7. The Evidence of Count and Countess Andrenyi

           CountandCountessAndrenyiwerenextsummoned.TheCount,however,enteredthediningcaralone.

           Therewasnodoubtthathewasafine-lookingmanseenfacetoface.Hewasatleastsixfeetinheight,withbroadshouldersandslenderhips.Hewasdressedinverywell-cutEnglishtweeds,andmighthavebeentakenforanEnglishmanhaditnotbeenforthelengthofhismoustacheandsomethinginthelineofthecheekbone.

           “Well,Messieurs,”hesaid,“whatcanIdoforyou?”

           “Youunderstand,Monsieur,”saidPoirot,“thatinviewofwhathasoccurredIamobligedtoputcertainquestionstoallthepassengers.”

           “Perfectly,perfectly,”saidtheCounteasily.“Iquiteunderstandyourposition.Not,Ifear,thatmywifeandIcandomuchtoassistyou.Wewereasleepandheardnothingatall.”

           “Areyouawareoftheidentityofthedeceased,Monsieur?”

           “IunderstanditwasthebigAmerican—amanwithadecidedlyunpleasantface.Hesatatthetableatmealtimes.”

           HeindicatedwithanodofhisheadthetableatwhichRatchettandMacQueenhadsat.

           “Yes,yes,Monsieur,youareperfectlycorrect.Imeantdidyouknowthenameoftheman?”

           “No.”TheCountlookedthoroughlypuzzledbyPoirot’squeries.

           “Ifyouwanttoknowhisname,”hesaid,“surelyitisonhispassport?”

           “ThenameonhispassportisRatchett,”saidPoirot.“Butthat,Monsieur,isnothisrealname.HeisthemanCassetti,whowasresponsibleforacelebratedkidnappingoutrageinAmerica.”

           HewatchedtheCountcloselyashespoke,butthelatterseemedquiteunaffectedbythepieceofnews.