蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)- 第18部分

〃What　happened　to　them？〃　

〃I　gave　them　to　the　conductor　on　the　French　train；　sir；　he　said　it　was　usual。　I　hope　I　did　right；　sir？〃　

〃Oh；　quite　right；　quite　right。　A　mere　matter　of　detail。〃　

Both　M。　Caux　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　looked　at　him　curiously。　Mason　stood　uncertainly　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　the　Magistrate　gave　her　a　brief　nod　of　dismissal；　and　she　went　out。　Poirot　scribbled　something　on　a　scrap　of　paper　and　handed　it　across　to　M。　Carrege。　The　latter　read　it　and　his　brow　cleared。　

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　demanded　the　Count　haughtily；　〃am　I　to　be　detained　further？〃　

〃Assuredly　not；　assuredly　not；〃　M。　Carrege　hastened　to　say；　with　a　great　deal　of　amiability。　〃Everything　is　now　cleared　up　as　regards　your　own　position　in　this　affair。　Naturally；　in　view　of　Madame's　letter；　we　were　bound　to　question　you。〃　

The　Count　rose；　picked　up　his　handsome　stick　from　the　corner；　and；　with　rather　a　curt　bow；　left　the　room。　

〃And　that　is　that；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃You　。　Poirot　…　much　better　to　let　him　feel　he　is　not　suspected。　Two　of　my　men　will　shadow　him　night　and　day；　and　at　the　same　time　we　will　go　into　the　question　of　the　alibi。　It　seems　to　me　rather　…　er　…　a　fluid　one。〃　

〃Possibly；〃　agreed　Poirot　thoughtfully。　

〃I　asked　M。　Kettering　to　e　here　this　morning；〃　continued　the　Magistrate；　〃though　really　I　doubt　if　we　have　much　to　ask　him；　but　there　are　one　or　two　suspicious　circumstances　…〃　He　paused；　rubbing　his　nose。　

〃Such　as？〃　asked　Poirot。　

〃Well　…〃　the　Magistrate　coughed　…　〃this　lady　with　whom　he　is　said　to　be　travelling　…　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。　She　is　staying　at　one　hotel　and　he　at　another。　That　strikes　me　…　er　…　as　rather　odd。〃　

〃It　looks；〃　said　M。　Caux；　〃as　though　they　were　being　careful。〃　

〃Exactly；〃　said　M。　Carrege　triumphantly；　〃and　what　should　they　have　to　be　careful　about？〃　

〃An　excess　of　caution　is　suspicious；　eh？〃　said　Poirot。　

〃Précisément。〃　

〃We　might；　I　think；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃ask　M。　Kettering　one　or　two　questions。〃　

The　Magistrate　gave　instructions。　A　moment　or　two　later；　Derek　Kettering；　debonair　as　ever；　entered　the　room。　

〃Good　morning；　Monsieur；〃　said　the　Judge　politely。　

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Derek　Kettering　curtly。　〃You　sent　for　me。　Has　anything　fresh　turned　up？〃　

〃Pray　sit　down；　Monsieur。〃　

Derek　took　a　seat　and　flung　his　hat　and　stick　on　the　table。　

〃Well？〃　he　asked　impatiently。　

〃We　have；　so　far；　no　fresh　data；〃　said　M。　Carrege　cautiously。　

〃That's　very　interesting；〃　said　Derek　drily。　〃Did　you　get　me　here　in　order　to　tell　me　that？〃　

〃We　naturally　thought；　Monsieur；　that　you　would　like　to　be　informed　of　the　progress　of　the　case；〃　said　the　Magistrate　severely。　〃Even　if　the　progress　was　nonexistent。〃　

〃We　also　wished　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃　

〃Ask　away。〃　

〃You　are　quite　sure　that　you　neither　saw　nor　spoke　with　your　wife　on　the　train？〃　

〃I've　answered　that　already。　I　did　not。〃　

〃You　had；　no　doubt；　your　reasons。〃　

Derek　stared　at　him　suspiciously。　

〃I　…　did　…　not　…　know　…　she　…　was　…　on　…　the　…　train；〃　he　explained；　spacing　his　words　elaborately；　as　though　to　someone　dull　of　intellect。　

〃That　is　what　you　say；　yes；〃　murmured　M。　Carrege。　

A　frown　suffused　Derek's　face。　

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　you're　driving　at。　Do　you　know　what　I　think；　M。　Carrege？〃　

〃What　do　you　think；　Monsieur？〃　

〃I　think　the　French　police　are　vastly　overrated。　Surely　you　must　have　some　data　as　to　these　gangs　of　train　robbers。　It's　outrageous　that　such　a　thing　could　happen　on　a　train　de　luxe　like　that；　and　that　the　French　police　should　be　helpless　to　deal　with　the　matter。〃　

〃We　are　dealing　with　it；　Monsieur；　never　fear。〃　

〃Madame　Kettering；　I　understand；　did　not　leave　a　will；〃　interposed　Poirot　suddenly。　His　fingertips　were　joined　together；　and　he　was　looking　intently　at　the　ceiling。　

