蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第20部分

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Now　they　were　going　downhill；　twisting　and　curving　unceasingly。　Presently　the　car　slackened　speed；　and　finally　came　to　a　standstill　before　a　Bureau　de　Poste。　The　te　jumped　out；　lifted　the　lid　of　the　tool　chest；　extracted　the　small　brown　paper　parcel　and　hurried　into　the　post　office。　Two　minutes　later　he　was　driving　once　more　in　the　direction　of　Mentone。　When　the　grey　car　arrived　there；　the　te　was　drinking　English　five　o'clock　tea　on　the　terrace　of　one　of　the　hotels。　

Later；　he　drove　back　to　Monte　Carlo；　dined　there；　and　reached　home　once　more　at　eleven　o'clock。　Hippolyte　came　out　to　meet　him　with　a　disturbed　face。　

〃Ah！　Monsieur　le　te　has　arrived。　Monsieur　le　te　did　not　telephone　me；　by　any　chance？〃　

The　te　shook　his　head。　

〃And　yet　at　three　o'clock　I　received　a　summons　from　Monsieur　le　te；　to　present　myself　to　him　at　Nice；　at　the　Negresco。〃　

〃Really；〃　said　the　te；　〃and　you　went？〃　

〃Certainly；　Monsieur；　but　at　the　Negresco　they　knew　nothing　of　Monsieur　le　te　…　he　had　not　been　there。〃　

〃Ah〃　said　the　te；　〃doubtless　at　that　hour　Marie　was　out　doing　her　afternoon　marketing？〃　

〃That　is　so；　Monsieur　le　te。〃　

〃Ah；　well；〃　said　the　te；　〃it　is　of　no　importance。　A　mistake。〃　

He　went　upstairs；　smiling　to　himself。　

Once　within　his　own　room；　he　bolted　his　door　and　looked　sharply　round。　Everything　seemed　as　usual。　He　opened　various　drawers　and　cupboards。　Then　he　nodded　to　himself。　

Things　had　been　replaced　almost　exactly　as　he　had　left　them；　but　not　quite。　It　was　evident　that　a　very　thorough　search　had　been　made。　

He　went　over　to　the　bureau　and　pressed　the　hidden　spring。　The　drawer　flew　open；　but　the　hair　was　no　longer　where　he　had　placed　it。　He　nodded　his　head　several　times。　

〃They　are　excellent；　our　French　police；〃　he　murmured　to　himself　…　〃excellent。　Nothing　escapes　them。〃

Chapter　20　

KATHERINE　MAKES　A　FRIEND

On　the　following　morning　Katherine　and　Lenox　were　sitting　on　the　terrace　of　the　Villa　Marguerite。　Something　in　the　nature　of　a　friendship　was　springing　up　between　them；　despite　the　difference　in　age。　But　for　Lenox；　Katherine　would　have　found　life　at　the　Villa　Marguerite　quite　intolerable。　The　Kettering　case　was　the　topic　of　the　moment。　Lady　Tamplin　frankly　exploited　her　guest's　connection　with　the　affair　for　all　it　was　worth。　

The　most　persistent　rebuffs　that　Katherine　could　administer　quite　failed　to　pierce　Lady　Tamplin's　self…esteem。　Lenox　adopted　a　detached　attitude；　seemingly　amused　at　her　mother's　manoeuvres；　and　yet　with　a　sympathetic　understanding　of　Katherine's　feelings。　

The　situation　was　not　helped　by　Chubby；　whose　naive　delight　was　unquenchable；　and　who　introduced　Katherine　to　all　and　sundry　as：　

〃This　is　Miss　Grey。　You　know　that　Blue　Train　business？　She　was　in　it　up　to　the　ears！　Had　a　long　talk　with　Ruth　Kettering　a　few　hours　before　the　murder！　Bit　of　luck　for　her；　eh？〃　

A　few　remarks　of　this　kind　had　provoked　Katherine　that　morning　to　an　unusually　tart　rejoinder；　and　when　they　were　alone　together　Lenox　observed　in　her　slow　drawl：　

〃Not　used　to　exploitation；　are　you？　You　have　a　lot　to　learn；　Katherine。〃　

〃I　am　sorry　I　lost　my　temper。　I　don't；　as　a　rule。〃　

〃It　is　about　time　you　learnt　to　blow　off　steam。　Chubby　is　only　an　ass；　there　is　no　harm　in　him。　Mother；　of　course；　is　trying；　but　you　can　lose　your　temper　with　her　until　Kingdom　e；　and　it　won't　make　any　impression。　She　will　open　large；　sad　blue　eyes　at　you　and　not　care　a　bit。〃　

Katherine　made　no　reply　to　this　filial　observation；　and　Lenox　presently　went　on：　

〃I　am　rather　like　Chubby。　I　delight　in　a　good　murder；　and　besides　…　well；　knowing　Derek　makes　a　difference。〃　

Katherine　nodded。　

〃So　you　lunched　with　him　yesterday；〃　pursued　Lenox　reflectively。　〃Do　you　like　him；　Katherine？〃　

