second supposition. These three men are

members of Marrascaud's gang and they

have come here to meet Marrascaud himself.

Who then is Marrascaud ?"

Poirot asked:

"What about the staff of the hotel ?33

LOH11 I<I

Drouet shrugged his shoulders.

"There is no staff to speak of. There is

an old woman who cooks, there is her old

husband Jacques --they have been here

for fifty years I should think. There is the

waiter whose place I have taken, that is all."

Poirot said:

"The manager, he knows of course who

you are ?"

"Naturally. It needed his cooperation."

"Has it struck you," said Hercule Poirot, "that he looks worried ?" The remark seemed to strike Drouet. He

said thoughtfully:

"Yes, that is true."

"It may be that it is merely the anxiety of

being involved in police proceedings."

"But you think it may be more than

that? You think that he may--know

something ?"

"It occurred to me, that is all."

Drouet said sombrely: "I wonder."

He paused and then went on:

"Could one get it out of him, do you

think?"

Poirot shook his head doubtfully. He

said:

"It would be better, I think, not to let

152

him know of our suspicions. Keep your eye

on him, that is all." Drouet nodded. He turned towards the door.

"You've no suggestions, M. Poirot ? I - I know your reputation. We have heard of you in this country of ours."

Poirot said perplexedly:

"For the moment I can suggest nothing.

It is the reason which escapes me --the

reason for a rendezvous in this place. In

fact, the reason for a rendezvous at all ?"

"Money," said Drouet succinctly.

"He was robbed, then, as well as murdered, this poor fellow Salley ?"

"Yes, he had a very large sum of money

on him which has disappeared."

"And the rendezvous is for the purpose of

sharing out, you think ?"

"It is the most obvious idea."

Poirot shook his head in a dissatisfied

manner.

"Yes, but why here ?" He went on slowly:

"The worst place possible for a rendezvous of criminals. But it is a place, this, where one might come to meet a woman. ..."

Drouet took a step forward eagerly.

He said excitedly:

153

"You think --?"

"I think," said Poirot, "that Madame

Grandier is a very beautiful woman. I

think that anyone might well mount ten

thousand feet for her sake --that is, if she

had suggested such a thing."

"You know," said Drouet, "that's interesting. I never thought of her in connection

with the case. After all, she's been

to this place several years running."

Poirot said gently:

"Yes --and therefore her presence would

not cause comment. It would be a reason, would it not, why Rochers Neiges should have been the spot selected ?"

Drouet said excitedly:

"You've had an idea, M. Poirot. I'll look

into that angle."

IV

The day passed without incident. Fortunately

the hotel was well provisioned. The

manager explained that there need be no