〃I　don't　think　she　ever　made　one；〃　said　Kettering。　〃Why？〃　

〃It　is　a　very　pretty　little　fortune　that　you　inherit　there；〃　said　Poirot　…　〃a　very　pretty　little　fortune。〃　

Although　his　eyes　were　still　on　the　ceiling；　he　managed　to　see　the　dark　flush　that　rose　to　Derek　Kettering's　face。　

〃What　do　you　mean；　and　who　are　you？〃　

Poirot　gently　uncrossed　his　knees；　withdrew　his　gaze　from　the　ceiling；　and　looked　the　young　man　full　in　the　face。　

〃My　name　is　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃and　I　am　probably　the　greatest　detective　in　the　world。　You　are　quite　sure　that　you　did　not　see　or　speak　to　your　wife　on　that　train？〃　

〃What　are　you　getting　at？　Do　you　…　do　you　mean　to　insinuate　that　I　…　I　killed　her？〃　

He　laughed　suddenly。　

〃I　mustn't　lose　my　temper；　it's　too　palpably　absurd。　Why；　if　I　killed　her　I　should　have　had　no　need　to　steal　her　jewels；　would　I？〃　

〃That　is　true；〃　murmured　Poirot；　with　a　rather　crestfallen　air。　〃I　did　not　think　of　that。〃　

〃If　ever　there　were　a　clear　case　of　murder　and　robbery；　this　is　it；〃　said　Derek　Kettering。　〃Poor　Ruth；　it　was　those　damned　rubies　did　for　her。　It　must　have　got　about　she　had　them　with　her。　There　has　been　murder　done　for　those　same　stones　before　now；　I　believe。〃　

Poirot　sat　up　suddenly　in　his　chair。　A　very　faint　green　light　glowed　in　his　eyes。　He　looked　extraordinarily　like　a　sleek；　well…fed　cat。　

〃One　more　question；　M。　Kettering；〃　he　said。　〃Will　you　give　me　the　date　when　you　last　saw　your　wife？〃　

〃Let　me　see；〃　Kettering　reflected。　〃It　must　have　been　–　yes；　over　three　weeks　ago。　I　am　afraid　I　can't　give　you　the　date　exactly。〃　

〃No　matter；〃　said　Poirot　drily；　〃that　is　all　I　wanted　to　know。〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Derek　Kettering　impatiently；　〃anything　further？〃　

He　looked　towards　M。　Carrege。　The　latter　sought　inspiration　from　Poirot；　and　received　it　in　a　very　faint　shake　of　the　head。　

〃No；　M。　Kettering；〃　he　said　politely；　〃no；　I　do　not　think　we　need　trouble　you　any　further。　I　wish　you　good　morning。〃　

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Kettering。　He　went　out；　banging　the　door　behind　him。　

Poirot　leaned　forward　and　spoke　sharply；　as　soon　as　the　young　man　was　out　of　the　room。　〃Tell　me；〃　he　said　peremptorily；　〃when　did　you　speak　of　these　rubies　to　M。　Kettering？〃　

〃I　have　not　spoken　of　them；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃It　was　only　yesterday　afternoon　that　we　learnt　about　them　from　M。　Van　Aldin。〃　

〃Yes；　but　there　was　a　mention　of　them　in　the　te's　letter。〃　

M。　Carrege　looked　pained。　

〃Naturally　I　did　not　speak　of　that　letter　to　M。　Kettering；〃　he　said　in　a　shocked　voice。　〃It　would　have　been　most　indiscreet　at　the　present　juncture　of　affairs。〃　

Poirot　leaned　forward　and　tapped　the　table。　

〃Then　how　did　he　know　about　them？〃　he　demanded　softly。　〃Madame　could　not　have　told　him；　for　he　has　not　seen　her　for　three　weeks。　It　seems　unlikely　that　either　M。　Van　Aldin　or　his　secretary　would　have　mentioned　them；　their　interviews　with　him　have　been　on　entirely　different　lines；　and　there　has　not　been　any　hint　or　reference　to　them　in　the　newspapers。〃　

He　got　up　and　took　his　hat　and　stick。　

〃And　yet；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃our　gentleman　knows　all　about　them。　I　wonder　now；　yes；　I　wonder！〃

Chapter　18　

DEREK　LUNCHES

Derek　Kettering　went　straight　to　the　Negresco；　where　he　ordered　a　couple　of　cocktails　and　disposed　of　them　rapidly；　then　he　stared　moodily　out　over　the　dazzling　blue　sea。　He　noted　the　passers…by　mechanically　…　a　damned　dull　crowd；　badly　dressed；　and　painfully　uninteresting；　one　hardly　ever　saw　anything　worth　while　nowadays。　Then　he　corrected　this　last　impression　rapidly；　as　a　woman　placed　herself　at　a　table　a　little　distance　away　from　him。　She　was　wearing　a　marvellous　confection　of　orange　and　black；　with　a　little　hat　that　shaded　her　face。　He　ordered　a　third　cocktail；　again　he　stared　out　to　sea；　and　then　suddenly　he　started。　A　well…known　perfume　assailed　his　nostrils；　and　he　looked　up　to　see　the　orange…and…black　lady　standing　beside　him。　He　saw　her　face　now；　and　recognized　her　…　it　was　Mirelle。　She　was　smiling　that　insolent；　seductive　smile　he　knew　so　well。　

