oncerned　with　the　recovery　of　these　jewels。　That　is　the　affair　of　the　police。　I　am　working　not　for　the　police　but　for　M。　Van　Aldin。　I　want　to　lay　hands　on　the　man　who　killed　Madame　Kettering。　I　am　interested　in　the　jewels　only　in　so　far　as　they　may　lead　me　to　the　man。　You　understand？〃

The　last　two　words　were　uttered　with　great　magnificence。　M。　Papopolous；　his　face　quite　unmoved；　said　quietly：　〃Go　on。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　probable；　Monsieur；　that　the　jewels　will　change　hands　in　Nice　…　maybe　they　have　done　so。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous。

He　sipped　his　coffee　reflectively；　and　looked　a　shade　more　noble　and　patriarchal　than　usual。

〃I　say　to　myself；〃　continued　Poirot；　with　animation；　〃what　good　fortune！　My　old　friend；　M。　Papopolous；　is　in　Nice。　He　will　aid　me。〃

〃And　how　do　you　think　I　can　aid　you？〃　inquired　M。　Papopolous　coldly。

〃I　said　to　myself；　without　doubt　M。　Papopolous　is　in　Nice　on　business。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　〃I　am　here　for　my　health　…　by　the　doctor's　orders。〃

He　coughed　hollowly。

〃I　am　desolated　to　hear　it；〃　replied　Poirot；　with　somewhat　insincere　sympathy。　〃But　to　continue。　When　a　Russian　Grand　Duke；　an　Austrian　Archduchess；　or　an　Italian　Prince　wish　to　dispose　of　their　family　jewels　…　to　whom　do　they　go？　To　M。　Papopolous；　is　it　not？　He　who　is　famous　all　over　the　world　for　the　discretion　with　which　he　arranges　these　things。〃

The　other　bowed。

〃You　flatter　me。〃

〃It　is　a　great　thing；　discretion；〃　mused　Poirot；　and　was　rewarded　by　the　fleeting　smile　which　passed　across　the　Greek's　face。　〃I；　too；　can　be　discreet。〃

The　eyes　of　the　two　men　met。

Then　Poirot　went　on　speaking　very　slowly；　and　obviously　picking　his　words　with　care。

〃I　say　to　myself；　this：