蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第33部分

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〃I　am　older。〃　

〃Yes；　you　are　older。　And　by　that　I　do　not　mean　that　the　wrinkles　and　the　crows'　feet　are　ing。　When　I　first　saw　you；　Mademoiselle；　you　were　a　looker…on　at　life。　You　had　the　quiet；　amused　look　of　one　who　sits　back　in　the　stalls　and　watches　the　play。〃　

〃And　now？〃　

〃Now；　you　no　longer　watch。　It　is　an　absurd　thing；　perhaps；　that　I　say　here；　but　you　have　the　wary　look　of　a　fighter　who　is　playing　a　difficult　game。〃　

〃My　old　lady　is　difficult　sometimes；〃　said　Katherine；　with　a　smile；　〃but　I　can　assure　you　that　I　don't　engage　in　deadly　contests　with　her。　You　must　go　down　and　see　her　some　day；　Monsieur　Poirot。　I　think　you　are　one　of　the　people　who　would　appreciate　her　pluck　and　her　spirit。〃　

There　was　a　silence　while　the　waiter　deftly　served　them　with　chicken　en　casserole。　When　he　had　departed；　Poirot　said：　

〃You　have　heard　me　speak　of　my　friend　Hastings？　…　he　who　said　that　I　was　a　human　oyster。　Eh　bien；　Mademoiselle；　I　have　met　my　match　in　you。　You；　far　more　than　I；　play　a　lone　hand。〃　

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Katherine　lightly。　

〃Never　does　Hercule　Poirot　talk　nonsense。　It　is　as　I　say。〃　

Again　there　was　a　silence。　Poirot　broke　it　by　inquiring：　

〃Have　you　seen　any　of　our　Riviera　friends　since　you　have　been　back；　Mademoiselle？〃　

〃I　have　seen　something　of　Major　Knighton。〃　

〃A…ha！　Is　that　so？〃　

Something　in　Poirot's　twinkling　eyes　made　Katherine　lower　hers。　

〃So　Mr　Van　Aldin　remains　in　London？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃I　must　try　to　see　him　tomorrow　or　the　next　day。〃　

〃You　have　news　for　him？〃　

〃What　makes　you　think　that？〃　

〃I　…　wondered；　that　is　all。〃　

Poirot　looked　across　at　her　with　twinkling　eyes。　

〃And　now；　Mademoiselle；　there　is　much　that　you　wish　to　ask　me；　I　can　see　that。　And　why　not？　Is　not　the　affair　of　the　Blue　Train　our　own　'Roman　Policier'？〃　

〃Yes；　there　are　things　I　should　like　to　ask　you。〃　

〃Eh　bien？〃　

Katherine　looked　up　with　a　sudden　air　of　resolution。　

〃What　were　you　doing　in　Paris；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

Poirot　smiled　slightly。　

〃I　made　a　call　at　the　Russian　Embassy。〃　

〃Oh。〃　

〃I　see　that　that　tells　you　nothing。　But　I　will　not　be　a　human　oyster。　No；　I　will　lay　my　cards　on　the　table；　which　is　assuredly　a　thing　that　oysters　do　not　do。　You　suspect；　do　you　not；　that　I　am　not　satisfied　with　the　case　against　Derek　Kettering？〃　

〃That　is　what　I　have　been　wondering。　I　thought；　in　Nice；　that　you　had　finished　with　the　case。〃　

〃You　do　not　say　all　that　you　mean；　Mademoiselle。　But　I　admit　everything。　It　was　I　…　my　researches　…　which　placed　Derek　Kettering　where　he　is　now。　But　for　me　the　Examining　Magistrate　would　still　be　vainly　trying　to　fasten　the　crime　on　the　te　de　la　Roche。　Eh　bien；　Mademoiselle；　what　I　have　done　I　do　not　regret。　I　have　only　one　duty　…　to　discover　the　truth；　and　that　way　led　straight　to　Mr　Kettering。　But　did　it　end　there？　The　police　say　yes；　but　I；　Hercule　Poirot；　am　not　satisfied。〃　

He　broke　off　suddenly。　〃Tell　me；　Mademoiselle；　have　you　heard　from　Mademoiselle　Lenox　lately？〃　

〃One　very　short；　scrappy　letter。　She　is；　I　think；　annoyed　with　me　for　ing　back　to　England。〃　

Poirot　nodded。　

〃I　had　an　interview　with　her　the　night　that　Monsieur　Kettering　was　arrested。　It　was　an　interesting　interview　in　more　ways　than　one。〃　

Again　he　fell　silent；　and　Katherine　did　not　interrupt　his　train　of　thought。　

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I　am　now　on　delicate　ground；　yet　I　will　say　this　to　you。　There　is；　I　think；　someone　who　loves　Monsieur　Kettering　…　correct　me　if　I　am　wrong　…　and　for　her　sake　…　well　…　for　her　sake　I　hope　that　I　am　right　and　the　police　are　wrong。　You　know　who　that　someone　is？〃　

