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ng to be found out'？ He hated to put this question to himself； he had no doubt of the answer。 The answer was … he was sure of it … Armand de la Roche。
It was bitter to Van Aldin that a daughter of his should be gulled by such a man； yet he was forced to admit that she was in good pany … that other well…bred and intelligent women had succumbed just as easily to the Count's fascination。 Men saw through him； women did not。
He sought now for a phrase that would allay any suspicion that his secretary might have felt。
〃Ruth is always changing her mind about things at a moment's notice；〃 he remarked； and then he added in a would…be careless tone； 〃The maid didn't give any … er … reason for this change of plan？〃
Knighton was careful to make his voice as natural as possible as he replied：
〃She said； sir； that Mrs Kettering had met a friend unexpectedly。〃
〃Is that so？〃
The secretary's practised ears caught the note of strain underlying the seemingly casual tone。
〃Oh； I see。 Man or woman？〃
〃I think she said a man； sir。〃
Van Aldin nodded。 His worst fears were being realized。 He rose from his chair； and began pacing up and down the room； a habit of his when agitated。 Unable to contain his feelings any longer； he burst forth：
〃There is one thing no man can do； and that is to get a woman to listen to reason。 Somehow or other； they don't seem to have any kind of sense。 Talk of woman's instinct … why； it is well known all the world over that a woman is the surest mark for any rascally swindler。 Not one in ten of them knows a scoundrel when she meets one； they can be preyed on by any good…looking fellow with a soft side to his tongue。 If I had my way …〃
He was interrupted。 A page…boy entered with a telegram。 Van Aldin tore it open； and his face went a sudden chalky white。 He caught hold of the back of a chair to steady himself； and waved the page…boy from the room。
〃What's the matter； sir？〃
Knighton had risen in concern。
〃Ruth！〃 said Van Aldin hoarsely。
〃Mrs Kettering？〃
〃Killed！〃
〃An accident to the train？〃
Van Aldin shook his head。
〃No。 From this it seems she has been robbed as well。 They don't use the word； Knighton； but my poor girl has been murdered。〃
〃Oh； my God； sir！〃
Van Aldin tapped the telegram with his forefinger。
〃This is from the police at Nice。 I must go out there by the first train。〃
Knighton was efficient as ever。 He glanced at the clock。
〃Five o'clock from Victoria； sir。〃
〃That's right。 You will e with me； Knighton。 Tell my man； Archer； and pack your own things。 See to everything here。 I want to go round to Curzon Street。〃
The telephone rang sharply； and the secretary tilted the receiver。
〃Yes； who is it？〃
Then to Van Aldin。
〃Mr Goby； sir。〃
〃Goby？ I can't see him now。 No … wait； we have plenty of time。 Tell them to send him up。〃
Van Aldin was a strong man。 Already he had recovered that iron calm of his。 Few people would have noticed anything amiss in his greeting to Mr Goby。
〃I am pressed for time； Goby。 Got anything important to tell me？〃
Mr Goby coughed。
〃The movements of Mr Kettering； sir。 You wished them reported to you。〃
〃Yes … well？〃
〃Mr Kettering； sir； left London for the Riviera yesterday morning。〃
〃What？〃
Something in his voice must have startled Mr Goby。 That worthy gentleman departed from his usual practice of never looking at a person to whom he was talking； and stole a fleeting glance at the millionaire。
〃What train did he go on？〃 demanded Van Aldin。
〃The Blue Train； sir。〃
Mr Goby coughed again and spoke to the clock on the mantelpiece。
〃Mademoiselle Mirelle； the dancer from the Parthenon； went by the same train。〃
Chapter 14
ADA MASON'S STORY
〃I cannot repeat to you often enough； Monsieur； our horror； our consternation； and the deep sympathy we feel for you。〃
Thus M。 Carrege； the Juge d'Instruction； addressed Van Aldin。 M。 Caux； the missary； made sympathetic noises in his throat。 Van Aldin brushed away horror； consternation and sympathy with an abrupt gesture。 The scene was the Examining Magistrate's room at Nice。 Besides M。 Carrege； the missary； and Van Aldin； there was a further person in the room。 It was that person who now spoke。
〃M。 Van Aldin；〃 he said； 〃desires action … swift action。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried the missary； 〃I have not yet presented you。 M。 Van Aldin； this is M。 Hercule Poirot； you have doubtless heard of him。 Although he has retired from his profession for some years now； his name is still a household word as one of the greatest living detectives。〃
〃Pleased to meet you； M。 Poirot；〃 said Van Aldin； falling back mechanically on a formula that he had discarded some years ago。 〃You have retired from your profession？〃
〃That is so； Monsieur。 Now I enjoy the world。〃
The little man made a grandiloquent gesture。
〃M。 Poirot happened to be travelling on the Blue Train；〃 explained the missary； 〃and he has been so kind as to assist us out of his vast experience。〃
The millionaire looked at Poirot keenly。 Then he said unexpectedly：
〃I am a very rich man； M。 Poirot。 It is usually said that a rich man labours under the belief that he can buy everything and everyone。 That is not true。 I am a big man in my way； and one big man can ask a favour from another big man。〃
Poirot nodded a quick appreciation。
〃That is very well said； M。 Van Aldin。 I place myself entirely at your service。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Van Aldin。 〃I can only say： call upon me at any time； and you will not find me ungrateful。 And now； gentlemen； to business。〃
〃I propose；〃 said M。 Carrege； 〃to interrogate the maid； Ada Mason。 You have her here； I understand？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Van Aldin。 〃We picked her up in Paris in passing through。 She was very upset to hear of her mistress's death； but she tells her story coherently enough。〃
〃We will have her in； then；〃 said M。 Carrege。
He rang the bell on his desk； and in a few minutes Ada Mason entered the room。
She was very neatly dressed in black； and the tip of her nose was red。 She had exchanged her grey travelling gloves for a pair of black suede ones。 She cast a look round the Examining Magistrate's office in some trepidation； and seemed relieved at the presence of her mistress's father。 The Examining Magistrate prided himself on his geniality of manner； and did his best to put her at her ease。 He was helped in this by Poirot； who acted as interpreter； and whose friendly manner was reassuring to the Englishman。
〃Your name is Ada Mason； is that right？〃
〃Ada Beatrice I was christened； sir；〃 said Mason primly。
〃Just so。 And we can understand； Mason； that this has all been very distressing。〃
〃Oh； indeed it has； sir。 I have been with many ladies and always given satisfaction； I hope； and I never dreamt of anything of this kind happening in any situation where I was。〃
〃No； no；〃 said M。 Carrege。
〃Naturally I have read of such things； of course； in the Sunday papers。 And then I always have understood that those foreign trains …〃 She suddenly checked her flow； remembering that the gentlemen who were speaking to her were of the same nationality as the trains。
〃Now let