ok； and the little red lacquer hat tossed up on the rack。 Then he passed through into the adjoining partment； that in which Katherine had seen the maid sitting。 Here the berth had not been made up。 Three or four rugs were piled loosely on the seat； there was a hat…box and a couple of suitcases。 He turned suddenly to Katherine。
〃You were in here yesterday；〃 he said。 〃Do you see anything changed； anything missing？〃
Katherine looked carefully round both partments。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃there is something missing … a scarlet morocco case。 It had the initials 'R。V。K。' on it。 It might have been a small dressing…case or a big jewel…case。 When I saw it； the maid was holding it。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Poirot。
〃But； surely；〃 said Katherine。 〃I … of course； I don't know anything about such things； but surely it is plain enough； if the maid and the jewel…case are missing？〃
〃You mean that it was the maid who was the thief？ No； Mademoiselle； there is a very good reason against that；〃 said the missary。
〃What？〃
〃The maid was left behind in Paris。〃
He turned to Poirot。
〃I should like you to hear the conductor's story yourself；〃 he murmured confidentially。 〃It is very suggestive。〃
〃Mademoiselle would doubtless like to hear it also；〃 said Poirot。 〃You do not object； Monsieur le missaire？〃
〃No；〃 said the missary； who clearly did object very much。 〃No； certainly； M。 Poirot； if you say so。 You have finished here？〃
〃I think so。 One little minute。〃
He had been turning over the rugs； and now he took one to the window and looked at it； picking something off it with his fingers。
〃What is it？〃 demanded M。 Caux sharply。
〃Four auburn hairs。〃 He bent over the dead woman。 〃Yes； they are from the head of Ma