sharply。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I moralize；〃 said Poirot。 〃I reflect； I speak the philosophy。 But to return to where we were。 Surely M。 Kettering did not propose to allow himself to be divorced without making a fight for it？〃
Van Aldin did not answer for a minute or two； then he said：
〃I don't exactly know what his intentions were。〃
〃Did you hold any further munications with him？〃
Again a slight pause； then Van Aldin said： 〃No。〃
Poirot stopped dead； took off his hat； and held out his hand。
〃I must wish you good…day； Monsieur。 I can do nothing for you。〃
〃What are you getting at？〃 demanded Van Aldin angrily。
〃If you do not tell me the truth； I can do nothing。〃
〃I don't know what you mean。〃
〃I think you do。 You may rest assured； M。 Van Aldin； that I know how to be discreet。〃
〃Very well； then；〃 said the millionaire。 〃I'll admit that I was not speaking the truth just now。 I did have further munication with my son…in…law。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃To be exact； I sent my secretary； Major Knighton； to see him； with instructions to offer him the sum of one hundred thousand pounds in cash if the divorce went through undefended。〃
〃A pretty sum of money；〃 said Poirot appreciatively； 〃and the answer of Monsieur； your son…in…law？〃
〃He sent back word that I could go to hell；〃 replied the millionaire succinctly。
〃Ah！〃 said Poirot。
He betrayed no emotion of any kind。 At the moment he was engaged in methodically recording facts。
〃Monsieur Kettering has told the police that he neither saw nor spoke to his wife on the journey from England。 Are you inclined to believe that statement； Monsieur？〃
〃Yes； I am；〃 said Van Aldin。 〃He would take particular pains to keep ou