蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第26部分

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Ada　Mason　retired　discreetly；　closing　the　door　noiselessly　behind　her。　

Poirot　looked　across　at　Van　Aldin；　a　faint　smile　upon　his　face。　The　millionaire　looked　thunderstruck。　

〃You　think　…　you　think　it　was　Derek？〃　he　queried；　〃but　…　everything　points　the　other　way。　Why；　the　Count　has　actually　been　caught　red…handed　with　the　jewels　on　him。〃　

〃No。〃　

〃But　you　told　me　…〃　

〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　

〃That　story　about　the　jewels。　You　showed　them　to　me。〃　

〃No。〃　

Van　Aldin　stared　at　him。　

〃You　mean　to　say　you　didn't　show　them　to　me。〃　

〃No。〃　

〃Yesterday　…　at　the　tennis？〃　

〃No。〃　

〃Are　you　crazy；　M。　Poirot；　or　am　I？〃　

〃Neither　of　us　is　crazy；〃　said　the　detective。　〃You　ask　me　a　question；　I　answer　it。　You　say　have　I　not　shown　you　the　jewels　that　day？　I　reply　…　no。　What　I　showed　you；　Van　Aldin；　was　a　first…class　imitation；　not　to　be　distinguished　except　by　an　expert　from　the　real　ones。〃　

Chapter　24　

POIROT　GIVES　ADVICE

It　took　the　millionaire　some　few　minutes　to　take　the　thing　in。　He　stared　at　Poirot　as　though　dumbfounded。　The　little　Belgian　nodded　at　him　gently。　

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it　alters　the　position；　does　it　not？〃　

〃Imitation！〃　

He　leaned　forward。　

〃All　along；　M。　Poirot；　you　have　had　this　idea？　All　along　this　is　what　you　have　been　driving　at？　You　never　believed　that　the　te　de　la　Roche　was　the　murderer？〃　

〃I　have　had　doubts；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃I　said　as　much　to　you。　Robbery　with　violence　and　murder　…〃　he　shook　his　head　energetically　…　〃no；　it　is　difficult　to　picture。　It　does　not　harmonize　with　the　personality　of　the　te　de　la　Roche。〃　

〃But　you　believe　that　he　meant　to　steal　the　rubies？〃　

〃Certainly。　There　is　no　doubt　as　to　that。　See；　I　will　recount　to　you　the　affair　as　I　see　it。　The　te　knew　of　the　rubies　and　he　laid　his　plans　accordingly。　He　made　up　a　romantic　story　of　a　book　he　was　writing；　so　as　to　induce　your　daughter　to　bring　them　with　her。　He　provided　himself　with　an　exact　duplicate。　It　is　clear；　is　it　not；　that　substitution　is　what　he　was　after。　Madame；　your　daughter；　was　not　an　expert　on　jewels。　It　would　probably　be　a　long　time　before　she　discovered　what　had　occurred。　When　she　did　so　…　well　…　I　do　not　think　she　would　prosecute　the　te。　Too　much　would　e　out。　He　would　have　in　his　possession　various　letters　of　hers。　Oh　yes；　a　very　safe　scheme　from　the　te's　point　of　view　…　one　that　he　has　probably　carried　out　before。〃　

〃It　seems　clear　enough；　yes；〃　said　Van　Aldin　musingly。　

〃It　accords　with　the　personality　of　the　te　de　la　Roche；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃Yes；　but　now　…〃　Van　Aldin　looked　searchingly　at　the　other。　〃What　actually　happened？　Tell　me　that；　M。　Poirot。〃　

Poirot　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃It　is　quite　simple；〃　he　said；　〃someone　stepped　in　ahead　of　the　te。〃　

There　was　a　long　pause。　

Van　Aldin　seemed　to　be　turning　things　over　in　his　mind。　When　he　spoke　it　was　without　beating　about　the　bush。　

〃How　long　have　you　suspected　my　son…in…law；　M。　Poirot？〃　

〃From　the　very　first。　He　had　the　motive　and　the　opportunity。　Everyone　took　for　granted　that　the　man　in　Madame's　partment　in　Paris　was　the　te　de　la　Roche。　I　thought　so；　too。　Then　you　happened　to　mention　that　you　had　once　mistaken　the　te　for　your　son…in…law。　That　told　me　that　they　were　of　the　same　height　and　build；　and　alike　in　colouring。　It　put　some　curious　ideas　in　my　head。　The　maid　had　only　been　with　your　daughter　a　short　time。　It　was　unlikely　that　she　would　know　Mr　Kettering　well　by　sight；　since　he　had　not　been　living　in　Curzon　Street；　also　the　man　was　careful　to　keep　his　face　turned　away。〃　

