6. A Second Interview with Colonel Arbuthnot

           ColonelArbuthnotwasclearlyannoyedatbeingsummonedtothediningcarforasecondinterview.Hisfaceworeamostforbiddingexpressionashesatdownandsaid:

           “Well?”

           “Allmyapologiesfortroublingyouasecondtime,”saidPoirot.“ButthereisstillsomeinformationthatIthinkyoumightbeabletogiveus.”

           “Indeed?Ihardlythinkso.”

           “Tobeginwith,youseethispipecleaner?”

           “Yes.”

           “Isitoneofyours?”

           “Don’tknow.Idon’tputaprivatemarkonthem,youknow.”

           “Areyouaware,ColonelArbuthnot,thatyouaretheonlymanamongstthepassengersintheStamboul-Calaiscarriagewhosmokesapipe?”

           “Inthatcaseitprobablyisoneofmine.”

           “Doyouknowwhereitwasfound?”

           “Nottheleastidea.”

           “Itwasfoundbythebodyofthemurderedman.”

           ColonelArbuthnotraisedhiseyebrows.

           “Canyoutellus,ColonelArbuthnot,howitislikelytohavegotthere?”

           “IfyoumeandidIdropittheremyself,no,Ididn’t.”

           “DidyougointoMr.Ratchett’scompartmentatanytime?”

           “Ineverevenspoketotheman.”

           “Youneverspoketohimandyoudidnotmurderhim?”

           TheColonel’seyebrowswentupagainsardonically.

           “IfIhad,Ishouldhardlybelikelytoacquaintyouwiththefact.AsamatteroffactIdidn’tmurderthefellow.”

           “Ah,well,”murmuredPoirot.“Itisofnoconsequence.”

           “Ibegyourpardon?”

           “Isaidthatitwasofnoconsequence.”

           “Oh!”Arbuthnotlookedtakenaback.HeeyedPoirotuneasily.

           “Because,yousee,”continuedthelittleman,“thepipecleaner,itisofnoimportance.