。 Katherine flinched a little and dug her nails into her palms。 A heavy blow had disfigured the features almost beyond recognition。 Poirot gave a sharp exclamation。
〃When was that done； I wonder？〃 he demanded。 〃Before death or after？〃
〃The doctor says after；〃 said M。 Caux。
〃Strange；〃 said Poirot； drawing his brows together。
He turned to Katherine。 〃Be brave； Mademoiselle； look at her well。 Are you sure that this is the woman you talked to in the train yesterday？〃
Katherine had good nerves。 She steeled herself to look long and earnestly at the recumbent figure。 Then she leaned forward and took up the dead woman's hand。
〃I am quite sure；〃 she replied at length。 〃The face is too disfigured to recognize； but the build and carriage and hair are exact； and besides I noticed this …〃 she pointed to a tiny mole on the dead woman's wrist … 〃while I was talking to her。〃
〃Bon；〃 approved Poirot。 〃You are an excellent witness； Mademoiselle。 There is then no question as to the identity； but it is strange； all the same。〃 He frowned down on the dead woman in perplexity。
M。 Caux shrugged his shoulders。
〃The murderer was carried away by rage； doubtless；〃 he suggested。
〃If she had been struck down； it would have been prehensible；〃 mused Poirot； 〃but the man who strangled her slipped up behind and caught her unawares。 A little choke … a little gurgle … that is all that would be heard； and then afterwards … that smashing blow on