〃As for me …〃
He made an exaggerated gesture to represent the cares that lay on his shoulders。
Poirot turned suddenly to Van Aldin。
〃You agree； Monsieur； with this view？ You feel certain that the te de la Roche is the murderer？〃
〃Why； it would seem so … yes； certain。〃
Something guarded in the answer made the Examining Magistrate look at the American curiously。 Van Aldin seemed aware of his scrutiny and made an effort as though to shake off some preoccupation。
〃What about my son…in…law？〃 he asked。 〃You have acquainted him with the news？ He is in Nice； I understand。〃
〃Certainly； Monsieur。〃 The missary hesitated； and then murmured very discreetly：
〃You are doubtless aware； M。 Van Aldin； that M。 Kettering was also one of the passengers on the Blue Train that night？〃
The millionaire nodded。
〃Heard it just before I left London；〃 he vouchsafed laconically。
〃He tells us；〃 continued the missary； 〃that he had no idea his wife was travelling on the train。〃
〃I bet he hadn't；〃 said Van Aldin grimly。 〃It would have been rather a nasty shock to him if he'd e across her on it。〃
The three men looked at him questioningly。
〃I'm not going to mince matters；〃 said Van Aldin savagely。 〃No one knows what my poor girl has had to put up with。 Derek Kettering wasn't alone。 He had a lady with him。〃
〃Ah？〃
〃Mirelle … the dancer。〃
M。 Carrege and the missary looked at each other and nodded as though confirming some previous conversation。 M。 Carrege leaned back in his chair； joined his hands； and fixed his eyes on the ceiling。
〃Ah！〃 he murmured again。 〃One wondered。〃
He coughed。 〃One has heard rumours。〃
〃The lady；〃 said M。 Caux； 〃is very notorious。〃
〃And al