蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第29部分

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The　eyes　of　the　two　men　met。

〃A　well…known　horse；　eh？〃

〃No；〃　said　Poirot；　〃it　is　what　our　friends；　the　English；　call　a　dark　horse。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous　thoughtfully。

〃Now　we　must　step　across　to　the　Casino　and　have　our　little　flutter　at　the　roulette　table；〃　cried　Poirot　gaily。

At　the　Casino　the　party　separated；　Poirot　devoting　himself　solely　to　Zia；　whilst　Papopolous　himself　drifted　away。

Poirot　was　not　fortunate；　but　Zia　had　a　run　of　good　luck；　and　had　soon　won　a　few　thousand　francs。

〃It　would　be　as　well；〃　she　observed　drily　to　Poirot；　〃if　I　stopped　now。〃　

Poirot's　eyes　twinkled。　

〃Superb！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　are　the　daughter　of　your　father；　Mademoiselle　Zia。　To　know　when　to　stop。　Ah！　that　is　the　art。〃　

He　looked　round　the　rooms。　

〃I　cannot　see　your　father　anywhere　about；〃　he　remarked　carelessly。　〃I　will　fetch　your　cloak　for　you；　Mademoiselle；　and　we　will　go　out　in　the　gardens。〃　

He　did　not；　however；　go　straight　to　the　cloak…room。　His　sharp　eyes　had　seen　but　a　little　while　before　the　departure　of　M。　Papopolous。　

He　was　anxious　to　know　what　had　bee　of　the　wily　Greek。　He　ran　him　to　earth　unexpectedly　in　the　big　entrance　hall。　

He　was　standing　by　one　of　the　pillars；　talking　to　a　lady　who　had　just　arrived。　The　lady　was　Mirelle。　

Poirot　sidled　unostentatiously　round　the　room。　He　arrived　at　the　other　side　of　the　pillar；　and　unnoticed　by　the　two　who　were　talking　together　in　an　animated　fashion　…　or　rather；　that　is　to　say；　the　dancer　was　talking；　Papopolous　contributing　an　occasional　monosyllable　and　a　good　many　expressive　gestures。　

〃I　tell　you　I　must　have　time；〃　the　dancer　was　saying；　〃If　you　give　me　time　I　will　get　the　money。〃　

〃To　wait　…〃　the　Greek　shrugged　his　shoulders　…　〃it　is　awkward。〃　

〃Only　a　very　little　while；〃　pleaded　the　other。　〃Ah！　but　you　must！　A　week　…　ten　days　…　that　is　all　I　ask。　You　can　be　sure　of　your　affair。　The　money　will　be　forthing。〃　

Papopolous　shifted　a　little　and　looked　round　him　uneasily　…　to　find　Poirot　almost　at　his　elbow　with　a　beaming　innocent　face。　

〃Ah！　vous　voilà；　M。　Papopolous。　I　have　been　looking　for　you。　It　is　permitted　that　I　take　Mademoiselle　Zia　for　a　little　turn　in　the　gardens？　Good　evening；　Mademoiselle。〃　He　bowed　very　low　to　Mirelle。　〃A　thousand　pardons　that　I　did　not　see　you　immediately。〃　

The　dancer　accepted　his　greetings　rather　impatiently。　She　was　clearly　annoyed　at　the　interruption　of　her　tête…а…tête。　Poirot　was　quick　to　take　the　hint。　Papopolous　had　already　murmured：　〃Certainly　…　but　certainly；〃　and　Poirot　withdrew　forthwith。　He　fetched　Zia's　cloak；　and　together　they　strolled　out　into　the　gardens。　

〃This　is　where　the　suicides　take　place；〃　said　Zia。　

Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃So　it　is　said。　Men　are　foolish；　are　they　not；　Mademoiselle？　To　eat；　to　drink；　to　breathe　the　good　air；　it　is　a　very　pleasant　thing；　Mademoiselle。　One　is　foolish　to　leave　all　that　simply　because　one　has　no　money　…　or　because　the　heart　aches。　L'amour；　it　causes　many　fatalities；　does　it　not？〃　

Zia　laughed。　

〃You　should　not　laugh　at　love；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　Poirot；　shaking　an　energetic　forefinger　at　her。　〃You　who　are　young　and　beautiful。〃　

〃Hardly　that；〃　said　Zia；　〃you　forget　that　I　am　thirty…three；　M。　Poirot。　I　am　frank　with　you；　because　it　is　no　good　being　otherwise。　As　you　told　my　father；　it　is　exactly　seventeen　years　since　you　aided　us　in　Paris　that　time。〃　

〃When　I　look　at　you；　it　seems　much　less；〃　said　Poirot　gallantly。　〃You　were　then　very　much　as　you　are　now；　Mademoiselle；　a　little　thinner；　a　little　paler；　a　little　more　serious。　Sixteen　years　old　and　fresh　from　your　pension。　Not　quite　the　petite　pensionnaire；　not　quite　a　woman。　You　were　very　delicious；　very　charming；　Mademoiselle　Zia；　others　thought　so　too；　without　doubt。〃　

