merable ancestors of his must have perished by the guillotine in the French Revolution。〃
〃I am here； gentlemen；〃 said the Count haughtily。 〃May I ask why you wish to see me？〃
〃Pray be seated； Monsieur le te；〃 said the Examining Magistrate politely。 〃It is the affair of the death of Madame Kettering that we are investigating。〃
〃The death of Madame Kettering？ I do not understand。〃
〃You were … ahem！ … acquainted with the lady； I believe； Monsieur le te？〃
〃Certainly I was acquainted with her。 What has that to do with the matter？〃
Sticking an eyeglass in his eye； he looked coldly round the room； his glance resting longest on Poirot； who was gazing at him with a kind of simple； innocent admiration which was most pleasing to the Count's vanity。 M。 Carrege leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat。
〃You do not perhaps know； Monsieur le te …〃 he paused … 〃that Madame Kettering was murdered？〃
〃Murdered？ Mon Dieu； how terrible！〃
The surprise and the sorrow were excellently done … so well done； indeed； as to seem wholly natural。
〃Madame Kettering was strangled between Paris and Lyons；〃 continued M。 Carrege； 〃and her jewels were stolen。〃
〃It is iniquitous！〃 cried the Count warmly； 〃the police should do something about these train bandits。 Nowadays no one is safe。〃
〃In Madame's handbag；〃 continued the Judge； 〃we found a letter to her from you。 She had； it seemed； arranged to meet you？〃
The Count shrugged his shoulders and spread out his hands。
〃Of what use are concealments；〃 he said frankly。 〃We are all men of the world。 Privately and between ourselves； I admit the affair。〃
〃You met her in Paris and travelled down with her； I believe？〃 said M。 Carrege。
〃That was the o