蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)- 第11部分

Katherine　found　her　own　bed　prepared　and　since　she　was　tired；　she　went　to　bed　and　switched　off　her　light　about　half…past　nine。　

She　woke　with　a　sudden　start；　how　much　time　had　passed　she　did　not　know。　Glancing　at　her　watch；　she　found　that　it　had　stopped。　

A　feeling　of　intense　uneasiness　pervaded　her　and　grew　stronger　moment　by　moment。　At　last　she　got　up；　threw　her　dressing…gown　round　her　shoulders；　and　stepped　out　into　the　corridor。　The　whole　train　seemed　wrapped　in　slumber。　Katherine　let　down　the　window　and　sat　by　it　for　some　minutes；　drinking　in　the　cool　night　air　and　trying　vainly　to　calm　her　uneasy　fears。　She　presently　decided　that　she　would　go　along　to　the　end　and　ask　the　conductor　for　the　right　time　so　that　she　could　set　her　watch。　She　found；　however；　that　his　little　chair　was　vacant。　

She　hesitated　for　a　moment　and　then　walked　through　into　the　next　coach。　She　looked　down　the　long；　dim　line　of　the　corridor　and　saw；　to　her　surprise；　that　a　man　was　standing　with　his　hand　on　the　door　of　the　partment　occupied　by　the　lady　in　the　mink　coat。　That　is　to　say；　she　thought　it　was　the　partment。　Probably；　however；　she　was　mistaken。　He　stood　there　for　a　moment　or　two　with　his　back　to　her；　seeming　uncertain　and　hesitating　in　his　attitude。　Then　he　slowly　turned；　and　with　an　odd　feeling　of　fatality；　Katherine　recognized　him　as　the　same　man　whom　she　had　noticed　twice　before　…　once　in　the　corridor　of　the　Savoy　Hotel　and　once　in　Cook's　offices。　Then　he　opened　the　door　of　the　partment　and　passed　in；　drawing　it　to　behind　him。　

An　idea　flashed　across　Katherine's　mind。　Could　this　be　the　man　of　whom　the　other　woman　had　spoken　…　the　man　she　was　journeying　to　meet。　

Then　Katherine　told　herself　that　she　was　romancing。　In　all　probability　she　had　mistaken　the　partment。　

She　went　back　to　her　own　carriage。　Five　minutes　later　the　train　slackened　speed。　

There　was　the　long　plaintive　hiss　of　the　Westinghouse　brake；　and　a　few　minutes　later　the　train　came　to　a　stop　at　Lyons。

Chapter　11　

MURDER

Katherine　wakened　the　next　morning　to　brilliant　sunshine。　She　went　along　to　breakfast　early；　but　met　none　of　her　acquaintances　of　the　day　before。　When　she　returned　to　her　partment　it　had　just　been　restored　to　its　daytime　appearance　by　the　conductor；　a　dark　man　with　a　drooping　moustache　and　melancholy　face。　

〃Madame　is　fortunate；〃　he　said；　〃the　sun　shines。　It　is　always　a　great　disappointment　to　passengers　when　they　arrive　on　a　grey　morning。〃　

〃I　should　have　been　disappointed；　certainly；〃　said　Katherine。　

The　man　prepared　to　depart。　

〃We　are　rather　late；　Madame；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　let　you　know　just　before　we　get　to　Nice。〃　

Katherine　nodded。　She　sat　by　the　window；　entranced　by　the　sunlit　panorama。　The　palid　trees；　the　deep　blue　of　the　sea；　the　bright　yellow　mimosa　came　with　all　the　charm　of　novelty　to　the　woman　who　for　fourteen　years　had　known　only　the　drab　winters　of　England。　

When　they　arrived　at　Cannes；　Katherine　got　out　and　walked　up　and　down　the　platform。　She　was　curious　about　the　lady　in　the　mink　coat；　and　looked　up　at　the　windows　of　her　partment。　The　blinds　were　still　drawn　down　…　the　only　ones　to　be　so　on　the　whole　train。　Katherine　wondered　a　little；　and　when　she　re…entered　the　train　she　passed　along　the　corridor　and　noticed　that　these　two　partments　were　still　shuttered　and　closed。　The　lady　of　the　mink　coat　was　clearly　no　early　riser。　

Presently　the　conductor　came　to　her　and　told　her　that　in　a　few　minutes　the　train　would　arrive　at　Nice。　Katherine　handed　him　a　tip；　the　man　thanked　her；　but　still　lingered。　

There　was　something　odd　about　him。　Katherine；　who　had　at　first　wondered　whether　the　tip　had　not　been　big　enough；　was　now　convinced　that　something　far　more　serious　was　amiss。　His　face　was　of　a　sickly　pallor；　he　was　shaking　all　over；　and　looked　as　if　he　had　been　frightened　out　of　his　life。　He　was　eyeing　her　in　a　curious　manner。　Presently　he　said　abruptly：　〃Madame　will　excuse　me；　but　is　she　expecting　friends　to　meet　her　at　Nice？〃　