〃You　believe　he　…　murdered　her；〃　said　Van　Aldin　hoarsely。　

Poirot　raised　a　hand　quickly。　

〃No；　no；　I　did　not　say　that　…　but　it　is　a　possibility　…　a　very　strong　possibility。　He　was　in　a　tight　corner；　a　very　tight　corner；　threatened　with　ruin。　This　was　the　one　way　out。〃　

〃But　why　take　the　jewels？〃　

〃To　make　the　crime　appear　an　ordinary　one　mitted　by　train　robbers。　Otherwise　suspicion　might　have　fallen　on　him　straight　away。〃　

〃If　that　is　so；　what　has　he　done　with　the　rubies？〃　

〃That　remains　to　be　seen。　There　are　several　possibilities。　There　is　a　man　in　Nice　who　may　be　able　to　help；　the　man　I　pointed　out　at　the　tennis。〃　

He　rose　to　his　feet　and　Van　Aldin　rose　also　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　little　man's　shoulder。　

His　voice　when　he　spoke　was　harsh　with　emotion。　

〃Find　Ruth's　murderer　for　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　is　all　I　ask。〃　

Poirot　drew　himself　up。　

〃Leave　it　in　the　hands　of　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　superbly；　〃have　no　fears。　I　will　discover　the　truth。〃　

He　brushed　a　speck　of　fluff　from　his　hat；　smiled　reassuringly　at　the　millionaire；　and　left　the　room。　Nevertheless；　as　he　went　down　the　stairs　some　of　the　confidence　faded　from　his　face。　

〃It　is　all　very　well；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃but　there　are　difficulties。　Yes；　there　are　great　difficulties。〃　As　he　was　passing　out　of　the　hotel　he　came　to　a　sudden　halt。　A　car　had　drawn　up　in　front　of　the　door。　In　it　was　Katherine　Grey；　and　Derek　Kettering　was　standing　beside　it　talking　to　her　earnestly。　

A　minute　or　two　later　the　car　drove　off　and　Derek　remained　standing　on　the　pavement　looking　after　it。　The　expression　on　his　face　was　an　odd　one。　He　gave　a　sudden　impatient　gesture　of　the　shoulders；　sighed　deeply；　and　turned　to　find　Hercule　Poirot　standing　at　his　elbow。　In　spite　of　himself　he　started。　The　two　men　looked　at　each　other。　Poirot　steadily　and　unwaveringly　and　Derek　with　a　kind　of　light…hearted　defiance。　There　was　a　sneer　behind　the　easy　mockery　of　his　tone　when　he　spoke；　raising　his　eyebrows　slightly　as　he　did　so。　

〃Rather　a　dear；　isn't　she？〃　he　asked　easily。　

His　manner　was　perfectly　natural。　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃that　describes　Mademoiselle　Katherine　very　well。　It　is　very　English；　that　phrase　there；　and　Mademoiselle　Katherine；　she　also　is　very　English。〃　

Derek　remained　perfectly　still　without　answering。　

〃And　yet　she　is　sympathique；　is　it　not　so？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Derek；　〃there　are　not　many　like　her。〃　

He　spoke　softly；　almost　as　though　to　himself。　Poirot　nodded　significantly。　Then　he　leant　towards　the　other　and　spoke　in　a　different　tone；　a　quiet；　grave　tone　that　was　new　to　Derek　Kettering。　

〃You　will　pardon　an　old　man；　Monsieur；　if　he　says　to　you　something　that　you　may　consider　impertinent。　There　is　one　of　your　English　proverbs　that　I　would　quote　to　you。　It　says　that　'it　is　well　to　be　off　with　the　old　love；　before　being　on　with　the　new。'〃　

Kettering　turned　on　him　angrily。　〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean？〃　

〃You　enrage　yourself　at　me；〃　said　Poirot　placidly。　〃I　expected　as　much。　As　to　what　I　mean　…　I　mean；　Monsieur；　that　there　is　a　second　car　with　a　lady　in　it。　If　you　turn　your　head　you　will　see　her。〃　

Derek　spun　around。　His　face　darkened　with　anger。　

〃Mirelle；　damn　her！〃　he　muttered。　〃I　will　soon　…〃　

Poirot　arrested　the　movement　he　was　about　to　make。　

〃Is　it　wise　what　you　are　about　to　do　there？〃　he　asked　warningly。　His　eyes　shone　brightly　with　a　green　light　in　them。　But　Derek　was　past　noticing　the　warning　signs。　In　his　manner　he　was　pletely　off　his　guard。　

