“Well”⁠—the Magistrate coughed⁠—“this lady with whom he is said to be travelling⁠—Mademoiselle Mirelle. She is staying at one hotel and he at another. That strikes me⁠—er⁠—as rather odd.”

“It looks,” said M. Caux, “as though they were being careful.”

“Exactly,” said M. Carrège triumphantly; “and what should they have to be careful about?”

“An excess of caution is suspicious, eh?” said Poirot.

“ Précisément. ”

“We might, I think,” murmured Poirot, “ask M. Kettering one or two questions.”