if　these　jewels　have　changed　hands　in　Nice；　M。　Papopolous　would　have　heard　of　it。　He　has　knowledge　of　all　that　passes　in　the　jewel　world。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　and　helped　himself　to　a　croissant。

〃The　police；　you　understand；〃　said　M。　Poirot；　〃do　not　enter　into　the　matter。　It　is　a　personal　affair。〃

〃One　hears　rumours；〃　admitted　M。　Papopolous　cautiously。

〃Such　as？〃　prompted　Poirot。

〃Is　there　any　reason　why　I　should　pass　them　on？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　think　there　is。　You　may　remember；　M。　Papopolous；　that　seventeen　years　ago　there　was　a　certain　article　in　your　hands；　left　there　as　security　by　a　very　…　er　…　Prominent　Person。　It　was　in　your　keeping　and　it　unaccountably　disappeared。　You　were；　if　I　may　use　the　English　expression；　in　the　soup。〃

His　eyes　came　gently　round　to　the　girl。　She　had　pushed　her　cup　and　plate　aside；　and　with　bo