〃Probably；〃　said　Katherine。　〃Why？〃　

But　the　man　merely　shook　his　head　and　murmured　something　that　Katherine　could　not　catch　and　moved　away；　not　reappearing　until　the　train　came　to　rest　at　the　station；　when　he　started　handing　her　belongings　down　from　the　window。　

Katherine　stood　for　a　moment　or　two　on　the　platform　rather　at　a　loss；　but　a　fair　young　man　with　an　ingenuous　face　came　up　to　her　and　said　rather　hesitatingly：　

〃Miss　Grey；　is　it　not？〃　

Katherine　said　that　it　was；　and　the　young　man　beamed　upon　her　seraphically　and　murmured：　

〃I　am　Chubby；　you　know　…　Lady　Tamplin's　husband。　I　expect　she　mentioned　me；　but　perhaps　she　forgot。　Have　you　got　your　billet　de　bagages？　I　lost　mine　when　I　came　out　this　year；　and　you　would　not　believe　the　fuss　they　made　about　it。　Regular　French　red　tape！〃　

Katherine　produced　it；　and　was　just　about　to　move　off　beside　him　when　a　very　gentle　and　insidious　voice　murmured　in　her　ear：　

〃A　little　moment；　Madame；　if　you　please。〃　

Katherine　turned　to　behold　an　individual　who　made　up　for　insignificance　of　stature　by　a　large　quantity　of　gold　lace　and　uniform。　

The　individual　explained。　〃There　were　certain　formalities。　Madame　would　perhaps　be　so　kind　as　to　acpany　him。　The　regulations　of　the　police　…〃　He　threw　up　his　arms。　〃Absurd；　doubtless；　but　there　it　was。〃　

Mr　Chubby　Evans　listened　with　a　very　imperfect　prehension；　his　French　being　of　a　limited　order。　

〃So　like　the　French；〃　murmured　Mr　Evans。　He　was　one　of　those　staunch　patriotic　Britons　who；　having　made　a　portion　of　a　foreign　country　their　own；　strongly　resent　the　original　inhabitants　of　it。　〃Always　up　to　some　silly　dodge　or　other。　They've　never　tackled　people　on　the　station　before；　though。　This　is　something　quite　new。　I　suppose　you'll　have　to　go。〃　

Katherine　departed　with　her　guide。　Somewhat　to　her　surprise；　he　led　her　towards　a　siding　where　a　coach　of　the　departed　train　had　been　shunted。　He　invited　her　to　mount　into　this；　and；　preceding　her　down　the　corridor；　held　aside　the　door　of　one　of　the　partments。　

In　it　was　a　pompous…looking　official　personage；　and　with　him　a　nondescript　being　who　appeared　to　be　a　clerk。　The　pompous…looking　personage　rose　politely；　bowed　to　Katherine；　and　said：　

〃You　will　excuse　me；　Madame；　but　there　are　certain　formalities　to　be　plied　with。　Madame　speaks　French；　I　trust？〃　

〃Sufficiently；　I　think；　Monsieur；〃　replied　Katherine　in　that　language。　

〃That　is　good。　Pray　be　seated；　Madame。　I　am　M。　Caux；　the　missary　of　Police。〃　

He　blew　out　his　chest　importantly；　and　Katherine　tried　to　look　sufficiently　impressed。　

〃You　wish　to　see　my　passport？〃　she　inquired。　〃Here　it　is。〃　

The　missary　eyed　her　keenly　and　gave　a　little　grunt。　

〃Thank　you；　Madame；〃　he　said；　taking　the　passport　from　her。　He　cleared　his　throat。　

〃But　what　I　really　desire　is　a　little　information。〃　

〃Information？〃　

The　missary　nodded　his　head　slowly。　

〃About　a　lady　who　has　been　a　fellow…passenger　of　yours。　You　lunched　with　her　yesterday。〃　

〃I　am　afraid　I　can't　tell　you　anything　about　her。　We　fell　into　conversation　over　our　meal；　but　she　is　a　plete　stranger　to　me。　I　have　never　seen　her　before。〃　

〃And　yet；〃　said　the　missary　sharply；　〃you　returned　to　her　partment　with　her　after　lunch　and　sat　talking　for　some　time？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine；　〃that　is　true。〃　

The　missary　seemed　to　expect　her　to　say　something　more。　He　looked　at　her　encouragingly。　

〃Yes；　Madame？〃　

〃Well；　Monsieur？〃　said　Katherine。　

〃You　can；　perhaps；　give　me　some　kind　of　idea　of　that　conversation？〃　

〃I　could；〃　said　Katherine；　〃but　at　the　moment　I　see　no　reason　to　do　so。〃　

In　somewhat　British　fashion　she　felt　annoyed。　

This　foreign　official　seemed　to　her　impertinent。　

〃No　reason？〃　cried　the　missary。　〃Oh　yes；　Madame；　I　can　assure　you　that　there　is　a　reason。〃　