There　was　a　pause；　then　Katherine　said：　〃Yes　…　I　think　I　know。〃　

Poirot　leant　across　the　table　towards　her。　

〃I　am　not　satisfied；　Mademoiselle；　no；　I　am　not　satisfied。　The　facts；　the　main　facts；　led　straight　to　Monsieur　Kettering。　But　there　is　one　thing　that　has　been　left　out　of　account。〃　

〃And　what　is　that？〃　

〃The　disfigured　face　of　the　victim。　I　have　asked　myself；　Mademoiselle；　a　hundred　times；　'Was　Derek　Kettering　the　kind　of　man　who　would　deal　that　smashing　blow　after　having　mitted　murder？'　What　end　would　it　serve？　What　purpose　would　it　acplish？　Was　it　a　likely　action　for　one　of　Monsieur　Kettering's　temperament？　And；　Mademoiselle；　the　answer　to　these　questions　is　profoundly　unsatisfactory。　Again　and　again　I　go　back　to　that　one　point　…　'why？'　And　the　only　things　I　have　to　help　me　to　a　solution　of　the　problem　are　these。〃　

He　whipped　out　his　pocket…book　and　extracted　something　from　it　which　he　held　between　his　finger　and　thumb。　

〃Do　you　remember；　Mademoiselle？　You　saw　me　take　these　hairs　from　the　rug　in　the　railway　carriage。〃　

Katherine　leant　forward；　scrutinizing　the　hairs　keenly。　

Poirot　nodded　his　head　slowly　several　times。　

〃They　suggest　nothing　to　you；　I　see　that；　Mademoiselle。　And　yet　…　I　think　somehow　that　you　see　a　good　deal。〃　

〃I　have　had　ideas；〃　said　Katherine　slowly；　〃curious　ideas。　That　is　why　I　ask　you　what　you　were　doing　in　Paris；　Monsieur　Poirot。〃　

〃When　I　wrote　to　you　…〃　

〃From　the　Ritz？〃　

A　curious　smile　came　over　Poirot's　face。　

〃Yes；　as　you　say；　from　the　Ritz。　I　am　a　luxurious　person　sometimes　…　when　a　millionaire　pays。〃　

〃The　Russian　Embassy；〃　said　Katherine；　frowning。　〃No；　I　don't　see　where　that　es　in。〃　

〃It　does　not　e　in　directly；　Mademoiselle。　I　went　there　to　get　certain　information。　I　saw　a　particular　personage　and　I　threatened　him　…　yes；　Mademoiselle；　I；　Hercule　Poirot；　threatened　him。〃　

〃With　the　police？〃　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot　drily；　〃with　the　Press　…　a　much　more　deadly　weapon。〃　

He　looked　at　Katherine　and　she　smiled　at　him；　just　shaking　her　head。　

〃Are　you　not　just　turning　back　into　an　oyster　again；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

〃No；　no！　I　do　not　wish　to　make　mysteries。　See；　I　will　tell　you　everything。　I　suspect　this　man　of　being　the　active　party　in　the　sale　of　the　jewels　of　Monsieur　Van　Aldin。　I　tax　him　with　it；　and　in　the　end　I　get　the　whole　story　out　of　him。　I　learn　where　the　jewels　were　handed　over；　and　I　learn；　too；　of　the　man　who　paced　up　and　down　outside　in　the　street　…　a　man　with　a　venerable　head　of　white　hair；　but　who　walked　with　the　light；　springy　step　of　a　young　man　…　and　I　give　that　man　a　name　in　my　own　mind　…　the　name　of　'Monsieur　le　Marquis。'〃　

〃And　now　you　have　e　to　London　to　see　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃　

〃Not　entirely　for　that　reason。　I　had　other　work　to　do。　Since　I　have　been　in　London　I　have　seen　two　more　people　…　a　theatrical　agent　and　a　Harley　Street　doctor。　From　each　of　them　I　have　got　certain　information。　Put　these　things　together；　Mademoiselle；　and　see　if　you　can　make　of　them　the　same　as　I　do。〃　

〃I？〃　

〃Yes；　you。　I　will　tell　you　one　thing；　Mademoiselle。　There　has　been　a　doubt　all　along　in　my　mind　as　to　whether　the　robbery　and　the　murder　were　done　by　the　same　person。　For　a　long　time　I　was　not　sure　…〃　

〃And　now？〃　

〃And　now　I　know。〃　

There　was　a　silence。　Then　Katherine　lifted　her　head。　Her　eyes　were　shining。　

〃I　am　not　clever　like　you；　Monsieur　Poirot。　Half　the　things　that　you　have　been　telling　me　don't　seem　to　me　to　point　anywhere　at　all。　The　ideas　that　came　to　me　came　from　such　an　entirely　different　angle　…〃　

〃Ah；　but　that　is　always　so；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃A　mirror　shows　the　truth；　but　everyone　stands　in　a　different　place　for　looking　into　the　mirror。〃　

〃My　ideas　may　be　absurd　…　they　may　be　entirely　different　from　yours；　but　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃Tell　me；　does　this　help　you　at　all？〃　