〃Dereek！〃　she　murmured。　〃You　are　pleased　to　see　me；　no？〃　

She　dropped　into　a　seat　the　other　side　of　the　table。　

〃But　wele　me；　then；　stupid　one；〃　she　mocked。　

〃This　is　an　unexpected　pleasure；〃　said　Derek。　〃When　did　you　leave　London？〃　

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃A　day　or　two　ago。〃　

〃And　the　Parthenon？〃　

〃I　have；　how　do　you　say　it？　…　given　them　the　chuck！〃　

〃Really？〃　

〃You　are　not　very　amiable；　Dereek。〃　

〃Do　you　expect　me　to　be？〃　

Mirelle　lit　a　cigarette　and　puffed　at　it　for　a　few　minutes　before　saying：　

〃You　think；　perhaps；　that　it　is　not　prudent　so　soon？〃　

Derek　stared　at　her；　then　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　remarked　formally：　

〃You　are　lunching　here？〃　

〃Mais　oui。　I　am　lunching　with　you。〃　

〃I　am　extremely　sorry；〃　said　Derek。　〃I　have　a　very　important　engagement。〃　

〃Mon　Dieu！　But　you　men　are　like　children；〃　exclaimed　the　dancer。　〃But　yes；　it's　the　spoilt　child　that　you　act　to　me；　ever　since　that　day　in　London　when　you　flung　yourself　out　of　my　flat；　you　sulk。　Ah！　mais　c'est　inou？！〃　

〃My　dear　girl；〃　said　Derek；　〃I　really　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about。　We　agreed　in　London　that　rats　desert　a　sinking　ship；　that　is　all　that　there　is　to　be　said。〃　

In　spite　of　his　careless　words；　his　face　looked　haggard　and　strained。　Mirelle　leaned　forward　suddenly。　

〃You　cannot　deceive　me；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　know　…　I　know　what　you　have　done　for　me。〃　

He　looked　up　at　her　sharply。　Some　undercurrent　in　her　voice　arrested　his　attention。　

She　nodded　her　head　at　him。　

〃Ah！　have　no　fear；　I　am　discreet。　You　are　magnificent！　You　have　a　superb　courage；　but；　all　the　same；　it　was　I　who　gave　you　the　idea　that　day；　when　I　said　to　you　in　London　that　accidents　sometimes　happened。　And　you　are　not　in　danger？　The　police　do　not　suspect　you？〃　

〃What　the　devil　…〃　

〃Hush！〃　

She　held　up　a　slim　olive　hand　with　one　big　emerald　on　the　little　finger。　

〃You　are　right；　I　should　not　have　spoken　in　so　a　public　place。　We　will　not　speak　of　the　matter　again；　but　our　troubles　are　ended；　our　life　together　will　be　wonderful　…　wonderful！〃　

Derek　laughed　suddenly　…　a　harsh；　disagreeable　laugh。　

〃So　the　rats　e　back；　do　they？　Two　million　makes　a　difference　…　of　course　it　does。　I　ought　to　have　known　that。〃　He　laughed　again。　〃You　will　help　me　to　spend　that　two　million；　won't　you；　Mirelle？　You　know　how；　no　woman　better。〃　He　laughed　again。　

〃Hush！〃　cried　the　dancer。　〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Dereek？　See　…　people　are　turning　to　stare　at　you。〃　

〃Me？　I　will　tell　you　what　is　the　matter。　I　have　finished　with　you；　Mirelle。　Do　you　hear？　Finished！〃　

Mirelle　did　not　take　it　as　he　expected　her　to　do。　She　looked　at　him　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　she　smiled　softly。　

〃But　what　a　child！　You　are　angry　…　you　are　sore；　and　all　because　I　am　practical。　Did　I　not　always　tell　you　that　I　adored　you？〃　

She　leaned　forward。　

〃But　I　know　you；　Dereek。　Look　at　me？　…　see；　it　is　Mirelle　who　speaks　to　you。　You　cannot　live　without　her；　you　know　it。　I　loved　you　before；　I　will　love　you　a　hundred　times　more　now。　I　will　make　life　wonderful　for　you　…　but　wonderful。　There　is　no　one　like　Mirelle。〃　Her　eyes　burned　into　his。　She　saw　him　grow　pale　and　draw　in　his　breath；　and　she　smiled　to　herself　contentedly。　She　knew　her　own　magic　and　power　over　men。　

〃That　is　settled；〃　she　said　softly；　and　gave　a　little　laugh。