〃Then　perhaps　you　will　give　it　to　me。〃　

The　missary　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully　for　a　minute　or　two　without　speaking。　

〃Madame；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃the　reason　is　very　simple。　The　lady　in　question　was　found　dead　in　her　partment　this　morning。〃　

〃Dead！〃　gasped　Katherine。　〃What　was　it　…　heart　failure？〃　

〃No；〃　said　the　missary　in　a　reflective　voice。　〃No　…　she　was　murdered。〃　

〃Murdered！〃　cried　Katherine。　

〃So　you　see；　Madame；　why　we　are　anxious　for　any　information　we　can　possibly　get。〃　

〃But　surely　her　maid　…〃　

〃The　maid　has　disappeared。〃　

〃Oh！〃　Katherine　paused　to　assemble　her　thoughts。　

〃Since　the　conductor　had　seen　you　talking　with　her　in　her　partment；　he　quite　naturally　reported　the　fact　to　the　police；　and　that　is　why；　Madame；　we　have　detained　you；　in　the　hope　of　gaining　some　information。〃　

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　said　Katherine；　〃I　don't　even　know　her　name。〃　

〃Her　name　is　Kettering。　That　we　know　from　her　passport　and　from　the　labels　on　her　luggage。　If　we　…〃　

There　was　a　knock　on　the　partment　door。　M。　Caux　frowned。　He　opened　it　about　six　inches。　

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　said　peremptorily。　〃I　cannot　be　disturbed。〃　

The　egg…shaped　head　of　Katherine's　dinner　acquaintance　showed　itself　in　the　aperture。　On　his　face　was　a　beaming　smile。　

〃My　name；〃　he　said；　〃is　Hercule　Poirot。〃　

〃Not；〃　the　missary　stammered；　〃not　the　Hercule　Poirot？〃　

〃The　same；〃　said　Mr　Poirot。　〃I　remember　meeting　you　once；　M。　Caux；　at　the　S？reté　in　Paris；　though　doubtless　you　have　forgotten　me？〃　

〃Not　at　all；　Monsieur；　not　at　all；〃　declared　the　missary　heartily。　〃But　enter；　I　pray　of　you。　You　know　of　this　…〃　

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Hercule　Poirot。　〃I　came　to　see　if　I　might　be　of　any　assistance？〃　

〃We　should　be　flattered；〃　replied　the　missary　promptly。　〃Let　me　present　you；　Mr　Poirot；　to　…〃　he　consulted　the　passport　he　still　held　in　his　hand　…　〃to　Madame　…　er　…　Mademoiselle　Grey。〃　

Poirot　smiled　across　at　Katherine。　

〃It　is　strange；　is　it　not；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　my　words　should　have　e　true　so　quickly？〃　

〃Mademoiselle；　alas！　can　tell　us　very　little；〃　said　the　missary。　

〃I　have　been　explaining；〃　said　Katherine；　〃that　this　poor　lady　was　a　plete　stranger　to　me。〃　

Poirot　nodded。　

〃But　she　talked　to　you；　did　she　not？〃　he　said　gently。　〃You　formed　an　impression　…　is　it　not　so？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine　thoughtfully。　〃I　suppose　I　did。　And　that　impression　was　…〃　

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle　…〃　the　missary　jerked　himself　forward　…　〃let　us　by　all　means　have　your　impressions。〃　

Katherine　sat　turning　the　whole　thing　over　in　her　mind。　She　felt　in　a　way　as　if　she　were　betraying　a　confidence；　but　with　that　ugly　word　'Murder'　ringing　in　her　ears　she　dared　not　keep　anything　back。　Too　much　might　hang　upon　it。　So；　as　nearly　as　she　could；　she　repeated　word　for　word　the　conversation　she　had　had　with　the　dead　woman。　

〃That　is　interesting；〃　said　the　missary；　glancing　at　the　other。　〃Eh；　M。　Poirot；　that　is　interesting？　Whether　it　has　anything　to　do　with　the　crime　…〃　He　left　the　sentence　unfinished。　

〃I　suppose　it　could　not　be　suicide；〃　said　Katherine；　rather　doubtfully。　

〃No；〃　said　the　missary；　〃it　could　not　be　suicide。　She　was　strangled　with　a　length　of　black　cord。〃　

〃Oh！〃　Katherine　shivered。　M。　Caux　spread　out　his　hands　apologetically。　〃It　is　not　nice　…　no。　I　think　that　our　train　robbers　are　more　brutal　than　they　are　in　your　country。〃　

〃It　is　horrible。〃　

〃Yes；　yes　…〃　he　was　soothing　and　apologetic　…　〃but　you