He　took　a　newspaper　cutting　from　her　outstretched　hand。　He　read　it　and；　looking　up；　he　nodded　gravely。　

〃As　I　told　you；　Mademoiselle；　one　stands　at　a　different　angle　for　looking　into　the　mirror；　but　it　is　the　same　mirror　and　the　same　things　are　reflected　there。〃　

Katherine　got　up。　〃I　must　rush；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　only　just　time　to　catch　my　train；　Monsieur　Poirot　…〃　

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃It　…　it　mustn't　be　much　longer；　you　understand。　I　…　I　can't　go　on　much　longer。〃　

There　was　a　break　in　her　voice。　

He　patted　her　hand　reassuringly。　

〃Courage；　Mademoiselle；　you　must　not　fail　now；　the　end　is　very　near。〃　

Chapter　33　

A　NEW　THEORY

〃Monsieur　Poirot　wants　to　see　you；　sir。〃　

〃Damn　the　fellow！〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

Knighton　remained　sympathetically　silent。　Van　Aldin　got　up　from　his　chair　and　paced　up　and　down。　

〃I　suppose　you　have　seen　the　cursed　newspapers　this　morning？〃　

〃I　have　glanced　at　them；　sir。〃　

〃Still　at　it　hammer　and　tongs？〃　

〃I　am　afraid　so；　sir。〃　

The　millionaire　sat　down　again　and　pressed　his　hand　to　his　forehead。　

〃If　I　had　had　an　idea　of　this；〃　he　groaned。　〃I　wish　to　God　I　had　never　got　that　little　Belgian　to　ferret　out　the　truth。　Find　Ruth's　murderer　…　that　was　all　I　thought　about。〃　

〃You　wouldn't　have　liked　your　son…in…law　to　go　scot　free？〃　

Van　Aldin　sighed。　

〃I　would　have　preferred　to　take　the　law　into　my　own　hands。〃　

〃I　don't　think　that　would　have　been　a　very　wise　proceeding；　sir。〃　

〃All　the　same　…　are　you　sure　the　fellow　wants　to　see　me？〃　

〃Yes；　Mr　Van　Aldin。　He　is　very　urgent　about　it。〃　

〃Then　I　suppose　he　will　have　to。　He　can　e　along　this　morning　if　he　likes。〃　

It　was　a　very　fresh　and　debonair　Poirot　who　was　ushered　in。　He　did　not　seem　to　see　any　lack　of　cordiality　in　the　millionaire's　manner；　and　chatted　pleasantly　about　various　trifles。　He　was　in　London；　he　explained；　to　see　his　doctor。　He　mentioned　the　name　of　an　eminent　surgeon。　

〃No；　no；　pas　la　guerre　…　a　memory　of　my　days　in　the　police　force；　a　bullet　of　a　rascally　Apache。〃　

He　touched　his　left　shoulder　and　winced　realistically。　

〃I　always　consider　you　a　lucky　man；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　you　are　not　like　our　popular　idea　of　American　millionaires；　martyrs　to　the　dyspepsia。〃　

〃I　am　pretty　tough；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃I　lead　a　very　simple　life；　you　know；　plain　fare　and　not　too　much　of　it。〃　

〃You　have　seen　something　of　Miss　Grey；　have　you　not？〃　inquired　Poirot；　innocently　turning　to　the　secretary。　

〃I　…　yes；　once　or　twice；〃　said　Knighton。　

He　blushed　slightly　and　Van　Aldin　exclaimed　in　surprise：　

〃Funny　you　never　mentioned　to　me　that　you　had　seen　her；　Knighton？〃　

〃I　didn't　think　you　would　be　interested；　sir。〃　

〃I　like　that　girl　very　much；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃It　is　a　thousand　pities　that　she　should　have　buried　herself　once　more　in　St　Mary　Mead；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃It　is　very　fine　of　her；〃　said　Knighton　hotly。　〃There　are　very　few　people　who　would　bury　themselves　down　there　to　look　after　a　cantankerous　old　woman　who　has　no　earthly　claim　on　her。〃　

〃I　am　silent；〃　said　Poirot；　his　eyes　twinkling　a　little；　〃but　all　the　same　I　say　it　is　a　pity。　And　now；　Messieurs；　let　us　e　to　business。〃　

Both　the　other　men　looked　at　him　in　some　surprise。　

〃You　must　not　be　shocked　or　alarmed　at　what　I　am　about　to　say。　Supposing；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　that；　after　all；　Monsieur　Derek　Kettering　did　not　murder　his　wife？〃　

〃What？〃　

Both　men　stared　at　him　in　blank　surprise。　

〃Supposing；　I　say；　that　Monsieur　Derek　Kettering　did　not　murder　his　wife？〃　

〃Are　you　mad；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

It　was　Van　Aldin　who　spoke。　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　am　not　mad。　I　am　eccentric；　perhaps　…　at　least　certain　people　say　so；　but　as　regards　my　profession；　I　am　very　much；　as　one　says；　'all　there。'　I　ask　you；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；