蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第23章

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〃Eh　bien？〃　

〃The　difficulty　was　that　she　insisted　on　seeing　Mr　Van　Aldin　himself。　I　softened　his　message　as　much　as　I　possibly　could。　In　fact　…　to　be　candid　…　I　gave　it　in　a　very　different　form。　I　said　that　Mr　Van　Aldin　was　too　busy　to　see　her　at　present；　but　that　she　might　make　any　munication　she　wished　to　me。　That；　however；　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　do；　and　she　left　without　saying　anything　further。　But　I　have　a　strong　impression；　M。　Poirot　that　that　woman　knows　something。〃　

〃This　is　serious；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃You　know　where　she　is　staying？〃　

〃Yes。〃　Knighton　mentioned　the　name　of　the　hotel。　

〃Good；〃　said　Poirot；　〃we　will　go　there　immediately。〃　

The　secretary　looked　doubtful。　

〃And　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃　he　queried　doubtfully。　

〃M。　Van　Aldin　is　an　obstinate　man；〃　said　Poirot　drily。　〃I　do　not　argue　with　obstinate　men。　I　act　in　spite　of　them。　We　will　go　and　see　the　lady　immediately。　I　will　tell　her　that　you　are　empowered　by　M。　Van　Aldin　to　act　for　him；　and　you　will　guard　yourself　well　from　contradicting　me。〃　

Knighton　still　looked　slightly　doubtful；　but　Poirot　took　no　notice　of　his　hesitation。　

At　the　hotel；　they　were　told　that　Mademoiselle　was　in；　and　Poirot　sent　up　both　his　and　Knighton's　cards；　with　〃From　Mr　Van　Aldin〃　pencilled　upon　them。　

Word　came　down　that　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　would　receive　them。　

When　they　were　ushered　into　the　dancer's　apartments；　Poirot　immediately　took　the　lead。　

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　murmured；　bowing　very　low；　〃we　are　here　on　behalf　of　M。　Van　Aldin。〃　

〃Ah！　And　why　did　he　not　e　himself？〃　

〃He　is　indisposed；〃　said　Poirot　mendaciously；　〃the　Riviera　throat；　it　has　him　in　its　grip；　but　me；　I　am　empowered　to　act　for　him；　as　is　Major　Knighton；　his　secretary。　Unless；　of　course；　Mademoiselle　would　prefer　to　wait　a　fortnight　or　so。〃　

If　there　was　one　thing　of　which　Poirot　was　tolerably　certain；　it　was　that　to　a　temperament　such　as　Mirelle's　the　mere　word　〃wait〃　was　anathema。　

〃Eh　bien；　I　will　speak；　Messieurs；〃　she　cried。　〃I　have　been　patient。　I　have　held　my　hand。　And　for　what？　That　I　should　be　insulted！　Yes；　insulted！　Ah！　Does　he　think　to　treat　Mirelle　like　that？　To　throw　her　off　like　an　old　glove。　I　tell　you　never　has　a　man　tired　of　me。　Always　it　is　I　who　tire　of　them。〃　

She　paced　up　and　down　the　room；　her　slender　body　trembling　with　rage。　A　small　table　impeded　her　free　passage　and　she　flung　it　from　her　into　a　corner；　where　it　splintered　against　the　wall。　

〃That　is　what　I　will　do　to　him；〃　she　cried；　〃and　that！〃　

Picking　up　a　glass　bowl　filled　with　lilies　she　flung　it　into　the　grate；　where　it　smashed　into　a　hundred　pieces。　

Knighton　was　looking　at　her　with　cold　British　disapproval。　He　felt　embarrassed　and　ill　at　ease。　Poirot；　on　the　other　hand；　with　twinkling　eyes　was　thoroughly　enjoying　the　scene。　

〃Ah；　it　is　magnificent！〃　he　cried。　〃It　can　be　seen　…　Madame　has　a　temperament。〃　

〃I　am　an　artist；〃　said　Mirelle；　〃every　artist　has　a　temperament。　I　told　Dereek　to　beware；　and　he　would　not　listen。〃　She　whirled　round　on　Poirot　suddenly。　〃It　is　true；　is　it　not；　that　he　wants　to　marry　that　English　miss？〃　

Poirot　coughed。　

〃On　m'a　dit；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　he　adores　her　passionately。〃　

Mirelle　came　towards　them。　

〃He　murdered　his　wife；〃　she　screamed。　〃There　…　now　you　have　it！　He　told　me　beforehand　that　he　meant　to　do　it。　He　had　got　to　an　impasse　…　zut！　he　took　the　easiest　way　out。〃　