〃At　sixteen；〃　said　Zia；　〃one　is　simple　and　a　little　fool。〃　

〃That　may　be；〃　said　Poirot；　〃yes；　that　well　may　be。　At　sixteen　one　is　credulous；　is　one　not？　One　believes　what　one　is　told。〃　

If　he　saw　the　quick　sideways　glance　that　the　girl　shot　at　him；　he　pretended　not　to　have　done　so。　He　continued　dreamily：　〃It　was　a　curious　affair　that；　altogether。　Your　father；　Mademoiselle；　has　never　understood　the　true　inwardness　of　it。〃　

〃No？〃　

〃When　he　asked　me　for　details；　for　explanations；　I　said　to　him　thus：　'Without　scandal；　I　have　got　back　for　you　that　which　was　lost。　You　must　ask　no　questions。'　Do　you　know；　Mademoiselle；　why　I　said　these　things？〃　

〃I　have　no　idea；〃　said　the　girl　coldly。　

〃It　was　because　I　had　a　soft　spot　in　my　heart　for　a　little　pensionnaire；　so　pale；　so　thin；　so　serious。〃　

〃I　don't　understand　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　cried　Zia　angrily。　

〃Do　you　not；　Mademoiselle？　Have　you　forgotten　Antonio　Pirezzio？〃　

He　heard　the　quick　intake　of　her　breath　…　almost　a　gasp。　

〃He　came　to　work　as　an　assistant　in　the　shop；　but　not　thus　could　he　have　got　hold　of　what　he　wanted。　An　assistant　can　lift　his　eyes　to　his　master's　daughter；　can　he　not？　If　he　is　young　and　handsome　with　a　glib　tongue。　And　since　they　cannot　make　love　all　the　time；　they　must　occasionally　talk　of　things　that　interest　them　both　…　such　as　that　very　interesting　thing　which　was　temporarily　in　M。　Papopolous'　possession。　And　since；　as　you　say；　Mademoiselle；　the　young　are　foolish　and　credulous；　it　was　easy　to　believe　him　and　to　give　him　a　sight　of　that　particular　thing；　to　show　him　where　it　was　kept。　And　afterwards　when　it　is　gone　…　when　the　unbelievable　catastrophe　has　happened。　Alas！　the　poor　little　pensionnaire。　What　a　terrible　position　she　is　in。　She　is　frightened；　the　poor　little　one。　To　speak　or　not　to　speak？　And　then　there　es　along　that　excellent　fellow；　Hercule　Poirot。　Almost　a　miracle　it　must　have　been；　the　way　things　arranged　themselves。　The　priceless　heirlooms　are　restored　and　there　are　no　awkward　questions。〃　

Zia　turned　on　him　fiercely。　

〃You　have　known　all　the　time？　Who　told　you？　Was　it　…　was　it　Antonio？〃　

Poirot　shook　his　head。　

〃No　one　told　me；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　guessed。　It　was　a　good　guess；　was　it　not；　Mademoiselle？　You　see；　unless　you　are　good　at　guessing；　it　is　not　much　use　being　a　detective。〃　

The　girl　walked　along　beside　him　for　some　minutes　in　silence。　Then　she　said　in　a　hard　voice：　

〃Well；　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it；　are　you　going　to　tell　my　father？〃　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot　sharply。　〃Certainly　not。〃　

She　looked　at　him　curiously。　

〃You　want　something　from　me？〃　

〃I　want　your　help；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃What　makes　you　think　that　I　can　help　you？〃　

〃I　do　not　think　so。　I　only　hope　so。〃　

〃And　if　I　do　not　help　you；　then　…　you　will　tell　my　father？〃　

〃But　no；　but　no！　Disembarrass　yourself　of　that　idea；　Mademoiselle。　I　am　not　a　blackmailer。　I　do　not　hold　your　secret　over　your　head　and　threaten　you　with　it。〃　

〃If　I　refuse　to　help　you　…〃　began　the　girl　slowly。　

〃Then　you　refuse；　and　that　is　that。〃　

〃Then　why　…〃　she　stopped。　

〃Listen；　and　I　will　tell　you　why。　Women；　Mademoiselle；　are　generous。　If　they　can　render　a　service　to　one　who　has　rendered　a　service　to　them；　they　will　do　it。　I　was　generous　once　to　you；　Mademoiselle。　When　I　might　have　spoken；　I　held　my　tongue。〃　

There　was　another　silence；　then　the　girl　said；　〃My　father　gave　you　a　hint　the　other　day。〃　

〃It　was　very　kind　of　him。〃　

〃I　do　not　think；〃　said　Zia　slowly；　〃that　there　is　anything　that　I　can　add　to　that。〃　

If　Poirot　was　disappointed　he　did　not　show　it。　Not　a　muscle　of　his　face　changed。　

〃Eh　bien！〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃then　we　must　talk　of　other　things。〃　

