蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第5章

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She　pulled　her　hands　away　from　him。　

〃You　know　I　adore　you；　Dereek。〃　

He　caught　the　note　of　evasion　in　her　voice。　

〃So　that's　that；　is　it？　The　rats　will　leave　the　sinking　ship。〃　

〃Ah；　Dereek！〃　

〃Out　with　it；〃　he　said　violently。　〃You　will　fling　me　over；　is　that　it？〃　

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃I　am　fond　of　you；　mon　ami　…　indeed　I　am　fond　of　you。　You　are　very　charming　…　un　beau　gar？on；　but　ce　n'est　pas　pratique。〃　

〃You　are　a　rich　man's　luxury；　eh？　Is　that　it？〃　

〃If　you　like　to　put　it　that　way。〃　

She　leaned　back　on　the　cushions；　her　head　flung　back。　

〃All　the　same；　I　am　fond　of　you；　Dereek。〃　

He　went　over　to　the　window　and　stood　there　some　time　looking　out；　with　his　back　to　her。　Presently　the　dancer　raised　herself　on　her　elbow　and　stared　at　him　curiously。　

〃What　are　you　thinking　of；　mon　ami？〃　

He　grinned　at　her　over　his　shoulder；　a　curious　grin　that　made　her　vaguely　uneasy。　

〃As　it　happened；　I　was　thinking　of　a　woman；　my　dear。〃　

〃A　woman；　eh？〃　

Mirelle　pounced　on　something　that　she　could　understand。　

〃You　are　thinking　of　some　other　woman；　is　that　it？〃　

〃Oh；　you　needn't　worry；　it　is　purely　a　fancy　portrait。　'Portrait　of　a　lady　with　grey　eyes。'〃　

Mirelle　said　sharply；　〃When　did　you　meet　her？〃　

Derek　Kettering　laughed；　and　his　laughter　had　a　mocking；　ironical　sound。　

〃I　ran　into　the　lady　in　the　corridor　of　the　Savoy　Hotel。〃　

〃Well！　what　did　she　say？〃　

〃As　far　as　I　can　remember；　I　said；　'I　beg　your　pardon；'　and　she　said；　'It　doesn't　matter；'　or　words　to　that　effect。〃　

〃And　then？〃　persisted　the　dancer。　

Kettering　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃And　then　…　nothing。　That　was　the　end　of　the　incident。〃　

〃I　don't　understand　a　word　of　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　declared　the　dancer。　

〃Portrait　of　a　lady　with　grey　eyes；〃　murmured　Derek　reflectively。　〃Just　as　well　I　am　never　likely　to　meet　her　again。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃She　might　bring　me　bad　luck。　Women　do。〃　

Mirelle　slipped　quickly　from　her　couch；　and　came　across　to　him；　laying　one　long；　snake…like　arm　round　his　neck。　

〃You　are　foolish；　Dereek；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　are　very　foolish。　You　are　beau　gar？on；　and　I　adore　you；　but　I　am　not　made　to　be　poor　…　no；　decidedly　I　am　not　made　to　be　poor。　Now　listen　to　me；　everything　is　very　simple。　You　must　make　it　up　with　your　wife。〃　

〃I　am　afraid　that's　not　going　to　be　actually　in　the　sphere　of　practical　politics；〃　said　Derek　drily。　

〃How　do　you　say？　I　do　not　understand。〃　

〃Van　Aldin；　my　dear；　is　not　taking　any。　He　is　the　kind　of　man　who　makes　up　his　mind　and　sticks　to　it。〃　

〃I　have　heard　of　him；〃　nodded　the　dancer。　〃He　is　very　rich；　is　he　not？　Almost　the　richest　man　in　America。　A　few　days　ago；　in　Paris；　he　bought　the　most　wonderful　ruby　in　the　world　…　'Heart　of　Fire'　it　is　called。〃　

Kettering　did　not　answer。　The　dancer　went　on　musingly：　

〃It　is　a　wonderful　stone　…　a　stone　that　should　belong　to　a　woman　like　me。　I　love　jewels；　Dereek；　they　say　something　to　me。　Ah！　to　wear　a　ruby　like　'Heart　of　Fire。'〃　

She　gave　a　little　sigh；　and　then　became　practical　once　more。　

〃You　don't　understand　these　things；　Dereek；　you　are　only　a　man。　Van　Aldin　will　give　these　rubies　to　his　daughter；　I　suppose。　Is　she　his　only　child？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃Then　when　he　dies；　she　will　inherit　all　his　money。　She　will　be　a　rich　woman。〃　

