第27部分(第4/7 頁)

ner。

〃This　is　an　extraordinary　story；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　M。　Carrege　slowly。　He　leant　back　in　his　chair；　adjusted　his　pince…nez；　and　looked　keenly　and　searchingly　at　the　dancer　through　them。

〃You　wish　us　to　believe　M。　Kettering　actually　boasted　of　the　crime　to　you　beforehand？〃

〃Yes；　yes。　She　was　too　healthy；　he　said。　If　she　were　to　die　it　must　be　an　accident　…　he　would　arrange　it　all。〃

〃You　are　aware；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　M。　Carrege　sternly；　〃that　you　are　making　yourself　out　to　be　an　accessory　before　the　fact？〃

〃Me？　But　not　the　least　in　the　world；　Monsieur。　Not　for　a　moment　did　I　take　that　statement　seriously。　Ah　no；　indeed！　I　know　men；　Monsieur；　they　say　many　wild　things。　It　would　be　an　odd　state　of　affairs　if　one　were　to　take　all　they　said　au　pied　de　la　lettre。〃

The　Examining　Magistrate　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃We　are　to　take　it；　then；　that　you　regarded　M。　Kettering's　threats　as　mere　idle　words？　May　I　ask；　Mademoiselle；　what　made　you　throw　up　your　engagements　in　London　and　e　out　to　the　Riviera？〃

Mirelle　looked　at　him　with　melting　black　eyes。

〃I　wished　to　be　with　the　man　I　loved；〃　she　said　simply。　〃Was　it　so　unnatural？〃

Poirot　interpolated　a　question　gently。

〃Was　it；　then；　at　M。　Kettering's　wish　that　you　acpanied　him　to　Nice？〃

Mirelle　seemed　to　find　a　little　difficulty　in　answering　this。　She　hesitated　perceptibly　before　she　spoke。　When　she　did；　it　was　with　a　haughty　indifference　of　manner。

〃In　such　matters　I　please　myself；　Monsieur；〃　she　said。

That　the　answer　was　not　an　answer　at　all　was　noted　by　all　three　men。　They　said　nothing。

〃When　were　you　first　convinced　that　M。　Kettering　had　murdered　his　wife？〃

〃As　I　tell　you；　Monsieur；　I　saw　M。　Kettering　e　out　of　his　wife