蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第21部分

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t　the　station　in　Paris。　That　was　clearly　not　part　of　the　preconceived　plan　…　you　agree　with　me；　Knighton？〃　

The　secretary　started。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr　Van　Aldin。　I　was　not　listening。〃　

〃Day…dreaming；　eh？〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃That's　not　like　you。　I　believe　that　girl　has　bowled　you　over。〃　

Knighton　blushed。　

〃She　is　a　remarkably　nice　girl；〃　said　Van　Aldin　thoughtfully；　〃very　nice。　Did　you　happen　to　notice　her　eyes？〃　

〃Any　man；〃　said　Knighton；　〃would　be　bound　to　notice　her　eyes。〃

Chapter　21　

AT　THE　TENNIS

Several　days　had　elapsed。　Katherine　had　been　for　a　walk　by　herself　one　morning；　and　came　back　to　find　Lenox　grinning　at　her　expectantly。　

〃Your　young　man　has　been　ringing　you　up；　Katherine！〃　

〃Who　do　you　call　my　young　man？〃　

〃A　new　one　…　Rufus　Van　Aldin's　secretary。　You　seem　to　have　made　rather　an　impression　there。　You　are　being　a　serious　breaker　of　hearts；　Katherine。　First　Derek　Kettering；　and　now　this　young　Knighton。　The　funny　thing　is；　that　I　remember　him　quite　well。　He　was　in　Mother's　War　Hospital　that　she　ran　out　here。　I　was　only　a　kid　of　about　eight　at　the　time。〃　

〃Was　he　badly　wounded？〃　

〃Shot　in　the　leg；　if　I　remember　rightly　…　rather　a　nasty　business。　I　think　the　doctors　messed　it　up　a　bit。　They　said　he　wouldn't　limp　or　anything；　but　when　he　left　here　he　was　still　pletely　dot　and　go　one。〃　

Lady　Tamplin　came　out　and　joined　them。　

〃Have　you　been　telling　Katherine　about　Major　Knighton？〃　she　asked。　〃Such　a　dear　fellow！　Just　at　first　I　didn't　remember　him　…　one　had　so　many　…　but　now　it　all　es　back。〃　

〃He　was　a　bit　too　unimportant　to　be　remembered　before；〃　said　Lenox。　〃Now　that　he　is　a　secretary　to　an　American　millionaire；　it　is　a　very　different　matter。〃　

〃Darling！〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　in　her　vague　reproachful　voice。　

〃What　did　Major　Knighton　ring　up　about？〃　inquired　Katherine。　

〃He　asked　if　you　would　like　to　go　to　the　tennis　this　afternoon。　If　so；　he　would　call　for　you　in　a　car。　Mother　and　I　accepted　for　you　with　empressement。　Whilst　you　dally　with　a　millionaire's　secretary；　you　might　give　me　a　chance　with　the　millionaire；　Katherine。　He　is　about　sixty；　I　suppose；　so　that　he　will　be　looking　about　for　a　nice　sweet　young　thing　like　me。〃　

〃I　should　like　to　meet　Mr　Van　Aldin；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　earnestly；　〃one　has　heard　so　much　of　him。　Those　fine　rugged　figures　of　the　Western　world　…〃　she　broke　off　…　〃so　fascinating；〃　she　murmured。　

〃Major　Knighton　was　very　particular　to　say　it　was　Mr　Van　Aldin's　invitation；〃　said　Lenox。　〃He　said　it　so　often　that　I　began　to　smell　a　rat。　You　and　Knighton　would　make　a　very　nice　pair；　Katherine。　Bless　you；　my　children！〃　

Katherine　laughed；　and　went　upstairs　to　change　her　clothes。　

Knighton　arrived　soon　after　lunch　and　endured　manfully　Lady　Tamplin's　transports　of　recognition。　

When　they　were　driving　together　towards　Cannes　he　remarked　to　Katherine：　〃Lady　Tamplin　has　changed　wonderfully　little。〃　

〃In　manner　or　appearance？〃　

〃Both。　She　must　be；　I　suppose；　well　over　forty；　but　she　is　a　remarkably　beautiful　woman　still。〃　

〃She　is；〃　agreed　Katherine。　

〃I　am　very　glad　that　you　could　e　today；〃　went　on　Knighton。　〃M。　Poirot　is　going　to　be　there　also。　What　an　extraordinary　little　man　he　is。　Do　you　know　him　well；　Miss　Grey？〃　

Katherine　shook　her　head。　〃I　met　him　on　the　train　on　the　way　here。　I　was　reading　a　detective　novel；　and　I　happened　to　say　something　about　such　things　not　happening　in　real　life　…　of　course；　I　had　no　idea　of　who　he　was。〃　