〃You　say　that　M。　Kettering　murdered　his　wife。〃　

〃Yes；　yes；　yes。　Have　I　not　told　you　so？〃　

〃The　police；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃will　need　proof　of　that　…　er　…　statement。〃　

〃I　tell　you　I　saw　him　e　out　of　her　partment　that　night　on　the　train。〃　

〃When？〃　asked　Poirot　sharply。　

〃Just　before　the　train　reached　Lyons。〃　

〃You　will　swear　to　that；　Mademoiselle？〃　

It　was　a　different　Poirot　who　spoke　now；　sharp　and　decisive。　

〃Yes。〃　

There　was　a　moment's　silence。　Mirelle　was　panting；　and　her　eyes；　half　defiant；　half　frightened；　went　from　the　face　of　one　man　to　the　other。　

〃This　is　a　serious　matter；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　detective。　〃You　realize　how　serious？〃　

〃Certainly　I　do。〃　

〃That　is　well；〃　said　Poirot。　〃Then　you　understand；　Mademoiselle；　that　no　time　must　be　lost。　You　will；　perhaps；　acpany　us　immediately　to　the　office　of　the　Examining　Magistrate。〃　

Mirelle　was　taken　aback。　She　hesitated；　but；　as　Poirot　had　foreseen；　she　had　no　loophole　for　escape。　

〃Very　well；〃　she　muttered。　〃I　will　fetch　a　coat。〃　

Left　alone　together；　Poirot　and　Knighton　exchanged　glances。　

〃It　is　necessary　to　act　while　…　how　do　you　say　it？　…　the　iron　is　hot；〃　murmured　Poirot。　〃She　is　temperamental；　in　an　hour's　time；　maybe；　she　will　repent；　and　she　will　wish　to　draw　back。　We　must　prevent　that　at　all　costs。〃　

Mirelle　reappeared；　wrapped　in　a　sand…coloured　velvet　wrap　trimmed　with　leopard　skin。　She　looked　not　altogether　unlike　a　leopardess；　tawny　and　dangerous。　Her　eyes　still　flashed　with　anger　and　determination。　

They　found　M。　Caux　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　together。　A　few　brief　introductory　words　from　Poirot；　and　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　was　courteously　entreated　to　tell　her　tale。　This　she　did　in　much　the　same　words　as　she　had　done　to　Knighton　and　Poirot；　though　with　far　more　soberness　of　manner。　

〃This　is　an　extraordinary　story；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　M。　Carrege　slowly。　He　leant　back　in　his　chair；　adjusted　his　pince…nez；　and　looked　keenly　and　searchingly　at　the　dancer　through　them。　

〃You　wish　us　to　believe　M。　Kettering　actually　boasted　of　the　crime　to　you　beforehand？〃　

〃Yes；　yes。　She　was　too　healthy；　he　said。　If　she　were　to　die　it　must　be　an　accident　…　he　would　arrange　it　all。〃　

〃You　are　aware；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　M。　Carrege　sternly；　〃that　you　are　making　yourself　out　to　be　an　accessory　before　the　fact？〃　

〃Me？　But　not　the　least　in　the　world；　Monsieur。　Not　for　a　moment　did　I　take　that　statement　seriously。　Ah　no；　indeed！　I　know　men；　Monsieur；　they　say　many　wild　things。　It　would　be　an　odd　state　of　affairs　if　one　were　to　take　all　they　said　au　pied　de　la　lettre。〃　

The　Examining　Magistrate　raised　his　eyebrows。　

〃We　are　to　take　it；　then；　that　you　regarded　M。　Kettering's　threats　as　mere　idle　words？　May　I　ask；　Mademoiselle；　what　made　you　throw　up　your　engagements　in　London　and　e　out　to　the　Riviera？〃　

Mirelle　looked　at　him　with　melting　black　eyes。　

〃I　wished　to　be　with　the　man　I　loved；〃　she　said　simply。　〃Was　it　so　unnatural？〃　

Poirot　interpolated　a　question　gently。　

〃Was　it；　then；　at　M。　Kettering's　wish　that　you　acpanied　him　to　Nice？〃　

Mirelle　seemed　to　find　a　little　difficulty　in　answering　this。　She　hesitated　perceptibly　before　she　spoke。　When　she　did；　it　was　with　a　haughty　indifference　of　manner。　

