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the train came to rest at the station； when he started handing her belongings down from the window。
Katherine stood for a moment or two on the platform rather at a loss； but a fair young man with an ingenuous face came up to her and said rather hesitatingly：
〃Miss Grey； is it not？〃
Katherine said that it was； and the young man beamed upon her seraphically and murmured：
〃I am Chubby； you know … Lady Tamplin's husband。 I expect she mentioned me； but perhaps she forgot。 Have you got your billet de bagages？ I lost mine when I came out this year； and you would not believe the fuss they made about it。 Regular French red tape！〃
Katherine produced it； and was just about to move off beside him when a very gentle and insidious voice murmured in her ear：
〃A little moment； Madame； if you please。〃
Katherine turned to behold an individual who made up for insignificance of stature by a large quantity of gold lace and uniform。
The individual explained。 〃There were certain formalities。 Madame would perhaps be so kind as to acpany him。 The regulations of the police …〃 He threw up his arms。 〃Absurd； doubtless； but there it was。〃
Mr Chubby Evans listened with a very imperfect prehension； his French being of a limited order。
〃So like the French；〃 murmured Mr Evans。 He was one of those staunch patriotic Britons who； having made a portion of a foreign country their own； strongly resent the original inhabitants of it。 〃Always up to some silly dodge or other。 They've never tackled people on the station before； though。 This is something quite new。 I suppose you'll have to go。〃
Katherine departed with her guide。 Somewhat to her surprise； he led her towards a siding where a coach of the departed train had been shunted。 He invited her to mount into this； and； preceding her down the corridor； held aside the door of one of the partments。
In it was a pompous…looking official personage； and with him a nondescript being who appeared to be a clerk。 The pompous…looking personage rose politely； bowed to Katherine； and said：
〃You will excuse me； Madame； but there are certain formalities to be plied with。 Madame speaks French； I trust？〃
〃Sufficiently； I think； Monsieur；〃 replied Katherine in that language。
〃That is good。 Pray be seated； Madame。 I am M。 Caux； the missary of Police。〃
He blew out his chest importantly； and Katherine tried to look sufficiently impressed。
〃You wish to see my passport？〃 she inquired。 〃Here it is。〃
The missary eyed her keenly and gave a little grunt。
〃Thank you； Madame；〃 he said； taking the passport from her。 He cleared his throat。
〃But what I really desire is a little information。〃
〃Information？〃
The missary nodded his head slowly。
〃About a lady who has been a fellow…passenger of yours。 You lunched with her yesterday。〃
〃I am afraid I can't tell you anything about her。 We fell into conversation over our meal； but she is a plete stranger to me。 I have never seen her before。〃
〃And yet；〃 said the missary sharply； 〃you returned to her partment with her after lunch and sat talking for some time？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Katherine； 〃that is true。〃
The missary seemed to expect her to say something more。 He looked at her encouragingly。
〃Yes； Madame？〃
〃Well； Monsieur？〃 said Katherine。
〃You can； perhaps； give me some kind of idea of that conversation？〃
〃I could；〃 said Katherine； 〃but at the moment I see no reason to do so。〃
In somewhat British fashion she felt annoyed。
This foreign official seemed to her impertinent。
〃No reason？〃 cried the missary。 〃Oh yes； Madame； I can assure you that there is a reason。〃
〃Then perhaps you will give it to me。〃
The missary rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a minute or two without speaking。
〃Madame；〃 he said at last； 〃the reason is very simple。 The lady in question was found dead in her partment this morning。〃
〃Dead！〃 gasped Katherine。 〃What was it … heart failure？〃
〃No；〃 said the missary in a reflective voice。 〃No … she was murdered。〃
〃Murdered！〃 cried Katherine。
〃So you see； Madame； why we are anxious for any information we can possibly get。〃
〃But surely her maid …〃
〃The maid has disappeared。〃
〃Oh！〃 Katherine paused to assemble her thoughts。
〃Since the conductor had seen you talking with her in her partment； he quite naturally reported the fact to the police； and that is why； Madame； we have detained you； in the hope of gaining some information。〃
〃I am very sorry；〃 said Katherine； 〃I don't even know her name。〃
〃Her name is Kettering。 That we know from her passport and from the labels on her luggage。 If we …〃
There was a knock on the partment door。 M。 Caux frowned。 He opened it about six inches。
〃What is the matter？〃 he said peremptorily。 〃I cannot be disturbed。〃
The egg…shaped head of Katherine's dinner acquaintance showed itself in the aperture。 On his face was a beaming smile。
〃My name；〃 he said； 〃is Hercule Poirot。〃
〃Not；〃 the missary stammered； 〃not the Hercule Poirot？〃
〃The same；〃 said Mr Poirot。 〃I remember meeting you once； M。 Caux； at the S？reté in Paris； though doubtless you have forgotten me？〃
〃Not at all； Monsieur； not at all；〃 declared the missary heartily。 〃But enter； I pray of you。 You know of this …〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 said Hercule Poirot。 〃I came to see if I might be of any assistance？〃
〃We should be flattered；〃 replied the missary promptly。 〃Let me present you； Mr Poirot； to …〃 he consulted the passport he still held in his hand … 〃to Madame … er … Mademoiselle Grey。〃
Poirot smiled across at Katherine。
〃It is strange； is it not；〃 he murmured； 〃that my words should have e true so quickly？〃
〃Mademoiselle； alas！ can tell us very little；〃 said the missary。
〃I have been explaining；〃 said Katherine； 〃that this poor lady was a plete stranger to me。〃
Poirot nodded。
〃But she talked to you； did she not？〃 he said gently。 〃You formed an impression … is it not so？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Katherine thoughtfully。 〃I suppose I did。 And that impression was …〃
〃Yes； Mademoiselle …〃 the missary jerked himself forward … 〃let us by all means have your impressions。〃
Katherine sat turning t