〃He　is　a　very　remarkable　person；〃　said　Knighton　slowly；　〃and　has　done　some　very　remarkable　things。　He　has　a　kind　of　genius　for　going　to　the　root　of　the　matter；　and　right　up　to　the　end　no　one　has　any　idea　of　what　he　is　really　thinking。　I　remember　I　was　staying　at　a　house　in　Yorkshire；　and　Lady　Clanravon's　jewels　were　stolen。　It　seemed　at　first　to　be　a　simple　robbery；　but　it　pletely　baffled　the　local　police。　I　wanted　them　to　call　in　Hercule　Poirot；　and　said　he　was　the　only　man　who　could　help　them；　but　they　pinned　their　faith　to　Scotland　Yard。〃　

〃And　what　happened？〃　said　Katherine　curiously。　

〃The　jewels　were　never　recovered；〃　said　Knighton　drily。　

〃You　really　do　believe　in　him？〃　

〃I　do　indeed。　The　te　de　la　Roche　is　a　pretty　wily　customer。　He　has　wriggled　out　of　most　things。　But　I　think　he　has　met　his　match　in　Hercule　Poirot。〃　

〃The　te　de　la　Roche；〃　said　Katherine　thoughtfully；　〃so　you　really　think　he　did　it？〃　

〃Of　course。〃　Knighton　looked　at　her　in　astonishment。　〃Don't　you？〃　

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Katherine　hastily；　〃that　is；　I　mean；　if　it　was　not　just　an　ordinary　train　robbery。〃　

〃It　might　be；　of　course；〃　agreed　the　other；　〃but　it　seems　to　me　that　the　te　de　la　Roche　fits　into　this　business　particularly　well。〃　

〃And　yet　he　has　an　alibi。〃　

〃Oh；　alibis！〃　Knighton　laughed；　his　face　broke　into　his　attractive　boyish　smile。　

〃You　confess　that　you　read　detective　stories；　Miss　Grey。　You　must　know　that　anyone　who　has　a　perfect　alibi　is　always　open　to　grave　suspicion。〃　

〃Do　you　think　that　real　life　is　like　that？〃　asked　Katherine；　smiling。　

〃Why　not？　Fiction　is　founded　on　fact。〃　

〃But　is　rather　superior　to　it；〃　suggested　Katherine。　

〃Perhaps。　Anyway；　if　I　was　a　criminal　I　should　not　like　to　have　Hercule　Poirot　on　my　track。〃　

〃No　more　should　I；〃　said　Katherine；　and　laughed。　

They　were　met　on　arrival　by　Poirot。　As　the　day　was　warm　he　was　attired　in　a　white　duck　suit；　with　a　white　camellia　in　his　buttonhole。　

〃Bonjour；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　look　very　English；　do　I　not？〃　

〃You　look　wonderful；〃　said　Katherine　tactfully。　

〃You　mock　yourself　at　me；〃　said　Poirot　genially；　〃but　no　matter。　Papa　Poirot；　he　always　laughs　the　last。〃　

〃Where　is　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃　asked　Knighton。　

〃He　will　meet　us　at　our　seats。　To　tell　you　the　truth；　my　friend；　he　is　not　too　well　pleased　with　me。　Oh；　those　Americans　…　the　repose；　the　calm；　they　know　it　not！　Mr　Van　Aldin；　he　would　that　I　fly　myself　in　the　pursuit　of　criminals　through　all　the　byways　of　Nice。〃　

〃I　should　have　thought　myself　that　it　would　not　have　been　a　bad　plan；〃　observed　Knighton。　

〃You　are　wrong；〃　said　Poirot；　〃in　these　matters　one　needs　not　energy　but　finesse。　At　the　tennis　one　meets　everyone。　That　is　so　important。　Ah；　there　is　Mr　Kettering。〃　

Derek　came　abruptly　up　to　them。　He　looked　reckless　and　angry；　as　though　something　had　arisen　to　upset　him。　He　and　Knighton　greeted　each　other　with　some　frigidity。　

Poirot　alone　seemed　unconscious　of　a　sense　of　strain；　and　chatted　pleasantly　in　a　laudable　attempt　to　put　everyone　at　their　ease。　He　paid　little　pliments。　

〃It　is　amazing；　M。　Kettering；　how　well　you　speak　the　French；〃　he　observed　…　〃so　well　that　you　could　be　taken　for　a　Frenchman　if　you　chose。　That　is　a　very　rare　acplishment　among　Englishmen。〃　

〃I　wish　I　did；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　am　only　too　well　aware　that　my　French　is　of　a　painfully　British　order。〃　

They　reached　their　seats　and　sat　down；　and　almost　immediately　Knighton　perceived　his　employer　signalling　to　him　from　the　other　end　of　the　court；　and　went　off　to　speak　to　him。　

〃Me；　I　approve　of　that　young　man；〃　said　Poirot；　sending　a　beaming　smile　after　the　departing　secretary；　〃and　you；　Mademoiselle？〃　

〃I　like　him　very　much。〃　

〃And　you；　M。　Kettering？〃　

Some　quick　rejoinder　was　springing　to　Derek's　lips；　but　he　checked　it　as　though　something　in　the　little　Belgian's　twinkling　eyes　had　made　him　suddenly　alert。　He　spoke　carefully；　choosing　his　words。　

