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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ace。　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　step　across　to　the　Casino　and　have　our　little　flutter　at　the　roulette　table；〃　cried　Poirot　gaily。

At　the　Casino　the　party　separated；　Poirot　devoting　himself　solely　to　Zia；　whilst　Papopolous　himself　drifted　away。

Poirot　was　not　fortunate；　but　Zia　had　a　run　of　good　luck；　and　had　soon　won　a　few　thousand　francs。

〃It　would　be　as　well；〃　she　observed　drily　to　Poirot；　〃if　I　stopped　now。〃　

Poirot's　eyes　twinkled。　

〃Superb！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　are　the　daughter　of　your　father；　Mademoiselle　Zia。　To　know　when　to　stop。　Ah！　that　is　the　art。〃　

He　looked　round　the　rooms。　

〃I　cannot　see　your　father　anywhere　about；〃　he　remarked　carelessly。　〃I　will　fetch　your　cloak　for　you；　Mademoiselle；　and　we　will　go　out　in　the　gardens。〃　

He　did　not；　however；　go　straight　to　the　cloak…room。　His　sharp　eyes　had　seen　but　a　little　while　before　the　departure　of　M。　Papopolous。　

He　was　anxious　to　know　what　had　bee　of　the　wily　Greek。　He　ran　him　to　earth　unexpectedly　in　the　big　entrance　hall。　

He　was　standing　by　one　of　the　pillars；　talking　to　a　lady　who　had　just　arrived。　The　lady　was　Mirelle。　

Poirot　sidled　unostentatiously　round　the　room。　He　arrived　at　the　other　side　of　the　pillar；　and　unnoticed　by　the　two　who　were　talking　together　in　an　animated　fashion　…　or　rather；　that　is　to　say；　the　dancer　was　talking；　Papopolous　contributing　an　occasional　monosyllable　and　a　good　many　expressive　gestures。　

〃I　tell　you　I　must　have　time；〃　the　dancer　was　saying；　〃If　you　give　me　time　I　will　get　the　money。〃　

〃To　wait　…〃　the　Greek　shrugged　his　shoulders　…　〃it　is　awkward。〃　

〃Only　a　very　little　while；〃　pleaded　the　other。　〃Ah！　but　you　must！　A　week　…　ten　days　…　that　is　all　I　ask。　You　can　be　sure　of　your　affair。　The　money　will　be　forthing。〃　

Papopolous　shifted　a　little　and　looked　round　him　uneasily　…　to　find　Poirot　almost　at　his　elbow　with　a　beaming　innocent　face。　

〃Ah！　vous　voilà；　M。　Papopolous。　I　have　been　looking　for　you。　It　is　permitted　that　I　take　Mademoiselle　Zia　for　a　little　turn　in　the　gardens？　Good　evening；　Mademoiselle。〃　He　bowed　very　low　to　Mirelle。　〃A　thousand　pardons　that　I　did　not　see　you　immediately。〃　

The　dancer　accepted　his　greetings　rather　impatiently。　She　was　clearly　annoyed　at　the　interruption　of　her　tête…а…tête。　Poirot　was　quick　to　take　the　hint。　Papopolous　had　already　murmured：　〃Certainly　…　but　certainly；〃　and　Poirot　withdrew　forthwith。　He　fetched　Zia's　cloak；　and　together　they　strolled　out　into　the　gardens。　

〃This　is　where　the　suicides　take　place；〃　said　Zia。　

Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃So　it　is　said。　Men　are　foolish；　are　they　not；　Mademoiselle？　To　eat；　to　drink；　to　breathe　the　good　air；　it　is　a　very　pleasant　thing；　Mademoiselle。　One　is　foolish　to　leave　all　that　simply　because　one　has　no　money　…　or　because　the　heart　aches。　L'amour；　it　causes　many　fatalities；　does　it　not？〃　

Zia　laughed。　

〃You　should　not　laugh　at　love；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　Poirot；　shaking　an　energetic　forefinger　at　her。　〃You　who　are　young　and　beautiful。〃　

〃Hardly　that；〃　said　Zia；　〃you　forget　that　I　am　thirty…three；　M。　Poirot。　I　am　frank　with　you；　because　it　is　no　good　being　otherwise。　As　you　told　my　father；　it　is　exactly　seventeen　years　since　you　aided　us　in　Paris　that　time。〃　

〃When　I　look　at　you；　it　seems　much　less；〃　said　Poirot　gallantly。　〃You　were　then　very　much　as　you　are　now；　Mademoiselle；　a　little　thinner；　a　little　paler；　a　little　more　serious。　Sixteen　years　old　and　fresh　from　your　pension。　Not　quite　the　petite　pensionnaire；　not　quite　a　woman。　You　were　very　delicious；　very　charming；　Mademoiselle　Zia；　others　thought　so　too；　without　doubt。〃　

