ke　to　speak　to　you。〃

There　was　a　moment's　pause；　then　the　millionaire's　voice　came　through。

〃Is　that　you；　M。　Poirot？　I　just　wanted　to　tell　you；　Mason　came　to　me　now　of　her　own　accord。　She　has　been　thinking　it　over；　and　she　says　that　she　is　almost　certain　that　the　man　at　Paris　was　Derek　Kettering。　There　was　something　familiar　about　him　at　the　time；　she　says；　but　at　the　minute　she　could　not　place　it。　She　seems　pretty　certain　now。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Poirot；　〃thank　you；　M。　Van　Aldin。　That　advances　us。〃

He　replaced　the　receiver；　and　stood　for　a　minute　or　two　with　a　very　curious　smile　on　his　face。　George　had　to　speak　to　him　twice　before　obtaining　an　answer。

〃Eh？〃　said　Poirot。　〃What　is　that　that　you　say　to　me？〃

〃Are　you　lunching　here；　sir；　or　are　you　going　out？〃

〃Neither；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　shall　go　to　bed　and　take　a　tisane。　The　expected　has　happened；　and　when　the　expected　happens；　it　always　causes　me　emotion。〃

Chapter　25

DEFIANCE

As　Derek　Kettering　passed　the　car；　Mirelle　leant　out。

〃Dereek　…　I　must　speak　to　you　for　a　moment　…〃

But；　lifting　his　hat；　Derek　passed　straight　on　without　stopping。

When　he　got　back　to　his　hotel；　the　concierge　detached　himself　from　his　wooden　pen　and　accosted　him。

〃A　gentleman　is　waiting　to　see　you；　Monsieur。〃

〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　Derek。

〃He　did　not　give　me　his　name；　Monsieur；　but　he　said　his　business　with　you　was　important；　and　that　he　would　wait。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃In　the　little　salon；　Monsieur。　He　preferred　it　to　the　lounge　he　said；　as　being　more　private。〃

Derek　nodded；　and　turned　his　steps　in　that　direction。

The　small　salon　was　empty　except　for　the　visitor；　who　rose　and　bowed　with　easy　foreign　grace　as　Derek　entered。　As　i