蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第28部分

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es　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。　His　Grace　shipped　him　to　Australia；　and　I　hear　he　was　convicted　out　there　under　another　name。　Very　odd；　sir；　but　there　it　is。　The　young　gentleman；　I　need　hardly　say；　was　not　in　want　financially。〃　

Poirot　nodded　his　head　slowly。　

〃Love　of　excitement；〃　he　murmured；　〃and　a　little　kink　in　the　brain　somewhere。　I　wonder　now　…〃　

He　drew　out　the　telegram　from　his　pocket　and　read　it　again。　

〃Then　there　was　Lady　Mary　Fox's　daughter；〃　continued　the　valet　in　a　mood　of　reminiscence。　〃Swindled　trades…people　something　shocking；　she　did。　Very　worrying　to　the　best　families；　if　I　may　say　so；　and　there　are　many　other　queer　cases　I　could　mention。〃　

〃You　have　a　wide　experience；　Georges；〃　murmured　Poirot。　〃I　often　wonder　having　lived　so　exclusively　with　titled　families　that　you　demean　yourself　by　ing　as　a　valet　to　me。　I　put　it　down　to　love　of　excitement　on　your　part。〃　

〃Not　exactly；　sir；〃　said　George。　〃I　happened　to　see　in　Society　Snippets　that　you　had　been　received　at　Buckingham　Palace。　That　was　just　when　I　was　looking　for　a　new　situation。　His　Majesty；　so　it　said；　had　been　most　gracious　and　friendly　and　thought　very　highly　of　your　abilities。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Poirot；　〃one　always　likes　to　know　the　reason　for　things。〃　

He　remained　in　thought　for　a　few　moments　and　then　said：　

〃You　rang　up　Mademoiselle　Papopolous？〃　

〃Yes；　sir；　she　and　her　father　will　be　pleased　to　dine　with　you　tonight。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully。　He　drank　off　his　chocolate；　set　the　cup　and　saucer　neatly　in　the　middle　of　the　tray；　and　spoke　gently；　more　to　himself　than　to　the　valet。　

〃The　squirrel；　my　good　Georges；　collects　nuts。　He　stores　them　up　in　the　autumn　so　that　they　may　be　of　advantage　to　him　later。　To　make　a　success　of　humanity；　Georges；　we　must　profit　by　the　lessons　of　those　below　us　in　the　animal　kingdom。　I　have　always　done　so。　I　have　been　the　cat；　watching　at　the　mouse　hole。　I　have　been　the　good　dog　following　up　the　scent；　and　not　taking　my　nose　from　the　trail。　And　also；　my　good　Georges；　I　have　been　the　squirrel。　I　have　stored　away　the　little　fact　here；　the　little　fact　there。　I　go　now　to　my　store　and　I　take　out　one　particular　nut；　a　nut　that　I　stored　away　…　let　me　see；　seventeen　years　ago。　You　follow　me；　Georges？〃　

〃I　should　hardly　have　thought；　sir；〃　said　George；　〃that　nuts　would　have　kept　so　long　as　that；　though　I　know　one　can　do　wonders　with　preserving　bottles。〃　

Poirot　looked　at　him　and　smiled。

Chapter　28　

POIROT　PLAYS　THE　SQUIRREL

Poirot　started　to　keep　his　dinner　appointment　with　a　margin　of　three　quarters　of　an　hour　to　spare。　He　had　an　object　in　this。　The　car　took　him；　not　straight　to　Monte　Carlo；　but　to　Lady　Tamplin's　house　at　Cap　Martin；　where　he　asked　for　Miss　Grey。　The　ladies　were　dressing　and　Poirot　was　shown　into　a　small　salon　to　wait；　and　here；　after　a　lapse　of　three　or　four　minutes；　Lenox　Tamplin　came　to　him。　

〃Katherine　is　not　quite　ready　yet；〃　she　said。　〃Can　I　give　her　a　message；　or　would　you　rather　wait　until　she　es　down？〃　

