friend； M。 Poirot； and asked him to lunch with us in Nice。 I said you wanted to see him； as I thought he might not e for me。〃
〃Did you want to see him then？〃 asked Katherine。
〃Yes；〃 said Lenox。 〃I have rather lost my heart to him。 I never met a man before whose eyes were really green like a cat's。〃
〃All right；〃 said Katherine。 She spoke listlessly。 The last few days had been trying。 Derek Kettering's arrest had been the topic of the hour； and the Blue Train Mystery had been thrashed out from every conceivable standpoint。
〃I have ordered the car；〃 said Lenox； 〃and I have told Mother some lie or other … unfortunately I can't remember exactly what； but it won't matter； as she never remembers。 If she knew where we were going； she would want to e too； to pump M。 Poirot。〃
The two girls arrived at the Negresco to find Poirot waiting。
He was full of Gallic politeness； and showered so many pliments upon the two girls that they were soon helpless with laughter； yet for all that the meal was not a gay one。 Katherine was dreamy and distracted； and Lenox made bursts of conversation； interspersed by silences。 As they were sitting on the terrace sipping their coffee she suddenly attacked Poirot bluntly。
〃How are things going？ You know what I mean？〃
Poirot shrugged his shoulders。 〃They take their course；〃 he said。
〃And you are just letting them take their course？〃
He looked at Lenox a little sadly。
〃You are young； Mademoiselle； but there are three things that cannot be hurried … le bon Dieu； Nature； and old people。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said Lenox。 〃You are not old。〃
〃Ah； it is pretty what you say there。〃
〃Here is Major Knighton；〃 said Lenox。 Katherine looked round quickly and then turned back aga