〃She　is　a　rich　woman　already；〃　said　Kettering　drily。　〃He　settled　a　couple　of　millions　on　her　at　her　marriage。〃　

〃A　couple　of　millions！　But　that　is　immense。　And　if　she　died　suddenly；　eh？　That　would　all　e　to　you？〃　

〃As　things　stand　at　present；〃　said　Kettering　slowly；　〃it　would。　As　far　as　I　know　she　has　not　made　a　will。〃　

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　said　the　dancer。　〃If　she　were　to　die；　what　a　solution　that　would　be。〃　

There　was　a　moment's　pause；　and　then　Derek　Kettering　laughed　outright。　

〃I　like　your　simple；　practical　mind；　Mirelle；　but　I　am　afraid　what　you　desire　won't　e　to　pass。　My　wife　is　an　extremely　healthy　person。〃　

〃Eh；　bien！〃　said　Mirelle；　〃there　are　accidents。〃　

He　looked　at　her　sharply　but　did　not　answer。　

She　went　on。　

〃But　you　are　right；　mon　ami；　we　must　not　dwell　on　possibilities。　See　now；　my　little　Dereek；　there　must　be　no　more　talk　of　this　divorce。　Your　wife　must　give　up　the　idea。〃　

〃And　if　she　won't？〃　

The　dancer's　eyes　widened　to　slits。　

〃I　think　she　will；　my　friend。　She　is　one　of　those　who　would　not　like　the　publicity。　There　are　one　or　two　pretty　stories　that　she　would　not　like　her　friends　to　read　in　the　newspapers。〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Kettering　sharply。　

Mirelle　laughed；　her　head　thrown　back。　

〃Parbleu！　I　mean　the　gentleman　who　calls　himself　the　te　de　la　Roche。　I　know　all　about　him。　I　am　Parisienne；　you　remember。　He　was　her　lover　before　she　married　you；　was　he　not？〃　

Kettering　took　her　sharply　by　the　shoulders。　

〃That　is　a　damned　lie；〃　he　said；　〃and　please　remember　that；　after　all；　you　are　speaking　of　my　wife。〃　

Mirelle　was　a　little　sobered。　

〃You　are　extraordinary；　you　English；〃　she　plained。　〃All　the　same；　I　dare　say　that　you　may　be　right。　The　Americans　are　so　cold；　are　they　not？　But　you　will　permit　me　to　say；　mon　ami；　that　she　was　in　love　with　him　before　she　married　you；　and　her　father　stepped　in　and　sent　the　te　about　his　business。　And　the　little　Mademoiselle；　she　wept　many　tears！　But　she　obeyed。　Still；　you　must　know　as　well　as　I　do；　Dereek；　that　it　is　a　very　different　story　now。　She　sees　him　nearly　every　day；　and　on　the　fourteenth　she　goes　to　Paris　to　meet　him。〃　

〃How　do　you　know　all　this？〃　demanded　Kettering。　

〃Me？　I　have　friends　in　Paris；　my　dear　Dereek；　who　know　the　te　intimately。　It　is　all　arranged。　She　is　going　to　the　Riviera；　so　she　says；　but　in　reality　the　te　meets　her　in　Paris　and　…　who　knows！　Yes；　yes；　you　can　take　my　word　for　it；　it　is　all　arranged。〃　

Derek　Kettering　stood　motionless。　

〃You　see；〃　purred　the　dancer；　〃if　you　are　clever；　you　have　her　in　the　hollow　of　your　hand。　You　can　make　things　very　awkward　for　her。〃　

〃Oh；　for　God's　sake　be　quiet；〃　cried　Kettering。　〃Shut　your　cursed　mouth！〃　

Mirelle　flung　herself　down　again　on　the　divan　with　a　laugh。　Kettering　caught　up　his　hat　and　coat　and　left　the　flat；　banging　the　door　violently。　And　still　the　dancer　sat　on　the　divan　and　laughed　softly　to　herself。　She　was　not　displeased　with　her　work。　


Chapter　7　

LETTERS

〃Mrs　Samuel　Harfield　presents　her　pliments　to　Miss　Katherine　Grey　and　wishes　to　point　out　that　under　the　circumstances　Miss　Grey　may　not　be　aware　…〃
Mrs　Harfield；　having　written　so　far　fluently；　came　to　a　dead　stop；　held　up　by　what　has　proved　an　insuperable　difficulty　to　many　other　people　…　namely；　the　difficulty　of　expressing　oneself　fluently　in　the　third　person。　

