“Michel will get you those.”

The Wagon Lit conductor left the compartment.

“What other passengers are there on the train?” asked Poirot.

“In this coach Dr. Constantine and I are the only travellers. In the coach from Bucharest is an old gentleman with a lame leg. He is well known to the conductor. Beyond that are the ordinary carriages, but these do not concern us, since they were locked after dinner had been served last night. Forward of the Istanbul-Calais coach there is only the dining-car.”

“Then it seems,” said Poirot slowly, “as though we must look for our murderer in the Istanbul-Calais coach.” He turned to the doctor. “That is what you were hinting, I think?”

The Greek nodded. “At half an hour after midnight we ran into the snowdrift. No one can have left the train since then.”

M. Bouc said solemnly, “The murderer is with us-on the train now…”

6. A Woman

 “First of all,” said Poirot, “I should like a word or two with young Mr. MacQueen. He may be able to give us valuable information.”

“Certainly,” said M. Bouc. He turned to thechef de train. “Get Mr. MacQueen to come here.”

Thechef de train left the carriage.

The conductor returned with a bundle of passports and tickets. M. Bouc took them from him.

“Thank you, Michel. It would be best now, I think, if you were to go back to your post. We will take your evidence formally later.”

“Very good, Monsieur,” said Michel, and in his turn left the carriage.

“After we have seen young MacQueen,” said Poirot, “perhapsM. le docteur will come with me to the dead man’s carriage.”

“Certainly.”

“After we have finished there-”

But at this moment thechef de train returned with Hector MacQueen.