〃I　have　broken　with　her　utterly；　and　she　knows　it；〃　cried　Derek　angrily。　

〃You　have　broken　with　her；　yes；　but　has　she　broken　with　you？〃　

Derek　gave　a　sudden　harsh　laugh。　

〃She　won't　break　with　two　million　pounds　if　she　can　help　it；〃　he　murmured　brutally；　〃trust　Mirelle　for　that。〃　

Poirot　raised　his　eyebrows。　

〃You　have　the　outlook　cynical；〃　he　murmured。　

〃Have　I？〃　There　was　no　mirth　in　his　sudden　wide　smile。　〃I　have　lived　in　the　world　long　enough；　M。　Poirot；　to　know　that　all　women　are　pretty　much　alike。〃　His　face　softened　suddenly。　〃All　save　one。〃　

He　met　Poirot's　gaze　defiantly。　A　look　of　alertness　crept　into　his　eyes；　then　faded　again。　〃That　one；〃　he　said；　and　jerked　his　head　in　the　direction　of　Cap　Martin。　

〃Ah！〃　said　Poirot。　

This　quiescence　was　well　calculated　to　provoke　the　impetuous　temperament　of　the　other。　

〃I　know　what　you　are　going　to　say；〃　said　Derek　rapidly；　〃the　kind　of　life　I　have　led；　the　fact　that　I　am　not　worthy　of　her。　You　will　say　that　I　have　no　right　to　think　even　of　such　a　thing。　You　will　say　that　it　is　not　a　case　of　giving　a　dog　a　bad　name　…　I　know　that　it　is　not　decent　to　be　speaking　like　this　with　my　wife　dead　only　a　few　days；　and　murdered　at　that。〃　

He　paused　for　breath；　and　Poirot　took　advantage　of　the　pause　to　remark　in　his　plaintive　tone。　

〃But；　indeed；　I　have　not　said　anything　at　all。〃　

〃But　you　will。〃　

〃Eh？〃　said　Poirot。　

〃You　will　say　that　I　have　no　earthly　chance　of　marrying　Katherine。〃　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　would　not　say　that。　Your　reputation　is　bad；　yes；　but　with　women　…　never　does　that　deter　them。　If　you　were　a　man　of　excellent　character；　of　strict　morality　who　had　done　nothing　that　he　should　not　do；　and　…　possibly　everything　that　he　should　do　…　eh　bien！　then　I　should　have　grave　doubts　of　your　success。　Moral　worth；　you　understand；　it　is　not　romantic。　It　is　appreciated；　however；　by　widows。〃　

Derek　Kettering　stared　at　him；　then　he　swung　round　on　his　heel　and　went　up　to　the　waiting　car。　

Poirot　looked　after　him　with　some　interest。　He　saw　the　lovely　vision　lean　out　of　the　car　and　speak。　

Derek　Kettering　did　not　stop。　He　lifted　his　hat　and　passed　straight　on。　

〃？a　y　est；〃　said　M。　Hercule　Poirot；　〃it　is　time；　I　think；　that　I　return　chez　moi。〃　

He　found　the　imperturbable　George　pressing　trousers。　

〃A　pleasant　day；　Georges；　somewhat　fatiguing；　but　not　without　interest；〃　he　said。　

George　received　these　remarks　in　his　usual　wooden　fashion。　

〃Indeed；　sir。〃　

〃The　personality　of　a　criminal；　Georges；　is　an　interesting　matter。　Many　murderers　are　men　of　great　personal　charm。〃　

〃I　always　heard；　sir；　that　Dr　Crippen　was　a　pleasant…spoken　gentleman。　And　yet　he　cut　up　his　wife　like　so　much　mincemeat。〃　

〃Your　instances　are　always　apt；　Georges。〃　

The　valet　did　not　reply；　and　at　that　moment　the　telephone　rang。　Poirot　took　up　the　receiver。　

〃'Allo　…　'allo　…　yes；　yes；　it　is　Hercule　Poirot　who　speaks。〃　

〃This　is　Knighton。　Will　you　hold　the　line　a　minute；　M。　Poirot？　Mr　Van　Aldin　would　like　to　speak　to　you。〃　

There　was　a　moment's　pause；　then　the　millionaire's　voice　came　through。　

〃Is　that　you；　M。　Poirot？　I　just　wanted　to　tell　you；　Mason　c