〃In　such　matters　I　please　myself；　Monsieur；〃　she　said。　

That　the　answer　was　not　an　answer　at　all　was　noted　by　all　three　men。　They　said　nothing。　

〃When　were　you　first　convinced　that　M。　Kettering　had　murdered　his　wife？〃　

〃As　I　tell　you；　Monsieur；　I　saw　M。　Kettering　e　out　of　his　wife's　partment　just　before　the　train　drew　into　Lyons。　There　was　a　look　on　his　face　…　ah！　at　the　moment　I　could　not　understand　it　…　a　look　haunted　and　terrible。　I　shall　never　forget　it。〃　

Her　voice　rose　shrilly；　and　she　flung　out　her　arms　in　an　extravagant　gesture。　

〃Quite　so；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃Afterwards；　when　I　found　that　Madame　Kettering　was　dead　when　the　train　left　Lyons；　then　…　then　I　knew！〃　

〃And　still　…　you　did　not　go　to　the　police；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　missary　mildly。　

Mirelle　glanced　at　him　superbly；　she　was　clearly　enjoying　herself　in　the　role　she　was　playing。　

〃Shall　I　betray　my　lover？〃　she　asked。　〃Ah　no；　do　not　ask　a　woman　to　do　that。〃　

〃Yet　now　…〃　hinted　M。　Caux。　

〃Now　it　is　different。　He　has　betrayed　me！　Shall　I　suffer　that　in　silence？〃　

The　Examining　Magistrate　checked　her。　

〃Quite　so；　quite　so；〃　he　murmured　soothingly。　

〃And　now；　Mademoiselle；　perhaps　you　will　read　over　the　statement　of　what　you　have　told　us；　see　that　it　is　correct；　and　sign　it。〃　

Mirelle　wasted　no　time　on　the　document。　

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　correct。〃　She　rose　to　her　feet。　〃You　require　me　no　longer；　Messieurs？〃　

〃At　present；　no；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃And　Dereek　will　be　arrested？〃　

〃At　once；　Mademoiselle。〃　

Mirelle　laughed　cruelly　and　drew　her　fur　draperies　closer　about　her。　

〃He　should　have　thought　of　this　before　he　insulted　me；〃　she　cried。　

〃There　is　one　little　matter　…〃　Poirot　coughed　apologetically　…　〃just　a　matter　of　detail。〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃What　makes　you　think　Madame　Kettering　was　dead　when　the　train　left　Lyons？〃　

Mirelle　stared。　

〃But　she　was　dead。〃　

〃Was　she？〃　

〃Yes；　of　course。　I　…〃　

She　came　to　an　abrupt　stop。　Poirot　was　regarding　her　intently；　and　he　saw　the　wary　look　that　came　into　her　eyes。　

〃I　have　been　told　so。　Everybody　says　so。〃　

〃Oh；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　was　not　aware　that　the　fact　had　been　mentioned　outside　the　Examining　Magistrate's　office。〃　

Mirelle　appeared　somewhat　disposed。　

〃One　hears　those　things；〃　she　said　vaguely；　〃they　get　about。　Somebody　told　me。　I　can't　remember　who　it　was。〃　

She　moved　to　the　door。　M。　Caux　sprang　forward　to　open　it　for　her；　and　as　he　did　so；　Poirot's　voice　rose　gently　once　more。　

〃And　the　jewels？　Pardon；　Mademoiselle。　Can　you　tell　me　anything　about　those？〃　

〃The　jewels？　What　jewels？〃　

〃The　rubies　of　Katherine　the　Great。　Since　you　hear　so　much；　you　must　have　heard　of　them。〃　

〃I　know　nothing　about　any　jewels；〃　said　Mirelle　sharply。　

She　went　out；　closing　the　door　behind　her。　M。　Caux　came　back　to　his　chair；　the　Examining　Magistrate　sighed。　

〃What　a　fury！〃　he　said；　〃but　diablement　chic。　I　wonder　if　she　is　telling　the　truth？　I　think　so。〃　

〃There　is　some　truth　in　her　story；　certainly；〃　said　Poirot。　〃We　have　confirmation　of　it　from　Miss　Grey。　She　was　looking　down　the　corridor　a　short　time　before　the　train　reached　Lyons　and　she　saw　M。　Kettering　go　into　his　wife's　partment。〃　

〃The　case　against　him　seems　quite　clear；〃　said　the　missary；　sighing；　〃it　is　a　thousand　pities；〃　he　murmured。　

