in　his　plaintive　tone。

〃But；　indeed；　I　have　not　said　anything　at　all。〃

〃But　you　will。〃

〃Eh？〃　said　Poirot。

〃You　will　say　that　I　have　no　earthly　chance　of　marrying　Katherine。〃

〃No；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　would　not　say　that。　Your　reputation　is　bad；　yes；　but　with　women　…　never　does　that　deter　them。　If　you　were　a　man　of　excellent　character；　of　strict　morality　who　had　done　nothing　that　he　should　not　do；　and　…　possibly　everything　that　he　should　do　…　eh　bien！　then　I　should　have　grave　doubts　of　your　success。　Moral　worth；　you　understand；　it　is　not　romantic。　It　is　appreciated；　however；　by　widows。〃

Derek　Kettering　stared　at　him；　then　he　swung　round　on　his　heel　and　went　up　to　the　waiting　car。

Poirot　looked　after　him　with　some　interest。　He　saw　the　lovely　vision　lean　out　of　the　car　and　speak。

Derek　Kettering　did　not　stop。　He　lifted　his　hat　and　passed　straight　on。

〃？a　y　est；〃　said　M。　Hercule　Poirot；　〃it　is　time；　I　think；　that　I　return　chez　moi。〃

He　found　the　imperturbable　George　pressing　trousers。

〃A　pleasant　day；　Georges；　somewhat　fatiguing；　but　not　without　interest；〃　he　said。

George　received　these　remarks　in　his　usual　wooden　fashion。

〃Indeed；　sir。〃

〃The　personality　of　a　criminal；　Georges；　is　an　interesting　matter。　Many　murderers　are　men　of　great　personal　charm。〃

〃I　always　heard；　sir；　that　Dr　Crippen　was　a　pleasant…spoken　gentleman。　And　yet　he　cut　up　his　wife　like　so　much　mincemeat。〃

〃Your　instances　are　always　apt；　Georges。〃

The　valet　did　not　reply；　and　at　that　moment　the　telephone　rang。　Poirot　took　up　the　receiver。

〃'Allo　…　'allo　…　yes；　yes；　it　is　Hercule　Poirot　who　speaks。〃

〃This　is　Knighton。　Will　you　hold　the　line　a　minute；　M。　Poirot？　Mr　Van　Aldin　would　li