“I mean we are all agreed on one point, and that is that the Comte de la Roche knows one subject à fond : Women. How was it that, knowing women as he does, he did not foresee that Madame would have kept that letter?”

“Yes⁠—yes,” said the Examining Magistrate doubtfully, “there is something in what you say. But at such times, you understand, a man is not master of himself. He does not reason calmly. Mon Dieu! ” he added, with feeling, “if our criminals kept their heads and acted with intelligence, how should we capture them?”

Poirot smiled to himself.

“It seems to me a clear case,” said the other, “but a difficult one to prove. The Comte is a slippery customer, and unless the maid can identify him⁠—”

“Which is most unlikely,” said Poirot.