。

〃Well？〃　she　cried。　〃Well？　What　is　it　now？　Have　you　not　tortured　me　enough；　all　of　you？　Have　you　not　made　me　betray　my　poor　Dereek？　What　more　do　you　want？〃

〃Just　one　little　question；　Mademoiselle。　After　the　train　left　Lyons；　when　you　entered　Mrs　Kettering's　partment　…〃

〃What　is　that？〃

Poirot　looked　at　her　with　an　air　of　mild　reproach　and　began　again。

〃I　say　when　you　entered　Mrs　Kettering's　partment　…〃

〃I　never　did。〃

〃And　found　her　…〃

〃I　never　did。〃

〃Ah；　sacré！〃

He　turned　on　her　in　a　rage　and　shouted　at　her；　so　that　she　cowered　back　before　him。

〃Will　you　lie　to　me？　I　tell　you　I　know　what　happened　as　well　as　though　I　had　been　there。　You　went　into　her　partment　and　you　found　her　dead。　I　tell　you　I　know　it。　To　lie　to　me　is　dangerous。　Be　careful；　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃

Her　eyes　wavered　beneath　his　gaze　and　fell。

〃I　…　I　didn't　…〃　she　began　uncertainly　and　stopped。

〃There　is　only　one　thing　about　which　I　wonder；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　wonder；　Mademoiselle；　if　you　found　what　you　were　looking　for　or　whether　…〃

〃Whether　what？〃

〃Or　whether　someone　else　had　been　before　you。〃

〃I　ed　the　dancer。　She　tore　herself　away　from　Poirot's　restraining　hand；　and　flinging　herself　down　on　the　floor　in　a　frenzy；　she　screamed　and　sobbed。　A　frightened　maid　came　rushing　in。

Hercule　Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders；　raised　his　eyebro。

But　he　seemed　satisfied。

Chapter　30

MISS　VINER　GIVES　JUDGMENT

Katherine　looked　out　of　Miss　Viner's　bedroom　window。　It　was　raining；　not　violently；　but　with　a　quiet；　well…bred　persistence。　The　window　looked　out　on　a　strip　of　front　garden　with　a　path　down　to　the　gate　and　neat　little　flower…beds　on　either　side；　where　later　roses　and