about it？〃
〃I should endeavour； sir；〃 replied George； 〃to make her change her mind。〃
〃By peaceful or by forcible methods？〃
George looked shocked。
〃You will excuse me； sir；〃 he said； 〃but a gentleman of the aristocracy would not behave like a Whitechapel coster。 He would not do anything low。〃
〃Would he not； Georges？ I wonder now？ Perhaps you are right。〃
There was a knock on the door。 George went to it and opened it a discreet inch or two。 A low murmured colloquy went on； and then the valet returned to Poirot。 〃A note； sir。〃
Poirot took it。 It was from M。 Caux； the missary of Police。
〃We are about to interrogate the te de la Roche。 The Juge d'Instruction begs that you will be present。〃
〃Quickly； my suit； Georges。 I must hasten myself。〃
A quarter of an hour later； spick and span in his brown suit； Poirot entered the Examining Magistrate's room。 M。 Caux was already there； and both he and M。 Carrege greeted Poirot with polite empressement。
〃The affair is somewhat discouraging；〃 murmured M。 Caux。
〃It appears that the te arrived in Nice the day before the murder。〃
〃If that is true； it will settle your affair nicely for you；〃 responded Poirot。
M。 Carrege cleared his throat。
〃We must not accept this alibi without very cautious inquiry；〃 he declared。 He struck the bell upon the table with his hand。 In another minute a tall dark man； exquisitely dressed； with a somewhat haughty cast of countenance； entered the room。 So very aristocratic…looking was the Count； that it would have seemed sheer heresy even to whisper that his father had been an obscure corn…chandler in Nantes … which； as a matter of fact； was the case。 Looking at him； one would have been prepared to swear that innu