our　French　police；〃　he　murmured　to　himself　…　〃excellent。　Nothing　escapes　them。〃

Chapter　20

KATHERINE　MAKES　A　FRIEND

On　the　following　morning　Katherine　and　Lenox　were　sitting　on　the　terrace　of　the　Villa　Marguerite。　Something　in　the　nature　of　a　friendship　was　springing　up　between　them；　despite　the　difference　in　age。　But　for　Lenox；　Katherine　would　have　found　life　at　the　Villa　Marguerite　quite　intolerable。　The　Kettering　case　was　the　topic　of　the　moment。　Lady　Tamplin　frankly　exploited　her　guest's　connection　with　the　affair　for　all　it　was　worth。

The　most　persistent　rebuffs　that　Katherine　could　administer　quite　failed　to　pierce　Lady　Tamplin's　self…esteem。　Lenox　adopted　a　detached　attitude；　seemingly　amused　at　her　mother's　manoeuvres；　and　yet　with　a　sympathetic　understanding　of　Katherine's　feelings。

The　situation　was　not　helped　by　Chubby；　whose　naive　delight　was　unquenchable；　and　who　introduced　Katherine　to　all　and　sundry　as：

〃This　is　Miss　Grey。　You　know　that　Blue　Train　business？　She　was　in　it　up　to　the　ears！　Had　a　long　talk　with　Ruth　Kettering　a　few　hours　before　the　murder！　Bit　of　luck　for　her；　eh？〃

A　few　remarks　of　this　kind　had　provoked　Katherine　that　morning　to　an　unusually　tart　rejoinder；　and　when　they　were　alone　together　Lenox　observed　in　her　slow　drawl：

〃Not　used　to　exploitation；　are　you？　You　have　a　lot　to　learn；　Katherine。〃

〃I　am　sorry　I　lost　my　temper。　I　don't；　as　a　rule。〃

〃It　is　about　time　you　learnt　to　blow　off　steam。　Chubby　is　only　an　ass；　there　is　no　harm　in　him。　Mother；　of　course；　is　trying；　but　you　can　lose　your　temper　with　her　until　Kingdom　e；　and　it　won't　make　any　impression。　She　will　open　large；　sad　blue　eyes　at　you　and　not　care　a　bit。〃

Katherine　made　no　reply　to　this　filial　observati