“Am I to understand that the jewels were there when you went down to dinner, and that since then the maid has not left the room ?”

Suddenly, as though the horror of her own situation for the first time burst upon her, Célestine uttered a piercing shriek, and, flinging herself upon Poirot, poured out a torrent of incoherent French.

The suggestion was infamous! That she should be suspected of robbing Madame! The police were well known to be of a stupidity incredible! But Monsieur, who was a Frenchman⁠—

“A Belgian,” interjected Poirot, but Célestine paid no attention to the correction.