〃At　sixteen；〃　said　Zia；　〃one　is　simple　and　a　little　fool。〃　

〃That　may　be；〃　said　Poirot；　〃yes；　that　well　may　be。　At　sixteen　one　is　credulous；　is　one　not？　One　believes　what　one　is　told。〃　

If　he　saw　the　quick　sideways　glance　that　the　girl　shot　at　him；　he　pretended　not　to　have　done　so。　He　continued　dreamily：　〃It　was　a　curious　affair　that；　altogether。　Your　father；　Mademoiselle；　has　never　understood　the　true　inwardness　of　it。〃　

〃No？〃　

〃When　he　asked　me　for　details；　for　explanations；　I　said　to　him　thus：　'Without　scandal；　I　have　got　back　for　you　that　which　was　lost。　You　must　ask　no　questions。'　Do　you　know；　Mademoiselle；　why　I　said　these　things？〃　

〃I　have　no　idea；〃　said　the　girl　coldly。　

〃It　was　because　I　had　a　soft　spot　in　my　heart　for　a　little　pensionnaire；　so　pale；　so　thin；　so　serious。〃　

〃I　don't　understand　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　cried　Zia　angrily。　

〃Do　you　not；　Mademoiselle？　Have　you　forgotten　Antonio　Pirezzio？〃　

He　heard　the　quick　intake　of　her　breath　…　almost　a　gasp。　

〃He　came　to　work　as　an　assistant　in　the　shop；　but　not　thus　could　he　have　got　hold　of　what　he　wanted。　An　assistant　can　lift　his　eyes　to　his　master's　daughter；　can　he　not？　If　he　is　young　and　handsome　with　a　glib　tongue。　And　since　they　cannot　make　love　all　the　time；　they　must　occasionally　talk　of　things　that　interest　them　both　…　such　as　that　very　interesting　thing　which　was　temporarily　in　M。　Papopolous'　possession。　And　since；　as　you　say；　Mademoiselle；　the　young　are　foolish　and　credulous；　it　was　easy　to　believe　him　and　to　give　him　a　sight　of　that　particular　thing；　to　show　him　where　it　was　kept。　And　afterwards　when　it　is　gone　…　when　the　unbelievable　catastrophe　has　happened。　Alas！　the　poor　little　pensionnaire。　What　a　terrible　position　she　is　in。　She　is　frightened；　the　poor　little　one。　To　speak　or　not　to　speak？　And　then　there　es　along　that　excellent　fellow；　Hercule　Poirot。　Almost　a　miracle　it　must　have　been；　the　way　things　arranged　themselves。　The　priceless　heirlooms　are　restored　and　there　are　no　awkward　questions。〃　

Zia　turned　on　him　fiercely。　

〃You　have　known　all　the　time？　Who　told　you？　Was　it　…　was　it　Antonio？〃　

Poirot　shook　his　head。　

〃No　one　told　me；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　guessed。　It　was　a　good　guess；　was　it　not；　Mademoiselle？　You　see；　unless　you　are　good　at　guessing；　it　is　not　much　use　being　a　detective。〃　

The　girl　walked　along　beside　him　for　some　minutes　in　silence。　Then　she　said　in　a　hard　voice：　

〃Well；　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it；　are　you　going　to　tell　my　father？〃　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot　sharply。　〃Certainly　not。〃　

She　looked　at　him　curiously。　

〃You　want　something　from　me？〃　

〃I　want　your　help；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃What　makes　you　think　that　I　can　help　you？〃　

〃I　do　not　think　so。　I　only　hope　so。〃　

〃And　if　I　do　not　help　you；　then　…　you　will　tell　my　father？〃　

〃But　no；　but　no！　Disembarrass　yourself　of　that　idea；　Mademoiselle。　I　am　not　a　blackmailer。　I　do　not　hold　your　secret　over　your　head　and　threaten　you　with　it。〃　

〃If　I　refuse　to　help　you　…〃　began　the　girl　slowly。　

〃Then　you　refuse；　and　that　is　that。〃　

〃Then　why　…〃　she　stopped。　

〃Listen；　and　I　will　tell　you　why。　Women；　Mademoiselle；　are　generous。　If　they　can　render　a　service　to　one　who　has　rendered　a　service　to　them；　they　will　do　it。　I　was　generous　once　to　you；　Mademoiselle。　When　I　might　have　spoken；　I　held　my　tongue。〃　

There　was　another　silence；　then　the　girl　said；　〃My　father　gave　you　a　hint　the　other　day。〃　

〃It　was　very　kind　of　him。〃　

〃I　do　not　think；〃　said　Zia　slowly；　〃that　there　is　anyt