handed it back. "And now, madame, if I might see———"
He paused delicately.
"The servant shall take you," she murmured, averting her head.
The parlourmaid, summoned, led Poirot upstairs. I remained with the lovely and unfortunate woman. It was hard to know whether to speak or remain silent. I essayed one or two general reflections to which she responded absently, and in a very few minutes Poirot rejoined us.
"I thank you for all your courtesy, madame. I do not think you need be troubled any further with this matter. By the way, do you know anything of your husband's financial position?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing whatever. I am very stupid over business things."
"I see. Then you can give us no clue as to why he suddenly decided to insure his life? He had not done so previously, I understand."
"Well, we had only been married a little over a year. But, as to why he insured his life, it was because he had absolutely made up his mind that he would not live long. He had a strong pre-
