung it from her into a corner； where it splintered against the wall。
〃That is what I will do to him；〃 she cried； 〃and that！〃
Picking up a glass bowl filled with lilies she flung it into the grate； where it smashed into a hundred pieces。
Knighton was looking at her with cold British disapproval。 He felt embarrassed and ill at ease。 Poirot； on the other hand； with twinkling eyes was thoroughly enjoying the scene。
〃Ah； it is magnificent！〃 he cried。 〃It can be seen … Madame has a temperament。〃
〃I am an artist；〃 said Mirelle； 〃every artist has a temperament。 I told Dereek to beware； and he would not listen。〃 She whirled round on Poirot suddenly。 〃It is true； is it not； that he wants to marry that English miss？〃
Poirot coughed。
〃On m'a dit；〃 he murmured； 〃that he adores her passionately。〃
Mirelle came towards them。
〃He murdered his wife；〃 she screamed。 〃There … now you have it！ He told me beforehand that he meant to do it。 He had got to an impasse … zut！ he took the easiest way out。〃
〃You say that M。 Kettering murdered his wife。〃
〃Yes； yes； yes。 Have I not told you so？〃
〃The police；〃 murmured Poirot； 〃will need proof of that … er … statement。〃
〃I tell you I saw him e out of her partment that night on the train。〃
〃When？〃 asked Poirot sharply。
〃Just before the train reached Lyons。〃
〃You will swear to that； Mademoiselle？〃
It was a different Poirot who spoke now； sharp and decisive。
〃Yes。〃
There was a moment's silence。 Mirelle was panting； and her eyes； half defiant； half frightened； went from the face of one man to the other。
〃This is a serious matter； Mademoiselle；〃 said the detective。 〃You realize how serious？〃
〃Certainly I do。〃
〃That is well；〃 said Poirot。 〃Then you understand； Mademoiselle； that no time must be lost。 You will； perhaps； acpany us immediately to the office of the Examining Magistrate。〃
Mirelle was taken aback。 She hesitated； but； as Poirot had foreseen； she had no loophole for escape。
〃Very well；〃 she muttered。 〃I will fetch a coat。〃
Left alone together； Poirot and Knighton exchanged glances。
〃It is necessary to act while … how do you say it？ … the iron is hot；〃 murmured Poirot。 〃She is temperamental； in an hour's time； maybe； she will repent； and she will wish to draw back。 We must prevent that at all costs。〃
Mirelle reappeared； wrapped in a sand…coloured velvet wrap trimmed with leopard skin。 She looked not altogether unlike a leopardess； tawny and dangerous。 Her eyes still flashed with anger and determination。
They found M。 Caux and the Examining Magistrate together。 A few brief introductory words from Poirot； and Mademoiselle Mirelle was courteously entreated to tell her tale。 This she did in much the same words as she had done to Knighton and Poirot； though with far more soberness of manner。
〃This is an extraordinary story； Mademoiselle；〃 said M。 Carrege slowly。 He leant back in his chair； adjusted his pince…nez； and looked keenly and searchingly at the dancer through them。
〃You wish us to believe M。 Kettering actually boasted of the crime to you beforehand？〃
〃Yes； yes。 She was too healthy； he said。 If she were to die it must be an accident … he would arrange it all。〃
〃You are aware； Mademoiselle；〃 said M。 Carrege sternly； 〃that you are making yourself out to be an accessory before the fact？〃
〃Me？ But not the least in the world； Monsieur。 Not for a moment did I take that statement seriously。 Ah no； indeed！ I know men； Monsieur； they say many wild things。 It would be an odd state of affairs if one were to take all they said au pied de la lettre。〃
The Examining Magistrate raised his eyebrows。
〃We are to take it； then； that you regarded M。 Kettering's threats as mere idle words？ May I ask； Mademoiselle； what made you throw up your engagements in London and e out to the Riviera？〃
Mirelle looked at him with melting black eyes。
〃I wished to be with the man I loved；〃 she said simply。 〃Was it so unnatural？〃
Poirot interpolated a question gently。
〃Was it； then； at M。 Kettering's wish that you acpanied him to Nice？〃
Mirelle seemed to find a little difficulty in answering this。 She hesitated perceptibly before she spoke。 When she did； it was with a haughty indifference of manner。
〃In such matters I please myself； Monsieur；〃 she said。
That the answer was not an answer at all was noted by all three men。 They said nothing。
〃When were you first convinced that M。 Kettering had murdered his wife？〃
〃As I tell you； Monsieur； I saw M。 Kettering e out of his wife's partment just before the train drew into Lyons。 There was a look on his face … ah！ at the moment I could not understand it … a look haunted and terrible。 I shall never forget it。〃
Her voice rose shrilly； and she flung out her arms in an extravagant gesture。
〃Quite so；〃 said M。 Carrege。
〃Afterwards； when I found that Madame Kettering was dead when the train left Lyons； then … then I knew！〃
〃And still … you did not go to the police； Mademoiselle；〃 said the missary mildly。
Mirelle glanced at him superbly； she was clearly enjoying herself in the role she was playing。
〃Shall I betray my lover？〃 she asked。 〃Ah no； do not ask a woman to do that。〃
〃Yet now …〃 hinted M。 Caux。
〃Now it is different。 He has betrayed me！ Shall I suffer that in silence？〃
The Examining Magistrate checked her。
〃Quite so； quite so；〃 he murmured soothingly。
〃And now； Mademoiselle； perhaps you will read over the statement of what you have told us； see that it is correct； and sign it。〃
Mirelle wasted no time on the document。
〃Yes； yes；〃 she said； 〃it is correct。〃 She rose to her feet。 〃You require me no longer； Messieurs？〃
〃At present； no； Mademoiselle。〃
〃And Dereek will be arrested？〃
〃At once； Mademoiselle。〃
Mirelle laughed cruelly and drew her fu