Katherine　considered　for　a　minute　or　two。　

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said　very　slowly。　

〃He　is　very　attractive。〃　

〃Yes；　he　is　attractive。〃　

〃What　don't　you　like　about　him？〃　

Katherine　did　not　reply　to　the　question　or　at　any　rate　not　directly。　〃He　spoke　of　his　wife's　death；〃　she　said。　〃He　said　he　would　not　pretend　that　it　had　been　anything　but　a　bit　of　most　marvellous　luck　for　him。〃　

〃And　that　shocked　you；　I　suppose；〃　said　Lenox。　She　paused；　and　then　added　in　rather　a　queer　tone　of　voice：　〃He　likes　you；　Katherine。〃　

〃He　gave　me　a　very　good　lunch；〃　said　Katherine；　smiling。　

Lenox　refused　to　be　sidetracked。　

〃I　saw　it　the　night　he　came　here；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。　〃The　way　he　looked　at　you；　and　you　are　not　his　usual　type　…　just　the　opposite。　Well；　I　suppose　it　is　like　religion　…　you　get　it　at　a　certain　age。〃　

〃Mademoiselle　is　wanted　at　the　telephone；〃　said　Marie；　appearing　at　the　window　of　the　salon。　〃M。　Hercule　Poirot　desires　to　speak　with　her。〃　

〃More　blood　and　thunder。　Go　on；　Katherine；　go　and　dally　with　your　detective。〃　

M。　Hercule　Poirot's　voice　came　neat　and　precise　in　its　intonation　to　Katherine's　ear。　

〃That　is　Mademoiselle　Grey　who　speaks？　Mademoiselle；　I　have　a　word　for　you　from　M。　Van　Aldin；　the　father　of　Madame　Kettering。　He　wishes　very　much　to　speak　with　you；　either　at　the　Villa　Marguerite　or　at　his　hotel；　whichever　you　prefer。〃　

Katherine　reflected　for　a　moment；　but　she　decided　that　for　Van　Aldin　to　e　to　the　Villa　Marguerite　would　be　both　painful　and　unnecessary。　Lady　Tamplin　would　have　hailed　his　advent　with　far　too　much　delight。　She　never　lost　a　chance　of　cultivating　millionaires。　She　told　Poirot　that　she　would　much　rather　e　to　Nice。　

〃Excellent；　Mademoiselle。　I　will　call　for　you　myself　in　an　auto。　Shall　we　say　in　about　three…quarters　of　an　hour？〃　

Punctually　to　the　moment　Poirot　appeared。　Katherine　was　waiting　for　him；　and　they　drove　off　at　once。　

〃Well；　Mademoiselle；　how　goes　it？〃　

She　looked　at　his　twinkling　eyes；　and　was　confirmed　in　her　first　impression　that　there　was　something　very　attractive　about　M。　Hercule　Poirot。　

〃This　is　our　own　Roman　Policier；　is　it　not？〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　made　you　the　promise　that　we　should　study　it　together。　And　me　…　I　always　keep　my　promises。〃　

〃You　are　too　kind；〃　murmured　Katherine。　

〃Ah；　you　mock　yourself　at　me；　but　do　you　want　to　hear　the　developments　of　the　case　or　do　you　not？〃　

Katherine　admitted　that　she　did；　and　Poirot　proceeded　to　sketch　for　her　a　thumbnail　portrait　of　the　te　de　la　Roche。　

〃You　think　he　killed　her；〃　said　Katherine　thoughtfully。　

〃That　is　the　theory；〃　said　Poirot　guardedly。　

〃Do　you　yourself　believe　that？〃　

〃I　did　not　say　so。　And　you；　Mademoiselle；　what　do　you　think？〃　

Katherine　shook　her　head。　

〃How　should　I　know？　I　don't　know　anything　about　those　things；　but　I　should　say　that　…〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　encouragingly。　

〃Well　…　from　what　you　say　the　Count　does　not　sound　the　kind　of　man　who　would　actually　kill　anybody。〃　

〃Ah！　Very　good；〃　cried　Poirot；　〃you　agree　with　me；　that　is　just　what　I　have　said。〃　

He　looked　at　her　sharply。　〃But　tell　me；　you　have　met　Mr　Derek　Kettering？〃　

〃I　met　him　at　Lady　Tamplin's；　and　I　lunched　with　him　yesterday。〃　

〃A　mauvais　sujet；〃　said　Poirot；　shaking　his　head；　〃but　les　femmes　…　they　like　that；　eh？〃　

He　twinkled　at　Katherine　and　she　laughed。　

〃He　is　the　kind　of　man　one　would　notice　anywhere；〃　continued　Poirot。　〃Doubtless　you　observed　him　on　the　Blue　Train？〃　

〃Yes；　I　noticed　him。〃　

〃In　the　restaurant　car？〃　

〃No。　I　didn't　notice　him　at　meals　at　all。　I　only　saw　him　once　…　going　into　his　wife's　partment。〃　