〃Knighton　is　a　very　good　fellow；〃　he　said。　Just　for　a　moment　Katherine　fancied　that　Poirot　looked　disappointed。　

〃He　is　a　great　admirer　of　yours；　M。　Poirot；〃　she　said；　and　she　related　some　of　the　things　that　Knighton　had　said。　It　amused　her　to　see　the　little　man　plume　himself　like　a　bird；　thrusting　out　his　chest；　and　assuming　an　air　of　mock　modesty　that　would　have　deceived　no　one。　

〃That　reminds　me；　Mademoiselle；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃I　have　a　little　matter　of　business　I　have　to　speak　to　you　about。　When　you　were　sitting　talking　to　that　poor　lady　in　the　train；　I　think　you　must　have　dropped　a　cigarette　case。〃　

Katherine　looked　rather　astonished。　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　she　said。　Poirot　drew　from　his　pocket　a　cigarette　case　of　soft　blue　leather；　with　the　initial　〃K〃　on　it　in　gold。　

〃No；　that　is　not　mine；〃　Katherine　said。　

〃Ah；　a　thousand　apologies。　It　was　doubtless　Madame's　own。　'K'　of　course；　stands　for　Kettering。　We　were　doubtful；　because　she　had　another　cigarette　case　in　her　bag；　and　it　seemed　odd　that　she　should　have　two。〃　

He　turned　to　Derek　suddenly。　〃You　do　not　know；　I　suppose；　whether　this　was　your　wife's　case　or　not？〃　

Derek　seemed　momentarily　taken　aback。　He　stammered　a　little　in　his　reply：　〃I　…　I　don't　know。　I　suppose　so。〃　

〃It　is　not　yours　by　any　chance？〃　

〃Certainly　not。　If　it　were　mine　it　would　hardly　have　been　in　my　wife's　possession。〃　

Poirot　looked　more　ingenuous　and　childlike　than　ever。　

〃I　thought　perhaps　you　might　have　dropped　it　when　you　were　in　your　wife's　partment；〃　he　explained　guilelessly。　

〃I　never　was　there。　I　have　already　told　the　police　that　a　dozen　times。〃　

〃A　thousand　pardons；〃　said　Poirot；　with　his　most　apologetic　air。　〃It　was　Mademoiselle　here　who　mentioned　having　seen　you　going　in。〃　

He　stopped　with　an　air　of　embarrassment。　

Katherine　looked　at　Derek。　His　face　had　gone　rather　white；　but　perhaps　that　was　her　fancy。　His　laugh；　when　it　came；　was　natural　enough。　

〃You　made　a　mistake；　Miss　Grey；〃　he　said　easily。　〃From　what　the　police　have　told　me；　I　gather　that　my　own　partment　was　only　a　door　or　two　away　from　that　of　my　wife's　…　though　I　never　suspected　the　fact　at　the　time。　You　must　have　seen　me　going　into　my　own　partment。〃　He　got　up　quickly　as　he　saw　Van　Aldin　and　Knighton　approaching。　

〃I'm　going　to　leave　you　now；〃　he　announced。　〃I　can't　stand　my　father…in…law　at　any　price。〃　

Van　Aldin　greeted　Katherine　very　courteously；　but　was　clearly　in　a　bad　humour。　

〃You　seem　fond　of　watching　tennis；　M。　Poirot；〃　he　growled。　

〃It　is　a　pleasure　to　me；　yes；〃　cried　Poirot　placidly。　

〃It　is　as　well　you　are　in　France；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃We　are　made　of　sterner　stuff　in　the　States。　Business　es　before　pleasure　there。〃　

Poirot　did　not　take　offence；　indeed；　he　smiled　gently　and　confidingly　at　the　irate　millionaire。　

〃Do　not　enrage　yourself；　I　beg　of　you。　Everyone　has　his　own　methods。　Me；　I　have　always　found　it　a　delightful　and　pleasing　idea　to　bine　business　and　pleasure　together。〃　

He　glanced　at　the　other　two。　They　were　deep　in　conversation；　absorbed　in　each　other。　Poirot　nodded　his　head　in　satisfaction；　and　then　leant　towards　the　millionaire；　lowering　his　voice　as　he　did　so。　

〃It　is　not　only　for　pleasure　that　I　am　here；　M。　Van　Aldin。　Observe　just　opposite　us　that　ill　old　man　…　the　one　with　the　yellow　face　and　the　venerable　beard。〃　

〃Well；　what　of　him？〃　

〃That；〃　Poirot　said；　〃is　M。　Papopolous。〃　

〃A　Greek；　eh？〃　

〃As　you　say　…　a　Greek。　He　is　a　dealer　in　antiques　of　world…wide　reputation。　He　has　a　small　shop　in　Paris；　and　he　is　suspected　by　the　police　of　being　something　more。〃　

〃What？〃　

〃A　receiver　of　stolen　goods；　especially　jewels。　There　is　nothing　as　to　the　re…cutting　and　re…setting　of　gems　that　he　does　not　know。　He　deals　with　the　highest　in　Europe　and　with　the　lowest　of　the　riff…raff　of　the　underworld。