his shoulders … 〃it is awkward。〃
〃Only a very little while；〃 pleaded the other。 〃Ah！ but you must！ A week … ten days … that is all I ask。 You can be sure of your affair。 The money will be forthing。〃
Papopolous shifted a little and looked round him uneasily … to find Poirot almost at his elbow with a beaming innocent face。
〃Ah！ vous voilà； M。 Papopolous。 I have been looking for you。 It is permitted that I take Mademoiselle Zia for a little turn in the gardens？ Good evening； Mademoiselle。〃 He bowed very low to Mirelle。 〃A thousand pardons that I did not see you immediately。〃
The dancer accepted his greetings rather impatiently。 She was clearly annoyed at the interruption of her tête…а…tête。 Poirot was quick to take the hint。 Papopolous had already murmured： 〃Certainly … but certainly；〃 and Poirot withdrew forthwith。 He fetched Zia's cloak； and together they strolled out into the gardens。
〃This is where the suicides take place；〃 said Zia。
Poirot shrugged his shoulders。 〃So it is said。 Men are foolish； are they not； Mademoiselle？ To eat； to drink； to breathe the good air； it is a very pleasant thing； Mademoiselle。 One is foolish to leave all that simply because one has no money … or because the heart aches。 L'amour； it causes many fatalities； does it not？〃
Zia laughed。
〃You should not laugh at love； Mademoiselle；〃 said Poirot； shaking an energetic forefinger at her。 〃You who are young and beautiful。〃
〃Hardly that；〃 said Zia； 〃you forget that I am thirty…three； M。 Poirot。 I am frank with you； because it is no good being otherwise。 As you told my father； it is exactly seventeen years since you aided us in Paris that time。〃
〃When I look at you； it seems much less；〃 said Poirot gallantly。 〃You were then very