rs。　It's　outrageous　that　such　a　thing　could　happen　on　a　train　de　luxe　like　that；　and　that　the　French　police　should　be　helpless　to　deal　with　the　matter。〃

〃We　are　dealing　with　it；　Monsieur；　never　fear。〃

〃Madame　Kettering；　I　understand；　did　not　leave　a　will；〃　interposed　Poirot　suddenly。　His　fingertips　were　joined　together；　and　he　was　looking　intently　at　the　ceiling。

〃I　don't　think　she　ever　made　one；〃　said　Kettering。　〃Why？〃

〃It　is　a　very　pretty　little　fortune　that　you　inherit　there；〃　said　Poirot　…　〃a　very　pretty　little　fortune。〃

Although　his　eyes　were　still　on　the　ceiling；　he　managed　to　see　the　dark　flush　that　rose　to　Derek　Kettering's　face。

〃What　do　you　mean；　and　who　are　you？〃

Poirot　gently　uncrossed　his　knees；　withdrew　his　gaze　from　the　ceiling；　and　looked　the　young　man　full　in　the　face。

〃My　name　is　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃and　I　am　probably　the　greatest　detective　in　the　world。　You　are　quite　sure　that　you　did　not　see　or　speak　to　your　wife　on　that　train？〃

〃What　are　you　getting　at？　Do　you　…　do　you　mean　to　insinuate　that　I　…　I　killed　her？〃

He　laughed　suddenly。

〃I　mustn't　lose　my　temper；　it's　too　palpably　absurd。　Why；　if　I　killed　her　I　should　have　had　no　need　to　steal　her　jewels；　would　I？〃

〃That　is　true；〃　murmured　Poirot；　with　a　rather　crestfallen　air。　〃I　did　not　think　of　that。〃

〃If　ever　there　were　a　clear　case　of　murder　and　robbery；　this　is　it；〃　said　Derek　Kettering。　〃Poor　Ruth；　it　was　those　damned　rubies　did　for　her。　It　must　have　got　about　she　had　them　with　her。　There　has　been　murder　done　for　those　same　stones　before　now；　I　believe。〃

Poirot　sat　up　suddenly　in　his　chair。　A　very　faint　green　light　glowed　in　his　eyes。　He　looked　extraordinarily　like　a　sleek；　well…fed　cat。