Poirot　nodded。　〃A　strange　business；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　believe　you　said　you　were　awake；　Mademoiselle；　and　looked　out　of　your　window　at　Lyons？　You　saw　no　tall　dark　man　such　as　the　te　de　la　Roche　leave　the　train？〃　

Katherine　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　think　I　saw　anyone　at　all；〃　she　said。　〃There　was　a　youngish　lad　in　a　cap　and　overcoat　who　got　out；　but　I　don't　think　he　was　leaving　the　train；　only　walking　up　and　down　the　platform。　There　was　a　fat　Frenchman　with　a　beard；　in　pyjamas　and　an　overcoat；　who　wanted　a　cup　of　coffee。　Otherwise；　I　think　there　were　only　the　train　attendants。〃　

Poirot　nodded　his　head　several　times。　〃It　is　like　this；　you　see；〃　he　confided；　〃the　te　de　la　Roche　has　an　alibi。　An　alibi；　it　is　a　very　pestilential　thing；　and　always　open　to　the　gravest　suspicion。　But　here　we　are！〃　

They　went　straight　up　to　Van　Aldin's　suite；　where　they　found　Knighton。　Poirot　introduced　him　to　Katherine。　After　a　few　monplaces　had　been　exchanged；　Knighton　said；　〃I　will　tell　Mr　Van　Aldin　that　Miss　Grey　is　here。〃　

He　went　through　a　second　door　into　an　adjoining　room。　There　was　a　low　murmur　of　voices；　and　then　Van　Aldin　came　into　the　room　and　advanced　towards　Katherine　with　outstretched　hand；　giving　her　at　the　same　time　a　shrewd　and　perating　glance。　

〃I　am　pleased　to　meet　you；　Miss　Grey；〃　he　said　simply。　〃I　have　been　wanting　very　badly　to　hear　what　you　can　tell　me　about　Ruth。〃　

The　quiet　simplicity　of　the　millionaire's　manner　appealed　to　Katherine　strongly。　She　felt　herself　in　the　presence　of　a　very　genuine　grief；　the　more　real　for　its　absence　of　outward　sign。　

He　drew　forward　a　chair。　

〃Sit　here；　will　you；　and　just　tell　me　all　about　it。〃　

Poirot　and　Knighton　retired　discreetly　into　the　other　room；　and　Katherine　and　Van　Aldin　were　left　alone　together。　She　found　no　difficulty　in　her　task。　Quite　simply　and　naturally　she　related　her　conversation　with　Ruth　Kettering；　word　for　word　as　nearly　as　she　could。　He　listened　in　silence；　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　with　one　hand　shading　his　eyes。　

When　she　had　finished　he　said　quietly：　〃Thank　you；　my　dear。〃　

They　both　sat　silent　for　a　minute　or　two。　

Katherine　felt　that　words　of　sympathy　would　be　out　of　place。　When　the　millionaire　spoke；　it　was　in　a　different　tone：　

〃I　am　very　grateful　to　you；　Miss　Grey。　I　think　you　did　something　to　ease　my　poor　Ruth's　mind　in　the　last　hours　of　her　life。　Now　I　want　to　ask　you　something。　You　know　…　M。　Poirot　will　have　told　you　…　about　the　scoundrel　that　my　poor　girl　had　got　herself　mixed　up　with。　He　was　the　man　of　whom　she　spoke　to　you　…　the　man　she　was　going　to　meet。　In　your　judgment　do　you　think　she　might　have　changed　her　mind　after　her　conversation　with　you？　Do　you　think　she　meant　to　go　back　on　her　word？〃　

〃I　can't　honestly　tell　you。　She　had　certainly　e　to　some　decision；　and　seemed　more　cheerful　in　consequence　of　it。〃　

〃She　gave　you　no　idea　where　she　intended　to　meet　the　skunk　…　whether　in　Paris　or　at　Hyeres？〃　

Katherine　shook　her　head。　

〃She　said　nothing　as　to　that。〃　

〃Ah！〃　said　Van　Aldin　thoughtfully；　〃and　that　is　the　important　point。　Well；　time　will　show。〃　

He　got　up　and　opened　the　door　of　the　adjoining　room。　Poirot　and　Knighton　came　back。　

Katherine　declined　the　millionaire's　invitation　to　lunch；　and　Knighton　went　down　with　her　and　saw　her　into　the　waiting　car。　

He　returned　to　find　Poirot　and　Van　Aldin　deep　in　conversation。　

〃If　we　only　knew；〃　said　the　millionaire　thoughtfully；　〃what　decision　Ruth　came　to。　It　might　have　been　any　of　half　a　dozen。　She　might　have　meant　to　leave　the　train　at　Paris　and　cable　to　me。　She　may　have　meant　to　have　gone　on　to　the　south　of　France　and　have　an　explanation　with　the　Count　there。　We　are　in　the　dark　…　absolutely　in　the　dark。　But　we　have　the　maid's　word　for　it　that　she　was　both　startled　and　dismayed　at　the　Count's　appearance　at　the　station　in　Paris。　That　was　clearly　not　p