'Pardon, monsieur, for interrupting, but was that a common practice of his?'

'No, it was not, but old Francoise has the common idea as regards the English-that they are mad, and liable to do the most unaccountable things at any moment! Going to call her mistress as usual, a young maid, Leonie, was horrified to discover her gagged and bound, and almost at the same moment news was brought that Monsieur Renauld's body had been discovered, stone-dead, stabbed in the back.'

'Where?'

'That is one of the most extraordinary features of the case. Monsieur Poirot, the body was lying face downwards, in an [unclear].'

'What?'

'Yes. The pit was freshly dug-just a few yards outside the boundary of the villa.'

'And it had been dead how long?'

Dr. Durand answered him.

'I examined the body this morning at ten o'clock. Death must have taken place at least seven and possibly ten hours previously.'

'Hm! That fixes it at between midnight and 3 A.M…'

'Exactly, and Mrs. Renauld's evidence places it at after 2 A.M., which narrows the field still farther. Death must have been instantaneous, and naturally could not have been self-inflicted.'

Poirot nodded, and the commissary resumed:

'Madame Renauld was hastily freed from the cords that bound her by the horrified servants. She was in a terrible condition of weakness, almost unconscious from the pain of her bonds. It appears that two masked men entered the bedroom, gagged and bound her, while forcibly abducting her husband. This we know at second hand from the servants.'

'On hearing the tragic news she fell at once into an alarming state of agitation. On arrival, Dr. Durand immediately prescribed a sedative, and we have not yet been able to question her. But without doubt she will awake more calm, and be equal to bearing the strain of the interrogation.'

The commissary paused.

'And the inmates of the home, monsieur?'