〃Exactly；〃　said　M。　Carrege　triumphantly；　〃and　what　should　they　have　to　be　careful　about？〃

〃An　excess　of　caution　is　suspicious；　eh？〃　said　Poirot。

〃Précisément。〃

〃We　might；　I　think；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃ask　M。　Kettering　one　or　two　questions。〃

The　Magistrate　gave　instructions。　A　moment　or　two　later；　Derek　Kettering；　debonair　as　ever；　entered　the　room。

〃Good　morning；　Monsieur；〃　said　the　Judge　politely。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Derek　Kettering　curtly。　〃You　sent　for　me。　Has　anything　fresh　turned　up？〃

〃Pray　sit　down；　Monsieur。〃

Derek　took　a　seat　and　flung　his　hat　and　stick　on　the　table。

〃Well？〃　he　asked　impatiently。

〃We　have；　so　far；　no　fresh　data；〃　said　M。　Carrege　cautiously。

〃That's　very　interesting；〃　said　Derek　drily。　〃Did　you　get　me　here　in　order　to　tell　me　that？〃

〃We　naturally　thought；　Monsieur；　that　you　would　like　to　be　informed　of　the　progress　of　the　case；〃　said　the　Magistrate　severely。　〃Even　if　the　progress　was　nonexistent。〃

〃We　also　wished　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃

〃Ask　away。〃

〃You　are　quite　sure　that　you　neither　saw　nor　spoke　with　your　wife　on　the　train？〃

〃I've　answered　that　already。　I　did　not。〃

〃You　had；　no　doubt；　your　reasons。〃

Derek　stared　at　him　suspiciously。

〃I　…　did　…　not　…　know　…　she　…　was　…　on　…　the　…　train；〃　he　explained；　spacing　his　words　elaborately；　as　though　to　someone　dull　of　intellect。

〃That　is　what　you　say；　yes；〃　murmured　M。　Carrege。

A　frown　suffused　Derek's　face。

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　you're　driving　at。　Do　you　know　what　I　think；　M。　Carrege？〃

〃What　do　you　think；　Monsieur？〃

〃I　think　the　French　police　are　vastly　overrated。　Surely　you　must　have　some　data　as　to　these　gangs　of　train　robbe