6. A Woman?

           Firstofall,”saidPoirot,“IshouldlikeawordortwowithyoungM.MacQueen.Hemaybeabletogiveusvaluableinformation.”

           “Certainly,”saidM.Bouc.

           Heturnedtothechefdetrain.

           “GetM.MacQueentocomehere.”

           Thechefdetrainleftthecarriage.

           Theconductorreturnedwithabundleofpassportsandtickets.M.Bouctookthemfromhim.

           “Thankyou,Michel.Itwouldbebestnow,Ithink,ifyouweretogobacktoyourpost.Wewilltakeyourevidenceformallylater.”

           “Verygood,Monsieur.”

           Michelinhisturnleftthecarriage.

           “AfterwehaveseenyoungMacQueen,”saidPoirot,“perhapsM.ledocteurwillcomewithmetothedeadman’scarriage.”

           “Certainly.”

           “Afterwehavefinishedthere—”

           ButatthismomentthechefdetrainreturnedwithHectorMacQueen.

           M.Boucrose.

           “Wearealittlecrampedhere,”hesaidpleasantly.“Takemyseat,M.MacQueen.M.Poirotwillsitoppositeyou—so.”

           Heturnedtothechefdetrain.

           “Clearallthepeopleoutoftherestaurantcar,”hesaid,“andletitbeleftfreeforM.Poirot.Youwillconductyourinterviewsthere,moncher?”

           “Itwouldbethemostconvenient,yes,”agreedPoirot.

           MacQueenhadstoodlookingfromonetotheother,notquitefollowingtherapidflowofFrench.

           “Qu’estcequ’ilya?”hebeganlaboriously.“Pourquoi—?”

           WithavigorousgesturePoirotmotionedhimtotheseatinthecorner.Hetookitandbeganoncemore.

           “Pourquoi—?”then,checkinghimselfandrelapsingintohisowntongue,“What’suponthetrain?Hasanythinghappened?”

           Helookedfromonemantoanother.