〃How　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Poirot。　

〃It　has　been　the　ambition　of　my　life　to　lay　the　te　de　la　Roche　by　the　heels。　This　time；　ma　foi；　I　thought　we　had　got　him。　This　other　…　it　is　not　nearly　so　satisfactory。〃　

M。　Carrege　rubbed　his　nose。　

〃If　anything　goes　wrong；〃　he　observed　cautiously；　〃it　will　be　most　awkward。　M。　Kettering　is　of　the　aristocracy。　It　will　get　into　the　newspapers。　If　we　have　made　a　mistake　…〃　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　forebodingly。　

〃The　jewels　now；〃　said　the　missary；　〃what　do　you　think　he　has　done　with　them？〃　

〃He　took　them　for　a　plant；　of　course；〃　said　M。　Carrege；　〃they　must　have　been　a　great　inconvenience　to　him　and　very　awkward　to　dispose　of。〃　

Poirot　smiled。　

〃I　have　an　idea　of　my　own　about　the　jewels。　Tell　me；　Messieurs；　what　do　you　know　of　a　man　called　the　Marquis？〃　

The　missary　leant　forward　excitedly。　

〃The　Marquis；〃　he　said；　〃the　Marquis？　Do　you　think　he　is　mixed　up　in　this　affair；　M。　Poirot？〃　

〃I　ask　you　what　you　know　of　him。〃　

The　missary　made　an　expressive　grimace。　

〃Not　as　much　as　we　should　like　to；〃　he　observed　ruefully。　〃He　works　behind　the　scenes；　you　understand。　He　has　underlings　who　do　his　dirty　work　for　him。　But　he　is　someone　high　up。　That　we　are　sure　of。　He　does　not　e　from　the　criminal　classes。〃　

〃A　Frenchman？〃　

〃Yes。　At　least　we　believe　so。　But　we　are　not　sure。　He　has　worked　in　France；　in　England；　in　America。　There　was　a　series　of　robberies　in　Switzerland　last　autumn　which　were　laid　at　his　door。　By　all　accounts　he　is　a　grand　seigneur；　speaking　French　and　English　with　equal　perfection　and　his　origin　is　a　mystery。〃　

Poirot　nodded　and　rose　to　take　his　departure。　

〃Can　you　tell　us　nothing　more；　M。　Poirot？〃　urged　the　missary。　

〃At　present；　no；〃　said　Poirot；　〃but　I　may　have　news　awaiting　me　at　my　hotel。〃　

M。　Carrege　looked　unfortable。　〃If　the　Marquis　is　concerned　in　this　…〃　he　began；　and　then　stopped。　

〃It　upsets　our　ideas；〃　plained　M。　Caux。　

〃It　does　not　upset　mine；〃　said　Poirot。　〃On　the　contrary；　I　think　it　agrees　with　them　very　well。　Au　revoir；　Messieurs；　if　news　of　any　importance　es　to　me　I　will　municate　it　to　you　immediately。〃　

He　walked　back　to　his　hotel　with　a　grave　face。　In　his　absence　a　telegram　had　e　to　him。　Taking　a　paper…cutter　from　his　pocket；　he　slit　it　open。　It　was　a　long　telegram；　and　he　read　it　over　twice　before　slowly　putting　it　in　his　pocket。　Upstairs；　George　was　awaiting　his　master。　

〃I　am　fatigued；　Georges；　much　fatigued。　Will　you　order　for　me　a　small　pot　of　chocolate？〃　

The　chocolate　was　duly　ordered　and　brought；　and　George　set　it　at　the　little　table　at　his　master's　elbow。　As　he　was　preparing　to　retire；　Poirot　spoke：　

〃I　believe；　Georges；　that　you　have　a　good　knowledge　of　the　English　aristocracy？〃　murmured　Poirot。　

George　smiled　apologetically。　

〃I　think　that　I　might　say　that　I　have；　sir；〃　he　replied。　

〃I　suppose　that　it　is　your　opinion；　Georges；　that　criminals　are　invariably　drawn　from　the　lower　orders。〃　

〃Not　always；　sir。　There　was　great　trouble　with　one　of　the　Duke　of　Devize's　younger　sons。　He　left　Eton　under　a　cloud；　and　after　that　he　caused　great　anxiety　on　several　occasions。　The　police　would　not　accept　the　view　that　it　was　kleptomania。　A　very　clever　young　gentleman；　sir；　but　vicious　through　and　through；　if　you　take　my　meaning。　H