ss.iftomorrowcomes-第46部分

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s。　But　there　was　one　thing　about　this　burglary　that　was　different　from　the　others。　In　the　past　the　thefts　had　not　been　discovered　until　after　the　train　had　reached　its　destination；　so　the　thieves　had　had　a　chance　to　escape。　This　was　a　different　situation。　No　one　had　disembarked　since　the　robbery；　which　meant　that　the　jewelry　still　had　to　be　on　board。
　
　〃Don't　worry；〃　the　conductor　promised　the　Fornatis。　〃You'll　get　your　jewels　back。　The　thief　is　still　on　this　train。〃
　
　He　hurried　forward　to　telephone　the　police　in　Milan。
　
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　When　the　Orient　Express　pulled　into　the　Milan　terminal；　twenty　uniformed　policemen　and　plainclothes　detectives　lined　the　station　platform；　with　orders　not　to　let　any　passengers　or　baggage　off　the　train。
　
　Luigi　Ricci；　the　inspector　in　charge；　was　taken　directly　to　the　Fornati　partment。
　
　If　anything；　Silvana　Luadi's　hysteria　had　increased。　〃Every　bit　of　jewelry　I　owned　was　in　that　jewel　case；〃　she　screamed。　〃And　none　of　it　was　insured！〃
　
　The　inspector　examined　the　empty　jewel　case。　〃You　are　sure　you　put　your　jewels　in　there　last　night；　signora？〃
　
　〃Of　course　I　am　sure。　I　put　them　there　every　night。〃　Her　luminous　eyes；　which　had　thrilled　millions　of　adoring　fans；　pooled　over　with　large　tears；　and　Inspector　Ricci　was　ready　to　slay　dragons　for　her。
　
　He　walked　over　to　the　partment　door；　bent　down；　and　sniffed　the　keyhole。　He　could　detect　the　lingering　odor　of　ether。　There　had　been　a　robbery；　and　he　intended　to　catch　the　unfeeling　bandit。
　
　Inspector　Ricci　straightened　up　and　said；　〃Do　not　worry；　signora。　There　is　no　way　the　jewels　can　be　removed　from　this　train。　We　will　catch　the　thief；　and　your　gems　will　be　returned　to　you。〃
　
　Inspector　Ricci　had　every　reason　to　be　confident。　The　trap　was　tightly　sealed；　and　there　was　no　possibility　for　the　culprit　to　get　away。
　
　One　by　one；　the　detectives　escorted　the　passengers　to　a　station　waiting　room　that　had　been　roped　off；　and　they　were　expertly　body　searched。　The　passengers；　many　of　them　people　of　prominence；　were　outraged　by　this　indignity。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Inspector　Ricci　explained　to　each　of　them；　〃but　a　million…dollar　theft　is　a　very　serious　business。〃
　
　As　each　passenger　was　led　from　the　train；　detectives　turned　their　cabins　upside　down。　Every　inch　of　space　was　examined。　This　was　a　splendid　opportunity　for　Inspector　Ricci；　and　he　intended　to　make　the　most　of　it。　When　he　recovered　the　stolen　jewels；　it　would　mean　a　promotion　and　a　raise。　His　imagination　became　inflamed。　Silvana　Luadi　would　be　so　grateful　to　him　that　she　would　probably　invite　him　to。。。　He　gave　orders　with　renewed　vigor。
　
　There　was　a　knock　at　Tracy's　cabin　door　and　a　detective　entered。　〃Excuse　me；　signorina。　There　has　been　a　robbery。　It　is　necessary　to　search　all　passengers。　If　you　will　e　with　me；　please。。。〃
　
　〃A　robbery？〃　Her　voice　was　shocked。　〃On　this　train？〃
　
　〃I　fear　so；　signorina。〃
　
　When　Tracy　stepped　out　of　her　partment；　two　detectives　moved　in；　opened　her　suitcases；　and　began　carefully　sifting　through　the　contents。
　
　At　the　end　of　four　hours　the　search　had　turned　up　several　packets　of　marijuana；　five　ounces　of　cocaine；　a　knife；　and　an　illegal　gun。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　missing　jewelry。
　
　Inspector　Ricci　could　not　believe　it。　〃Have　you　searched　the　entire　train？〃　he　demanded　of　his　lieutenant。