After　a　minute　or　two　of　hesitation；　Mrs　Harfield　tore　up　the　sheet　of　notepaper　and　started　afresh。
〃Dear　Miss　Grey；
Whilst　fully　appreciating　the　adequate　way　you　discharged　your　duties　to　my　Cousin　Emma　（whose　recent　death　has　indeed　been　a　severe　blow　to　us　all）；　I　cannot　but　feel　…〃
Again　Mrs　Harfield　came　to　a　stop。　Once　more　the　letter　was　consigned　to　the　wastepaper…basket。　

It　was　not　until　four　false　starts　had　been　made　that　Mrs　Harfield　at　last　produced　an　epistle　that　satisfied　her。　It　was　duly　sealed　and　stamped　and　addressed　to　Miss　Katherine　Grey；　Little　Crampton；　St　Mary　Mead；　Kent；　and　it　lay　beside　that　lady's　plate　on　the　following　morning　at　breakfast…time　in　pany　with　a　more　important　looking　munication　in　a　long　blue　envelope。　

Katherine　Grey　opened　Mrs　Harfield's　letter　first。　The　finished　production　ran　as　follows：
〃Dear　Miss　Grey；
My　husband　and　I　wish　to　express　our　thanks　to　you　for　your　services　to　my　poor　cousin；　Emma。　Her　death　has　been　a　great　blow　to　us；　though　we　were；　of　course；　aware　that　her　mind　has　been　failing　for　some　time　past。　I　understand　that　her　latter　testamentary　dispositions　have　been　of　a　most　peculiar　character；　and　they　would　not　hold　good；　of　course；　in　any　court　of　law。　I　have　no　doubt　that；　with　your　usual　good　sense；　you　have　already　realized　this　fact。　If　these　matters　can　be　arranged　privately　it　is　always　so　much　better；　my　husband　says。　We　shall　be　pleased　to　remend　you　most　highly　for　a　similar　post　and　hope　that　you　will　also　accept　a　small　present。　Believe　me；　dear　Miss　Grey；　yours　cordially；
Mary　Anne　Harfield。〃
Katherine　Grey　read　the　letter　through；　smiled　a　little；　and　read　it　a　second　time。　Her　face　as　she　laid　the　letter　down　after　the　second　reading　was　distinctly　amused。　Then　she　took　up　the　second　letter。　After　one　brief　perusal　she　laid　it　down　and　stared　very　straight　in　front　of　her。　This　time　she　did　not　smile。　Indeed；　it　would　have　been　hard　for　anyone　watching　her　to　guess　what　emotions　lay　behind　that　quiet；　reflective　gaze。　

Katherine　Grey　was　thirty…three。　She　came　of　good　family；　but　her　father　had　lost　all　his　money；　and　Katherine　had　had　to　work　for　her　living　from　an　early　age。　She　had　been　just　twenty…three　when　she　had　e　to　old　Mrs　Harfield　as　panion。　

It　was　generally　recognized　that　old　Mrs　Harfield　was　〃difficult。〃　panions　came　and　went　with　startling　rapidity。　They　arrived　full　of　hope　and　they　usually　left　in　tears。　But　from　the　moment　Katherine　Grey　set　foot　in　Little　Crampton；　ten　years　ago；　perfect　peace　had　reigned。　No　one　knows　how　these　things　e　about。　Snake…charmers；　they　say；　are　born；　not　made。　Katherine　Grey　was　born　with　the　power　of　managing　old　ladies；　dogs　and　small　boys；　and　she　did　it　without　any　apparent　sense　of　strain。　

At　twenty…three　she　had　been　a　quiet　girl　with　beautiful　eyes。　At　thirty…three　she　an；　with　those　same　grey　eyes；　shining　steadily　out　on　the　world　with　a　kind　of　happy　serenity　that　nothing　could　shake。　

Moreover；　she　had　been　born　with；　and　still　possessed；　a　sense　of　humour。　

As　she　sat　at　the　breakfast…table；　staring　in　front　of　her；　there　was　a　ring　at　the　bell；　acpanied　by　a　very　energetic　rat…a…tat…tat　at　the　knocker。　In　another　minute　the　little　maid…servant　opened　the　door　and　announced　rather　breathlessly：　

