softly；　his　eyes　on　the　ceiling。

Van　Aldin　looked　at　him　sharply；　and　then　went　on。

〃I　pointed　out　to　her　the　folly　of　continuing　to　see　the　te　under　the　circumstances。　I　thought　she　agreed　with　me。〃

The　Examining　Magistrate　coughed　delicately。

〃But　according　to　this　letter　…〃　he　began　and　then　stopped。

Van　Aldin's　jaw　set　itself　squarely。

〃I　know。　It's　no　good　mincing　matters。　However　unpleasant；　we　have　got　to　face　facts。　It　seems　clear　that　Ruth　had　arranged　to　go　to　Paris　and　meet　de　la　Roche　there。　After　my　warnings　to　her；　however；　she　must　have　written　to　the　Count　suggesting　a　change　of　rendezvous。〃

〃The　Isles　d'Or；〃　said　the　missary　thoughtfully；　〃are　situated　just　opposite　Hyeres；　a　remote　and　idyllic　spot。〃

Van　Aldin　nodded。

〃My　God！　How　could　Ruth　be　such　a　fool？〃　he　exclaimed　bitterly。　〃All　this　talk　about　writing　a　book　on　jewels！　Why；　he　must　have　been　after　the　rubies　from　the　first。〃

〃There　are　some　very　famous　rubies；〃　said　Poirot；　〃originally　part　of　the　Crown　jewels　of　Russia；　they　are　unique　in　character；　and　their　value　is　almost　fabulous。　There　has　been　a　rumour　that　they　have　lately　passed　into　the　possession　of　an　American。　Are　we　right　in　concluding；　Monsieur；　that　you　were　the　purchaser？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃They　came　into　my　possession　in　Paris　about　ten　days　ago。〃

〃Pardon　me；　Monsieur；　but　you　have　been　negotiating　for　their　purchase　for　some　time？〃

〃A　little　over　two　months。　Why？〃

〃These　things　bee　known；〃　said　Poirot。　〃There　is　always　a　pretty　formidable　crowd　on　the　track　of　jewels　such　as　these。〃

A　spasm　distorted　the　other's　face。

〃I　remember；〃　he　said　brokenly；　〃a　joke　I　made　to　Ruth　when　I　gave　them　to　her。　I　told　her　no