　
　〃Inspector；　we　have　searched　every　inch。　We　have　examined　the　engine；　the　dining　rooms；　the　bar；　the　toilets；　the　partments。　We　have　searched　the　passengers　and　crew　and　examined　every　piece　of　luggage。　I　can　swear　to　you　that　the　jewelry　is　not　on　board　this　train。　Perhaps　the　lady　imagined　the　theft。〃
　
　But　Inspector　Ricci　knew　better。　He　had　spoken　to　the　waiters；　and　they　had　confirmed　that　Silvana　Luadi　had　indeed　worn　a　dazzling　display　of　jewelry　at　dinner　the　evening　before。
　
　A　representative　of　the　Orient　Express　had　flown　to　Milan。　〃You　cannot　detain　this　train　any　longer；〃　he　insisted。　〃We　are　already　far　behind　schedule。〃
　
　Inspector　Ricci　was　defeated。　He　had　no　excuse　for　holding　the　train　any　further。　There　was　nothing　more　he　could　do。　The　only　explanation　he　could　think　of　was　that　somehow；　during　the　night；　the　thief　had　tossed　the　jewels　off　the　train　to　a　waiting　confederate。　But　could　it　have　happened　that　way？　The　timing　would　have　been　impossible。　The　thief　could　not　have　known　in　advance　when　the　corridor　would　be　clear；　when　a　conductor　or　passenger　might　be　prowling　about；　what　time　the　train　would　be　at　some　deserted　assignation　point。　This　was　a　mystery　beyond　the　inspector's　power　to　solve。
　
　〃Let　the　train　go　on；〃　he　ordered。
　
　He　stood　watching　helplessly　as　the　Orient　Express　slowly　pulled　out　of　the　station。　With　it　went　his　promotion；　his　raise；　and　a　blissful　orgy　with　Silvana　Luadi。
　
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　The　sole　topic　of　conversation　in　the　breakfast　car　was　the　robbery。
　
　〃It's　the　most　exciting　thing　that's　happened　to　me　in　years；〃　confessed　a　prim　teacher　at　a　girls'　school。　She　fingered　a　small　gold　necklace　with　a　tiny　diamond　chip。　〃I'm　lucky　they　didn't　take　this。〃
　
　〃Very；〃　Tracy　gravely　agreed。
　
　When　Alberto　Fornati　walked　into　the　dining　car；　he　caught　sight　of　Tracy　and　hurried　over　to　her。　〃You　know　what　happened；　of　course。　But　did　you　know　it　was　Fornati's　wife　who　was　robbed？〃
　
　〃No！〃
　
　〃Yes！　My　life　was　in　great　danger。　A　gang　of　thieves　crept　into　my　cabin　and　chloroformed　me。　Fornati　could　have　been　murdered　in　his　sleep。〃
　
　〃How　terrible。〃
　
　〃è　una　bella　fregatura！　Now　I　shall　have　to　replace　all　of　Silvana's　jewelry。　It's　going　to　cost　me　a　fortune。〃
　
　〃The　police　didn't　find　the　jewels？〃
　
　〃No；　but　Fornati　knows　how　the　thieves　got　rid　of　them。〃
　
　〃Really！　How？〃
　
　He　looked　around　and　lowered　his　voice。　〃An　acplice　was　waiting　at　one　of　the　stations　we　passed　during　the　night。　The　ladri　threw　the　jewels　out　of　the　train；　and…　ecco…　it　was　done。〃
　
　Tracy　said　admiringly；　〃How　clever　of　you　to　figure　that　out。〃
　
　〃Sì。〃　He　raised　his　brows　meaningfully。　〃You　will　not　forget　our　little　tryst　in　Venezia？〃
　
　〃How　could　I？〃　Tracy　smiled。
　
　He　squeezed　her　arm　hard。　〃Fornati　is　looking　forward　to　it。　Now　I　must　go　console　Silvana。　She　is　hysterical。〃
　
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　When　the　Orient　Express　arrived　at　the　Santa　Lucia　station　in　Venice；　Tracy　was　among　the　first　passengers　to　disembark。　She　had　her　luggage　taken　directly　to　the　airport　and　was　on　the　next　plane　to　London　with　Silvana　Luadi's　jewelry。
　
　Gunther　Hartog　was　going　to　be　pleased。
　
　
　
　BOOK　THREE
　Chapter　23
　
　
　
