“There is some truth in her story, certainly,” said Poirot. “We have confirmation of it from Miss Grey. She was looking down the corridor a short time before the train reached Lyons, and she saw M. Kettering go into his wife’s compartment.”

“The case against him seems quite clear,” said the Commissary, sighing. “It is a thousand pities,” he murmured.

“How do you mean?” asked Poirot.

“It has been the ambition of my life to lay the Comte de la Roche by the heels. This time, ma foi , I thought we had got him. This other⁠—it is not nearly so satisfactory.”

M. Carrège rubbed his nose.