nd　talking　of　business；　I　hope　your　health　is　better；　my　dear　friend？〃

〃Much　better。　In　fact；　we　are　returning　to　Paris　tomorrow。〃

〃I　am　enchanted　to　hear　such　good　news。　You　have　not　pletely　ruined　the　Greek　ex…Minister；　I　hope。〃

〃I？〃

〃I　understand　you　sold　him　a　very　wonderful　ruby　which　…　strictly　entre　nous　…　is　being　worn　by　Mademoiselle　Mirelle；　the　dancer？〃

〃Yes；〃　murmured　Monsieur　Papopolous；　〃yes；　that　is　so。〃

〃A　ruby　not　unlike　the　famous　'Heart　of　Fire'？〃

〃It　has　points　of　resemblance；　certainly；〃　said　the　Greek　casually。

〃You　have　a　wonderful　hand　with　jewels；　Monsieur　Papopolous。　I　congratulate　you。　Mademoiselle　Zia；　I　am　desolate　that　you　are　returning　to　Paris　so　speedily。　I　had　hoped　to　see　some　more　of　you　now　that　my　business　is　acplished。〃

〃Would　one　be　indiscreet　if　one　asked　what　that　business　was？〃　asked　Monsieur　Papopolous。

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all。　I　have　just　succeeded　in　laying　the　Marquis　by　the　heels。〃

A　far…away　look　came　over　Monsieur　Papopolous'　noble　countenance。

〃The　Marquis？〃　he　murmured；　〃now　why　does　that　seem　familiar　to　me？　No　…　I　cannot　recall　it。〃

〃You　would　not；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　refer　to　a　very　notable　criminal　and　jewel　robber。　He　has　just　been　arrested　for　the　murder　of　the　English　lady；　Madame　Kettering。〃

〃Indeed？　How　interesting　these　things　are！〃

A　polite　exchange　of　farewells　followed；　and　when　Poirot　was　out　of　earshot。　Monsieur　Papopolous　turned　to　his　daughter。

〃Zia；〃　he　said；　with　feeling；　〃that　man　is　the　devil！〃

〃I　like　him。〃

〃I　like　him　myself；〃　admitted　Monsieur　Papopolous。　〃But　he　is　the　devil；　all　the　same。〃

Chapter　36

BY　THE　SEA

The　mimosa　was　nearly　over。　Th