　The　seven…story　headquarters　building　of　Interpol；　the　International　Criminal　Police　Organization；　is　at　26　Rue　Armengaud；　in　the　hills　of　St。　Cloud；　about　six　miles　west　of　Paris；　discreetly　hidden　behind　a　high　green　fence　and　white　stone　walls。　The　gate　at　the　street　entrance　is　locked　twenty…four　hours　a　day；　and　visitors　are　admitted　only　after　being　scrutinized　through　a　closed…circuit　television　system。　Inside　the　building；　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　at　each　floor；　are　white　iron　gates　which　are　locked　at　night；　and　every　floor　is　equipped　with　a　separate　alarm　system　and　closed…circuit　television。
　
　The　extraordinary　security　is　mandatory；　for　within　this　building　are　kept　the　world's　most　elaborate　dossiers　with　files　on　two　and　a　half　million　criminals。　Interpol　is　a　clearinghouse　of　information　for　126　police　forces　in　78　countries；　and　coordinates　the　worldwide　activities　of　police　forces　in　dealing　with　swindlers；　counterfeiters；　narcotics　smugglers；　robbers；　and　murderers。　It　disseminates　up…to…the…second　information　by　an　updated　bulletin　called　a　circulation；　by　radio；　photo…telegraphy；　and　early…bird　satellite。　The　Paris　headquarters　is　manned　by　former　detectives　from　the　S？reté　Nationale　or　the　Paris　Préfecture。
　
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　On　an　early　May　morning　a　conference　was　under　way　in　the　office　of　Inspector　André　Trignant；　in　charge　of　Interpol　headquarters。　The　office　was　fortable　and　simply　furnished；　and　the　view　was　breathtaking。　In　the　far　distance　to　the　east；　the　Eiffel　Tower　loomed；　and　in　another　direction　the　white　dome　of　the　Sacré　Coeur　in　Montmartre　was　clearly　visible。　The　inspector　was　in　his　mid…forties；　an　attractive；　authoritative　figure；　with　an　intelligent　face；　dark　hair；　and　shrewd　brown　eyes　behind　black　horn…rimmed　glasses。　Seated　in　the　office　with　him　were　detectives　from　England；　Belgium；　France；　and　Italy。
　
　〃Gentlemen；〃　Inspector　Trignant　said；　〃I　have　received　urgent　requests　from　each　of　your　countries　for　information　about　the　rash　of　crimes　that　has　recently　sprung　up　all　over　Europe。　Half　a　dozen　countries　have　been　hit　by　an　epidemic　of　ingenious　swindles　and　burglaries；　in　which　there　are　several　similarities。　The　victims　are　of　unsavory　reputation；　there　is　never　violence　involved；　and　the　perpetrator　is　always　a　female。　We　have　reached　the　conclusion　that　we　are　facing　an　international　gang　of　women。　We　have　identi…kit　pictures　based　on　the　descriptions　by　victims　and　random　witnesses。　As　you　will　see；　none　of　the　women　in　the　pictures　is　alike。　Some　are　blond；　some　brunet。　They　have　variously　been　reported　as　being　English；　French；　Spanish；　Italian；　American…　or　Texan。〃
　
　Inspector　Trignant　pressed　a　switch；　and　a　series　of　pictures　began　to　appear　on　the　wall　screen。　〃Here　you　see　an　identi…kit　sketch　of　a　brunet　with　short　hair。〃　He　pressed　the　button　again。　〃Here　is　a　young　blonde　with　a　shag　cut。。。。　Here　is　another　blonde　with　a　perm。。。　a　brunet　with　a　pageboy。。。。　Here　is　an　older　woman　with　a　French　twist。。。　a　young　woman　with　blond　streaks。。。　an　older　woman　with　a　coup　sauvage。　He　turned　off　the　projector。　〃We　have　no　idea　who　the　gang's　leader　is　or　where　their　headquarters　is　located。　They　never　leave　any　clues　behind；　and　they　vanish　like　smoke　rings。　Sooner　or　later　we　will　catch　one　of　them；　and　when　we　do；　we　shall　get　them　all。　In　the　meantime；　gentlemen；　until　one　of　you　can　furnish　us　with　some　specific　information；　I　am　afraid　we　are　at　a　dead　end。。。。〃
　
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　When　Daniel　Cooper's　plane　landed　in　Paris；　he　was　met　at　Roissy…Cha