Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Caterina's New Friend

The next morning, Caterina and Reynolds sat on the balcony of the Earl's villa. Despite the great age difference, they seemed to have established a friendship.Caterina's life here would be impossible to imagine without Reynolds.Ms. Templin made every effort to take advantage of this frightening incident with her cousin.Even at breakfast, Caterina angrily refuted her. "I'm so sorry I didn't restrain myself this morning," she said to Reynolds. "No one will offend my mother. She is a typical face. If someone says something unpleasant to her, she just opens her mysterious big eyes and looks at the other person in bewilderment, and then it doesn't matter."

Caterina answered the lady's kind words with silence, and Reynolds continued: "You had dinner with Derek today, do you like him, Caterina?" Caterina thought for a full minute . "I don't know myself." She said slowly. "He's charming." "Yes, charming." "What don't you like about him?" Caterina does not answer, or rather does not answer the question directly. "He talked about his wife's death," Caterina said. "He said that, if he wasn't being a hypocrite, he had to admit that his wife's death was a lucky thing for him."

"What he said shocked and frightened you?" Reynolds asked. She didn't make a sound, and continued after a while, but her voice changed a bit: "He likes you very much, Caterina. I found this out on the first night he came. The way he looks at you demeanor..., but, really, you're not the type he needs. But people at his age soften, so there's a great deal of love in that age." "Telephone, madam!" called the maid from the window. "Mr. Hercule Poirot is calling for you." "It must be the continuation of the detective novel. Come on, Caterina, the detective cannot wait."

"Miss Grey? Mrs. Kettering's father, Herr von Alding, would like to have a word with you, either at the Earl's Cottage or at his hotel." Caterina thought for a moment.She was afraid that her cousin would threaten Herr von Alding again, so she replied that it would be best to go to Nizza. "Very good, miss. I'll meet you in the car. Will you be ready in forty-five minutes?" Poirot arrived on time.Katerina had been waiting there long ago, and they sped off in the direction of Niza. "Well, miss, how are you doing?" She looked at his small squinted eyes and pondered that Poirot seemed to have acquired something new and attractive, which strengthened his confidence.

"What do you think! Didn't I already tell you that we will write a detective novel together, and I will keep my promise." "Great," Caterina said. "Would you like to hear the progress of the case?" Caterina agreed, and Poirot gave a brief account of Count Roger's situation. "Do you think he killed Ms. Caitlin?" Katerina asked while thinking deeply. "That's what the police think," said Poirot cautiously. "And what about yourself? Do you think so, too?" "I haven't said that. Miss, what do you think of this matter?"

"How do I know about such things? I don't know anything about them. But if I'm honest..." "Well?" Poirot encouraged her to go on. "Judging from all the phenomena, and from your introduction and analysis of the count's situation, I don't think he looks like the kind of person who can kill people." "Excellent!" exclaimed Poirot. "Then we are on the same page." He looked at Caterina with keen eyes. "Please tell me you already know Mr. Derek Kettering?" "I met him at Ms. Templin's, and dined with him yesterday."

"Not a good excuse," said Poirot, shaking his head. "But women like that, don't they?" He looked at Caterina and laughed. "He's one of those people who can't figure it out," continued Poirot. "Did you actually see him on the 'Blue Express'?" "Yes, I saw him." "Is it in the dining car?" "No, I saw him only once, when he was going into his wife's box." Poirot nodded. "What a wonderful case," he said in a low voice. "If I remember correctly, you once said that in Lyon you woke up and looked out of the window for a while. Didn't you see a tall dark-haired man get out of the car?"

Katerina shook her head. "I just saw a conductor come out of the car. But I believe he just took a walk on the platform for a while. Also, I saw a very fat French passenger in pajamas, shouting for coffee. Except Other than that, if my memory serves, I've only seen attendants on the railroads." Poirot nodded repeatedly. "The thing is this: Count Roger is an alibi. 'Alibi' is always a rather annoying thing. The more convincing someone is of his 'alibi', the more I suspect him. But, We were confused after all." They drove straight to von Arden's apartment, and Knighton came out to meet them.

Then von Alden entered the room, and he held out his hand to Caterina. "I'm very glad to meet you, Miss Gray," said the millionaire flatly. "I have been eager to hear as much as possible from you about your meeting with my daughter." Caterina felt that this person was extremely painful deep in his heart, but he was so peaceful on the outside.He pulls up a chair for Caterina. "Sit down! Tell me, please!" Poirot and Knighton retreated in silence into the next room. Caterina found no difficulty in telling the story.She narrated her meeting with Ruth Kettering, speaking simply and naturally, describing their conversation word for word, trying to recall the circumstances as much as possible.Von Arden listened intently in his armchair, covered his eyes with his hands, and bowed his head.When Katerina finished speaking, he restrained his inner excitement and said:

"Thank you, my boy!" Both fell silent after that.Caterina couldn't find the right words to comfort him for a while.Later, it was the millionaire who broke the silence: "Miss Grey, I thank you very, very much. I believe you have given my poor child some comfort in her last moments. I have one more question from you. M. Poirot has I told you about the rascal who kidnapped my daughter. Can you guess exactly where they met, in Paris or in Hyères?" Caterina shook her head. "She didn't mention it." "No," said von Alding thoughtfully, "that is the crucial question, but time will clarify the facts."

He got up and looked for the door to the next room.Poirot and Knighton went back into the house. Caterina politely declines the suggestion to have lunch here.Knighton accompanied her downstairs and put her in the car.When Knighton returned to the room, he saw Poirot and von Alden talking vigorously. "If only we would know," said the millionaire bitterly, "what Ruth's mind was in the end. There are several possibilities. She may also decide to get off in Paris and telegraph me, or she may decide to go to Liviers." La made a date with the count. We were groping in the dark, quite in the dark. We knew from the maid that Ruth was surprised, even displeased, by the count's sudden appearance in Paris. The meeting in Paris was unplanned. Don't you think so, Knighton?" The secretary was taken aback. "Excuse me, Herr von Alding, I did not pay attention to what you were saying." "You seem to be asleep, don't you?" said von Alden. "It's not your character. I can see that Miss Gray has thrown your mind off balance." Knighton's face suddenly turned red. "A very lovely woman," said von Arden softly. "Have you noticed her eyes?" "Her eyes?" Knighton replied. "Everyone should notice."