Poirot　looked　at　her　thoughtfully。　He　was　a　minute　or　two　in　replying；　as　though　something　of　great　weight　hung　upon　his　decision。　Apparently　the　ansattered。　

〃No；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃no；　I　do　not　think　it　is　necessary　that　I　should　wait　to　see　Mademoiselle　Katherine。　I　think；　perhaps；　that　it　is　better　that　I　should　not。　These　things　are　sometimes　difficult。〃　

Lenox　waited　politely；　her　eyebrows　slightly　raised。　

〃I　have　a　piece　of　news；〃　continued　Poirot。　〃You　will；　perhaps；　tell　your　friend。　M。　Kettering　was　arrested　tonight　for　the　murder　of　his　wife。〃　

〃You　want　me　to　tell　Katherine　that？〃　asked　Lenox。　She　breathed　rather　hard；　as　though　she　had　been　running；　her　face；　Poirot　thought；　looked　white　and　strained　…　rather　noticeably　so。　

〃If　you　please；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃Why？〃　said　Lenox。　〃Do　you　think　Katherine　will　be　upset？　Do　you　think　she　cares？〃　

〃I　don't　know；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　Poirot。　〃See；　I　admit　it　frankly。　As　a　rule　I　know　everything；　but　in　this　case；　I　…　well；　I　do　not。　You；　perhaps；　know　better　than　I　do。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Lenox；　〃I　know　…　but　I　am　not　going　to　tell　you　all　the　same。〃　

She　paused　for　a　minute　or　two；　her　dark　brows　drawn　together　in　a　frown。　

〃You　believe　he　did　it？〃　she　said　abruptly。　Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃The　police　say　so。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Lenox；　〃hedging；　are　you？　So　there　is　something　to　hedge　about。〃　

Again　she　was　silent；　frowning。　Poirot　said　gently：　

〃You　have　known　Derek　Kettering　a　long　time；　have　you　not？〃　

〃Off　and　on　ever　since　I　was　a　kid；〃　said　Lenox　gruffly。　

Poirot　nodded　his　head　several　times　without　speaking。　

ents　Lenox　drew　forward　a　chair　and　sat　down　on　it；　her　elbows　on　the　table　and　her　face　supported　by　her　hands。　Sitting　thus；　she　looked　directly　across　the　table　at　Poirot。　

〃What　have　they　got　to　go　on？〃　she　demanded。　〃Motive；　I　suppose。　Probably　came　into　money　at　her　death。〃　

〃He　came　into　two　million。〃　

〃And　if　she　had　not　died　he　would　have　been　ruined？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃But　there　must　have　been　more　than　that；〃　persisted　Lenox。　〃He　travelled　by　the　same　train；　I　know；　but　…　that　would　not　be　enough　to　go　on　by　itself。〃　

〃A　cigarette　case　with　the　letter　'K'　on　it　which　did　not　belong　to　Mrs　Kettering　was　found　in　her　carriage；　and　he　was　seen　by　two　people　entering　and　leaving　the　partment　just　before　the　train　got　into　Lyons。〃　

〃What　two　people？〃　

〃Your　friend　Miss　Grey　was　one　of　them。　The　other　was　Mademoiselle　Mirelle；　the　dancer。〃　

〃And　he；　Derek；　what　has　he　got　to　say　about　it？〃　demanded　Lenox　sharply。　

〃He　denies　having　entered　his　wife's　partment　at　all；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃Fool！〃　said　Lenox　crisply；　frowning。　〃Just　before　Lyons；　you　say？　Does　nobody　know　when　…　when　she　died？〃　

〃The　doctors'　evidence　necessarily　cannot　be　very　definite；〃　said　Poirot；　〃they　are　inclined　to　think　that　death　was　unlikely　to　have　occurred　after　leaving　Lyons。　And　we　know　this　much；　that　a　few　moments　after　leaving　Lyons　Mrs　Kettering　was　dead。〃　

