nnis。　Look；　Monsieur！〃

He　lifted　the　lid　of　the　box　for　the　fraction　of　a　second。　An　exclamation　of　utter　astonishment　came　from　the　millionaire。　His　face　turned　as　white　as　chalk。

〃My　God！〃　he　breathed；　〃the　rubies。〃

He　sat　for　a　minute　as　though　dazed。　Poirot　restored　the　box　to　his　pocket。　Then　suddenly　the　millionaire　seemed　to　e　out　of　his　trance；　he　leaned　across　to　Poirot　and　wrung　his　hand　so　heartily　that　the　little　man　winced　with　pain。

〃This　is　great；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Great！　You　are　the　goods；　M。　Poirot。　Once　and　for　all；　you　are　the　goods。〃

〃It　is　nothing；〃　said　Poirot　modestly。　〃Order；　method；　being　prepared　for　eventualities　beforehand　…　that　is　all　there　is　to　it。〃

〃And　now；　I　suppose；　the　te　de　la　Roche　has　been　arrested？〃　continued　Van　Aldin　eagerly。

〃No；〃　said　Poirot。

A　look　of　utter　astonishment　came　over　Van　Aldin's　face。

〃But　why？　What　more　do　you　want？〃

〃The　te's　alibi　is　still　unshaken。〃

〃But　that　is　nonsense。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　rather　think　it　is　nonsense；　but　unfortunately　we　have　to　prove　it　so。〃

〃In　the　meantime　he　will　slip　through　your　fingers。〃

Poirot　shook　his　head　very　energetically。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃he　will　not　do　that。　The　one　thing　the　te　cannot　afford　to　sacrifice　is　his　social　position。　At　all　costs　he　must　stop　and　brazen　it　out。〃

Van　Aldin　was　still　dissatisfied。

〃But　I　don't　see　…〃

Poirot　raised　a　hand。　〃Grant　me　a　little　moment；　Monsieur。　Me；　I　have　a　little　idea。　Many　have　mocked　themselves　at　the　little　ideas　of　Hercule　Poirot　…　and　they　have　been　wrong。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃go　ahead。　What　is　this　little　idea？〃

Poirot　paused　for　a　moment　and　then　he　said：

〃I　will　call　upon