her face。 Now why？ Did he hope that if the face were unrecognizable she might not be identified？ Or did he hate her so much that he could not resist striking that blow even after she was dead？〃
Katherine shuddered； and he turned at once to her kindly。
〃You must not let me distress you； Mademoiselle；〃 he said。 〃To you this is all very terrible。 To me； alas！ it is an old story。 One moment； I pray of you both。〃
They stood against the door watching him as he partment。 He noted the dead woman's clothes neatly folded on the end of the berth； the big fur coat that hung from a hook； and the little red lacquer hat tossed up on the rack。 Then he passed through into the adjoining partment； that in which Katherine had seen the maid sitting。 Here the berth had not been made up。 Three or four rugs were piled loosely on the seat； there was a hat…box and a couple of suitcases。 He turned suddenly to Katherine。
〃You were in here yesterday；〃 he said。 〃Do you see anything changed； anything missing？〃
Katherine looked carefully round both partments。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃there is something missing … a scarlet morocco case。 It had the initials 'R。V。K。' on it。 It might have been a small dressing…case or a big jewel…case。 When I saw it； the maid was holding it。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Poirot。
〃But； surely；〃 said Katherine。 〃I … of course； I don't know anything about such things； but surely it is plain enough； if the maid and the jewel…case are missing？〃