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　

Poirot　was　smiling　rather　oddly　to　himself。　

〃Someone　else　went　into　her　partment　and　found　her　dead。〃　

〃And　they　did　not　rouse　the　train？〃　

〃No。〃　

〃Why　was　that？〃　

〃Doubtless　they　had　their　reasons。〃　

Lenox　looked　at　him　sharply。　

〃Do　you　know　the　reason？〃　

〃I　think　so　…　yes。〃　

Lenox　sat　still　turning　things　over　in　her　mind。　Poirot　watched　her　in　silence。　At　last　he　looked　up。　A　soft　colour　had　e　into　her　cheeks　and　her　eyes　were　shining。　

〃You　think　someone　on　the　train　must　have　killed　her；　but　that　need　not　be　so　at　all。　What　is　to　stop　anyone　swinging　themselves　on　to　the　train　when　it　stopped　at　Lyons？　They　could　go　straight　to　her　partment；　strangle　her；　and　take　the　rubies　and　drop　off　the　train　again　without　anyone　being　the　wiser。　She　may　have　been　actually　killed　while　the　train　was　in　Lyons　station。　Then　she　would　have　been　alive　when　Derek　went　in；　and　dead　when　the　other　person　found　her。〃　

Poirot　leant　back　in　his　chair。　He　drew　a　deep　breath。　He　looked　across　at　the　girl　and　nodded　his　head　three　times；　then　he　heaved　a　sigh。　

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　〃what　you　have　said　there　is　very　just　…　very　true。　I　was　struggling　in　darkness；　and　you　have　shown　me　a　light。　There　was　a　point　that　puzzled　me　and　you　have　made　it　plain。〃　

He　got　up。　

〃And　Derek？〃　said　Lenox。

〃Who　knows？〃　said　Poirot；　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders。　〃But　I　will　tell　you　this；　Mademoiselle。　I　am　not　satisfied；　no；　I；　Hercule　Poirot；　am　not　yet　satisfied。　It　may　be　that　this　very　night　I　shall　learn　something　more。　At　least；　I　go　to　try。〃

〃You　are　meeting　someone？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Someone　who　knows　something？〃

〃Someone　who　might　know　something。　In　these　matters　one　must　leave　no　stone　unturned。　Au　revoir；　Mademoiselle。〃

Lenox　acpanied　him　to　the　door。

〃Have　I　…　helped？〃　she　asked。

Poirot's　face　softened　as　he　looked　up　at　her　standing　on　the　doorstep　above　him。

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle；　you　have　helped。　If　things　are　very　dark；　always　remember　that。〃

When　the　car　had　driven　off　he　relapsed　into　a　frowning　absorption；　but　in　his　eyes　was　that　faint　green　light　which　was　always　the　precursor　of　the　triumph　to　be。　He　was　a　few　minutes　late　at　the　rendezvous；　and　found　that　M。　Papopolous　and　his　daughter　had　arrived　before　him。　His　apologies　were　abject；　and　he　outdid　himself　in　politeness　and　small　attentions。　The　Greek　was　looking　particularly　benign　and　noble　this　evening；　a　sorrowful　patriarch　of　blameless　life；　Zia　was　looking　handsome　and　good…humoured。　The　dinner　was　a　pleasant　one。　Poirot　was　his　best　and　most　sparkling　self。　He　told　anecdotes；　he　made　jokes；　he　paid　graceful　pliments　to　Zia　Papopolous；　and　he　told　many　interesting　incidents　of　his　career。　The　menu　was　a　carefully　selected　one；　and　the　wine　was　excellent。

At　the　close　of　dinner　M。　Papopolous　inquired　politely：　〃And　the　tip　I　gave　you？　You　have　had　your　little　flutter　on　the　horse？〃

〃I　am　in　munication　with　…　er　…　my　bookmaker；〃　replied　Poirot。

The　eyes　of　the　two　men　met。

〃A　well…known　horse；　eh？〃

〃No；〃　said　Poirot；　〃it　is　what　our　friends；　the　English；　call　a　dark　horse。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous　thoughtfully。

〃Now　we　must