第16部分(第2/8 頁)

to　keep　it。〃

〃And　yet；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃it　was　an　indiscretion　the　te　might　have　foreseen。〃

〃You　mean？〃

〃I　mean　we　are　all　agreed　on　one　point；　and　that　is　that　the　te　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。　He　is　a　slippery　customer；　and　unless　the　maid　can　identify　him　…〃

〃Which　is　most　unlikely；〃　said　Poirot。

〃True；　true。〃　The　Examining　Magistrate　rubbed　his　chin。　〃It　is　going　to　be　difficult。〃

〃If　he　did　indeed　mit　the　crime　…〃　began　Poirot。　M。　Caux　interrupted。

〃If　…　you　say　if？〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur　le　Juge；　I　say　if。〃

The　other　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃You　are　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃we　go　too　fast。　It　is　possible　that　the　te　may　have　an　alibi。　Then　we　should　look　foolish。〃

〃Ah；　？a　par　exemple；〃　replied　Poirot；　〃that　is　of　no　importance　whatever。　Naturally；　if　he　mitted　the　crime　he　will　have　an　alibi。　A　man　with　the　te's　experience　does　not　neglect　to　take　precauti