蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第15章

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〃The　affair　is　somewhat　discouraging；〃　murmured　M。　Caux。　

〃It　appears　that　the　te　arrived　in　Nice　the　day　before　the　murder。〃　

〃If　that　is　true；　it　will　settle　your　affair　nicely　for　you；〃　responded　Poirot。　

M。　Carrege　cleared　his　throat。　

〃We　must　not　accept　this　alibi　without　very　cautious　inquiry；〃　he　declared。　He　struck　the　bell　upon　the　table　with　his　hand。　In　another　minute　a　tall　dark　man；　exquisitely　dressed；　with　a　somewhat　haughty　cast　of　countenance；　entered　the　room。　So　very　aristocratic…looking　was　the　Count；　that　it　would　have　seemed　sheer　heresy　even　to　whisper　that　his　father　had　been　an　obscure　corn…chandler　in　Nantes　…　which；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　was　the　case。　Looking　at　him；　one　would　have　been　prepared　to　swear　that　innumerable　ancestors　of　his　must　have　perished　by　the　guillotine　in　the　French　Revolution。〃　

〃I　am　here；　gentlemen；〃　said　the　Count　haughtily。　〃May　I　ask　why　you　wish　to　see　me？〃　

〃Pray　be　seated；　Monsieur　le　te；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　politely。　〃It　is　the　affair　of　the　death　of　Madame　Kettering　that　we　are　investigating。〃　

〃The　death　of　Madame　Kettering？　I　do　not　understand。〃　

〃You　were　…　ahem！　…　acquainted　with　the　lady；　I　believe；　Monsieur　le　te？〃　

〃Certainly　I　was　acquainted　with　her。　What　has　that　to　do　with　the　matter？〃　

Sticking　an　eyeglass　in　his　eye；　he　looked　coldly　round　the　room；　his　glance　resting　longest　on　Poirot；　who　was　gazing　at　him　with　a　kind　of　simple；　innocent　admiration　which　was　most　pleasing　to　the　Count's　vanity。　M。　Carrege　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　cleared　his　throat。　

〃You　do　not　perhaps　know；　Monsieur　le　te　…〃　he　paused　…　〃that　Madame　Kettering　was　murdered？〃　

〃Murdered？　Mon　Dieu；　how　terrible！〃　

The　surprise　and　the　sorrow　were　excellently　done　…　so　well　done；　indeed；　as　to　seem　wholly　natural。　

〃Madame　Kettering　was　strangled　between　Paris　and　Lyons；〃　continued　M。　Carrege；　〃and　her　jewels　were　stolen。〃　

〃It　is　iniquitous！〃　cried　the　Count　warmly；　〃the　police　should　do　something　about　these　train　bandits。　Nowadays　no　one　is　safe。〃　

〃In　Madame's　handbag；〃　continued　the　Judge；　〃we　found　a　letter　to　her　from　you。　She　had；　it　seemed；　arranged　to　meet　you？〃　

The　Count　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　spread　out　his　hands。　

〃Of　what　use　are　concealments；〃　he　said　frankly。　〃We　are　all　men　of　the　world。　Privately　and　between　ourselves；　I　admit　the　affair。〃　

〃You　met　her　in　Paris　and　travelled　down　with　her；　I　believe？〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃That　was　the　original　arrangement；　but　by　Madame's　wish　it　was　changed。　I　was　to　meet　her　at　Hyeres。〃　

〃You　did　not　meet　her　on　the　train　at　the　Gare　de　Lyon　on　the　evening　of　the　14th？〃　

〃On　the　contrary；　I　arrived　in　Nice　on　the　morning　of　that　day；　so　what　you　suggest　is　impossible。〃　

〃Quite　so；　quite　so；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　you　would　perhaps　give　me　an　account　of　your　movements　during　the　evening　and　night　of　the　14th。〃　

The　Count　reflected　for　a　minute。　

〃I　dined　in　Monte　Carlo　at　the　Café　de　Paris。　Afterwards　I　went　to　the　Le　Sporting。　I　won　a　few　thousand　francs；〃　he　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃I　returned　home　at　perhaps　one　o'clock。〃　

〃Pardon　me；　Monsieur；　but　how　did　you　return　home？〃　

〃In　my　own　two…seater　car。〃　

〃No　one　was　with　you？〃　

〃No　one。〃　

〃You　could　produce　witnesses　in　support　of　this　statement？〃　

〃Doubtless　many　of　my　friends　saw　me　there　that　evening。　I　dined　alone。〃　

〃Your　servant　admitted　you　on　your　return　to　your　villa？〃　

〃I　let　myself　in　with　my　own　latchkey。〃　

〃Ah！〃　murmured　the　Magistrate。　

Again　he　struck　the　bell　on　the　table　with　his　hand。　The　door　opened；　and　a　messenger　appeared。　

〃Bring　in　the　maid；　Mason；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃Very　good；　Monsieur　le　Juge。〃　

Ada　Mason　was　brought　in。　

〃Will　you　be　so　good；　Mademoiselle；　as　to　look　at　this　gentleman。　To　the　best　of　your　ability　was　it　he　who　entered　your　mistress's　partment　in　Paris？〃　

The　woman　looked　long　and　searchingly　at　the　Count；　who　was；　Poirot　fancied；　rather　uneasy　under　this　scrutiny。　

〃I　could　not　say；　sir；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Mason　at　last。　〃It　might　be　and　again　it　might　not。　Seeing　as　how　I　only　saw　his　back；　it's　hard　to　say。　I　rather　think　it　was　the　gentleman。〃　

〃But　you　are　not　sure？〃　

〃No…o；〃　said　Mason　unwillingly；　〃n…no；　I　am　not　sure。〃　

〃You　have　seen　this　gentleman　before　in　Curzon　Street？〃　

Mason　shook　her　head。　

〃I　should　not　be　likely　to　see　any　visitors　that　e　to　Curzon　Street；〃　she　explained；　〃unless　they　were　staying　in　the　house。〃　

〃Very　well；　that　will　do；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　sharply。　

Evidently　he　was　disappointed。　

〃One　moment；〃　said　Poirot。　〃There　is　a　question　I　would　like　to　put　to　Mademoiselle；　if　I　may？〃　

〃Certainly；　M。　Poirot　…　certainly；　by　all　means。〃　

Poirot　addressed　himself　to　the　maid。　

〃What　happened　to　the　tickets？〃　

〃The　tickets；　sir？〃　

〃Yes；　the　tickets　from　London　to　Nice。　Did　you　or　your　mistress　have　them？〃　

〃The　mistress　had　her　own　Pullman　ticket；　sir；　the　others　were　in　my　charge。〃　

〃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