；　but　there's　no　suggestion　of　foul　play。〃

〃In　the　interests　of　justice；〃　said　Poirot；　〃it　was　thought　best　to　suppress　that　fact。〃

There　was　a　pause。

〃And　in　what　way　can　I　assist　you；　Mr　Poirot？〃　asked　the　dealer　politely。

〃Voilà；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　shall　e　to　the　point。〃　He　took　from　his　pocket　the　same　box　that　he　had　displayed　at　Cannes；　and　opening　it；　he　took　out　the　rubies　and　pushed　them　across　the　table　to　Papopolous。

Although　Poirot　was　watching　him　narrowly；　not　a　muscle　of　the　old　man's　face　moved。　He　took　up　the　jewels　and　examined　them　with　a　kind　of　detached　interest；　then　he　looked　across　at　the　detective　inquiringly：

〃Superb；　are　they　not？〃　asked　Poirot。

〃Quite　excellent；〃　said　M。　Papopolous。

〃How　much　should　you　say　they　are　worth？〃

The　Greek's　face　quivered　a　little。

〃Is　it　really　necessary　to　tell　you；　M。　Poirot？〃　he　asked。

〃You　are　shrewd；　M。　Papopolous。　No；　it　is　not。　They　are　not；　for　instance；　worth　five　hundred　thousand　dollars。〃

Papopolous　laughed；　and　Poirot　joined　with　him。

〃As　an　imitation；〃　said　Papopolous；　handing　them　back　to　Poirot；　〃they　are；　as　I　said；　quite　excellent。　Would　it　be　indiscreet　to　ask；　M。　Poirot；　where　you　came　across　them？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　have　no　objection　to　telling　an　old　friend　like　yourself。　They　were　in　the　possession　of　the　te　de　la　Roche。〃

M。　Papopolous'　eyebrows　lifted　themselves　eloquently。

〃In…deed；〃　he　murmured。

Poirot　leant　forward　and　assumed　his　most　innocent　and　beguiling　air。

〃M。　Papopolous；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　lay　my　cards　upon　the　table。　The　original　of　these　jewels　was　stolen　from　Madame　Kettering　on　the　Blue　Train。　Now　I　will　say　to　you　first　this：　I　am　not　c