And　he　proceeded　to　chat　gaily。　The　girl　was　distrait；　however；　and　her　answers　were　mechanical　and　not　always　to　the　point。　It　was　when　they　were　approaching　the　Casino　once　more　that　she　seemed　to　e　to　a　decision。　

〃M。　Poirot？〃　

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle？〃　

〃I　…　I　should　like　to　help　you　if　I　could。〃　

〃You　are　very　amiable；　Mademoiselle　…　very　amiable。〃　

Again　there　was　a　pause。　Poirot　did　not　press　her。　He　was　quite　content　to　wait　and　let　her　take　her　own　time。　

〃Ah　bah；〃　said　Zia；　〃after　all；　why　should　I　not　tell　you？　My　father　is　cautious　…　very　cautious　in　everything　he　says。　But　I　know　that　with　you　it　is　not　necessary。　You　have　told　us　it　is　only　the　murderer　you　seek；　and　that　you　are　not　concerned　over　the　jewels。　I　believe　you。　You　were　quite　right　when　you　guessed　that　we　were　in　Nice　because　of　the　rubies。　They　have　been　handed　over　here　according　to　plan。　My　father　has　them　now。　He　gave　you　a　hint　the　other　day　as　to　who　our　mysterious　client　was。〃　

〃The　Marquis？〃　murmured　Poirot　softly。　

〃Yes；　the　Marquis。〃　

〃Have　you　ever　seen　the　Marquis；　Mademoiselle　Zia？〃　

〃Once；〃　said　the　girl。　〃But　not　very　well；〃　she　added。　〃It　was　through　a　keyhole。〃　

〃That　always　presents　difficulties；〃　said　Poirot　sympathetically；　〃but　all　the　same　you　saw　him。　You　would　know　him　again？〃　

Zia　shook　her　head。　

〃He　wore　a　mask；〃　she　explained。　

〃Young　or　old？〃　

〃He　had　white　hair。　It　may　have　been　a　wig；　it　may　not。　It　fitted　very　well。　But　I　do　not　think　he　was　old。　His　walk　was　young；　and　so　was　his　voice。〃　

〃His　voice？〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully。　〃Ah；　his　voice！　Would　you　know　it　again；　Mademoiselle　Zia？〃　

〃I　might；〃　said　the　girl。　

〃You　were　interested　in　him；　eh？　It　was　that　that　took　you　to　the　keyhole。〃　

Zia　nodded。　

〃Yes；　yes。　I　was　curious。　One　had　heard　so　much　…　he　is　not　the　ordinary　thief　…　he　is　more　like　a　figure　of　history　or　romance。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃yes；　perhaps　so。〃　

〃But　it　is　not　this　that　I　meant　to　tell　you；〃　said　Zia。　〃It　was　just　one　other　little　fact　that　I　thought　might　be　…　well　…　useful　to　you。〃　

〃Yes？〃　said　Poirot　encouragingly。　

〃The　rubies；　as　I　say；　were　handed　over　to　my　father　here　at　Nice。　I　did　not　see　the　person　who　handed　them　over；　but　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃I　know　one　thing。　It　was　a　woman。〃

Chapter　29　

A　LETTER　FROM　HOME

〃Dear　Katherine；
〃Living　among　grand　friends　as　you　are　doing　now；　I　don't　suppose　you　will　care　to　hear　any　of　our　news；　but　as　I　always　thought　you　were　a　sensible　girl；　perhaps　you　are　a　trifle　less　swollen…headed　than　I　suppose。　Everything　goes　on　much　the　same　here。　There　was　great　trouble　about　the　new　curate；　who　is　scandalously　high。　In　my　view；　he　is　neither　more　nor　less　than　a　Roman。　Everybody　has　spoken　to　the　Vicar　about　it；　but　you　know　what　the　Vicar　is　…　all　Christian　charity　and　no　proper　spirit。　I　have　had　a　lot　of　trouble　with　maids　lately。　That　girl　Annie　was　no　good　…　skirts　up　to　her　knees　and　wouldn't　wear　sensible　woollen　stockings。　Not　one　of　them　can　bear　being　spoken　to。　I　have　had　a　lot　of　pain　with　my　rheumatism　one　way　and　another；　and　Dr　Harris　persuaded　me　to　go　and　see　a　London　specialist　…　a　waste　of　three　guineas　and　a　railway　fare；　as　I　told　him；　but　by　waiting　until　Wednesday　I　managed　to　get　a　cheap　return。　The　London　doctor　pulled　a　long　face　and　talked　all　round　about　and　never　straight　out；　until　I　said　to　him；　'I'm　a　plain　woman；　Doctor；　and　I　like　things　to　be　plainly　stated。　Is　it　cancer；　or　is　it　not？'　And　then；　of　course；　he　had　to　say　it　was。　They　say　a　year　with　care；　and　not　too　much　pain；　though　I　am　sure　I　can　bear　pain　as　well　as　any　other　Christian　woman。　Life　seems　rather　lonely　at　times；　with　most　of　my　friends　dead　or　gone　before。　I　wish　you　were