〃Dr　Harrison。〃　

The　big；　middle…aged　doctor　came　buzzing　in　with　the　energy　and　breeziness　that　had　been　fore…shadowed　by　his　onslaught　on　the　knocker。　

〃Good　morning；　Miss　Grey。〃　

〃Good　morning；　Dr　Harrison。〃　

〃I　dropped　in　early；〃　began　the　doctor；　〃in　case　you　should　have　heard　from　one　of　those　Harfield　cousins。　Mrs　Samuel；　she　calls　herself　…　a　perfectly　poisonous　person。〃　

Without　a　word；　Katherine　picked　up　Mrs　Harfield's　letter　from　the　table　and　gave　it　to　him。　With　a　good　deal　of　amusement　she　watched　his　perusal　of　it；　the　drawing　together　of　the　bushy　eyebrows；　the　snorts　and　grunts　of　violent　disapproval。　He　dashed　it　down　again　on　the　table。　

〃Perfectly　monstrous；〃　he　fumed。　〃Don't　you　let　it　worry　you；　my　dear。　They're　talking　through　their　hat。　Mrs　Harfield's　intellect　was　as　good　as　yours　or　mine；　and　you　won't　get　anyone　to　say　the　contrary。　They　wouldn't　have　a　leg　to　stand　upon；　and　they　know　it。　All　that　talk　of　taking　it　into　court　is　pure　bluff。　Hence　this　attempt　to　get　round　you　in　a　hole…and…corner　way。　And　look　here；　my　dear；　don't　let　them　get　round　you　with　soft　soap　either。　Don't　get　fancying　it's　your　duty　to　hand　over　the　cash；　or　any　tomfoolery　of　conscientious　scruples。〃　

〃I'm　afraid　it　hasn't　occurred　to　me　to　have　scruples；〃　said　Katherine。　〃All　these　people　are　distant　relatives　of　Mrs　Harfield's　husband；　and　they　never　came　near　her　or　took　any　notice　of　her　in　her　lifetime。〃　

〃You're　a　sensible　woman；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃I　know；　none　better；　that　you've　had　a　hard　life　of　it　for　the　last　ten　years。　You're　fully　entitled　to　enjoy　the　old　lady's　savings；　such　as　they　were。〃　

Katherine　smiled　thoughtfully。　

〃Such　as　they　were；〃　she　repeated。　〃You've　no　idea　of　the　amount；　doctor？〃　

〃Well　…　enough　to　bring　in　five　hundred　a　year　or　so；　I　suppose。〃　

Katherine　nodded。　

〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　she　said。　〃Now　read　this。〃　

She　handed　him　the　letter　she　had　taken　from　the　long　blue　envelope。　The　doctor　read　and　uttered　an　exclamation　of　utter　astonishment。　

〃Impossible；〃　he　muttered。　〃Impossible。〃　

〃She　was　one　of　the　original　shareholders　in　Mortaulds。　Forty　years　ago　she　must　have　had　an　ine　of　eight　or　ten　thousand　a　year。　She　has　never；　I　am　sure；　spent　more　than　four　hundred　a　year。　She　was　always　terribly　careful　about　money。　I　always　believed　that　she　was　obliged　to　be　careful　about　every　penny。〃　

〃And　all　the　time　the　ine　has　accumulated　at　pound　interest。　My　dear；　you're　going　to　be　a　very　rich　woman。〃　

Katherine　Grey　nodded。　

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　am。〃　

She　spoke　in　a　detached；　impersonal　tone；　as　though　she　were　looking　at　the　situation　from　outside。　

〃Well；〃　said　the　doctor；　preparing　to　depart；　〃you　have　all　my　congratulations。〃　He　flicked　Mrs　Samuel　Harfield's　letter　with　his　thumb。　〃Don't　worry　about　that　woman　and　her　odious　letter。〃　

〃It　really　isn't　an　odious　letter；〃　said　Miss　Grey　tolerantly。　〃Under　the　circumstances；　I　think　it's　really　quite　a　natural　thing　to　do。〃　

〃I　have　the　gravest　suspicions　of　you　sometimes；〃　said　the　doctor。　

〃Why？〃　

〃The　things　that　you　find　perfectly　natural。〃　

Katherine　Grey　laughed。　

Doctor　Harrison　retailed　the　great　news　to　his　wife　at　lunch…time。　She　was　very　excited　about　it。　

〃Fancy　old　Mrs　Harfield　…　with　all　that