ing；　and　anyone　can　have　your　French　fallals　and　whatnots；　your　ordoovres　and　your　omelettes　and　your　little　bits　of　quail。　Give　me；〃　he　reiterated；　〃a　Porterhouse　steak。〃

Poirot；　who　had　just　plied　pathetically。

〃Not　that　there　is　much　wrong　with　a　steak　and　kidney　pudding；〃　continued　Mr　Aarons。　〃Apple　tart？　Yes；　I　will　take　apple　tart；　thank　you；　Miss；　and　a　jug　of　cream。〃

The　meal　proceeded。　Finally；　with　a　long　sigh；　Mr　Aarons　laid　down　his　spoon　and　fork　preparatory　to　toying　with　some　cheese　before　turning　his　mind　to　other　matters。

〃There　was　a　little　matter　of　business　I　think　you　said；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　he　remarked。　〃Anything　I　can　do　to　help　you　I　am　sure　I　shall　be　most　happy。〃

〃That　is　very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　said　to　myself；　'If　you　want　to　know　anything　about　the　dramatic　profession　there　is　one　person　who　knows　all　that　is　to　be　known　and　that　is　my　old　friend；　Mr　Joseph　Aarons。'〃

〃And　you　don't　say　far　wrong；〃　said　Mr　Aarons　placently；　〃whether　it　is　past；　present；　or　future；　Joe　Aarons　is　the　man　to　e　to。〃

〃Précisément。　Now　I　want　to　ask　you；　Monsieur　Aarons；　what　you　know　about　a　young　woman　called　Kidd。〃

〃Kidd？　Kitty　Kidd？〃

〃Kitty　Kidd。〃

〃Pretty　smart；　she　was。　Male　impersonator；　song　and　a　dance　…　That　one？〃

〃That　is　the　one。〃

〃Very　smart；　she　was。　Made　a　good　ine。　Never　out　of　an　engagement。　Male　impersonation　mostly；　but；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　you　could　not　touch　her　as　a　character　actress。〃

〃So　I　have　heard；〃　said　Poirot；　〃but　she　has　not　been　appearing　lately；　has　she？〃

〃No。　Dropped　right　out　of　things。　Went　over　to　France　and　took　up　with　some　swell　nobleman　there。　She　quitted　the　stage　then　for　good　and　all；　I　guess。〃

〃How　long　ago