蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第27部分

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〃Is　that　you；　M。　Poirot？　I　just　wanted　to　tell　you；　Mason　came　to　me　now　of　her　own　accord。　She　has　been　thinking　it　over；　and　she　says　that　she　is　almost　certain　that　the　man　at　Paris　was　Derek　Kettering。　There　was　something　familiar　about　him　at　the　time；　she　says；　but　at　the　minute　she　could　not　place　it。　She　seems　pretty　certain　now。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Poirot；　〃thank　you；　M。　Van　Aldin。　That　advances　us。〃　

He　replaced　the　receiver；　and　stood　for　a　minute　or　two　with　a　very　curious　smile　on　his　face。　George　had　to　speak　to　him　twice　before　obtaining　an　answer。　

〃Eh？〃　said　Poirot。　〃What　is　that　that　you　say　to　me？〃　

〃Are　you　lunching　here；　sir；　or　are　you　going　out？〃　

〃Neither；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　shall　go　to　bed　and　take　a　tisane。　The　expected　has　happened；　and　when　the　expected　happens；　it　always　causes　me　emotion。〃

Chapter　25　

DEFIANCE

As　Derek　Kettering　passed　the　car；　Mirelle　leant　out。　

〃Dereek　…　I　must　speak　to　you　for　a　moment　…〃　

But；　lifting　his　hat；　Derek　passed　straight　on　without　stopping。　

When　he　got　back　to　his　hotel；　the　concierge　detached　himself　from　his　wooden　pen　and　accosted　him。　

〃A　gentleman　is　waiting　to　see　you；　Monsieur。〃　

〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　Derek。　

〃He　did　not　give　me　his　name；　Monsieur；　but　he　said　his　business　with　you　was　important；　and　that　he　would　wait。〃　

〃Where　is　he？〃　

〃In　the　little　salon；　Monsieur。　He　preferred　it　to　the　lounge　he　said；　as　being　more　private。〃　

Derek　nodded；　and　turned　his　steps　in　that　direction。　

The　small　salon　was　empty　except　for　the　visitor；　who　rose　and　bowed　with　easy　foreign　grace　as　Derek　entered。　As　it　chanced；　Derek　had　only　seen　the　te　de　la　Roche　once；　but　found　no　difficulty　in　recognizing　that　aristocratic　nobleman；　and　he　frowned　angrily。　Of　all　the　consummate　impertinence！　

〃The　te　de　la　Roche；　is　it　not？〃　he　said。　〃I　am　afraid　you　have　wasted　your　time　in　ing　here。〃　

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　the　te　agreeably。　

His　white　teeth　glittered。　

The　te's　charm　of　manner　was　usually　wasted　on　his　own　sex。　All　men；　without　exception；　disliked　him　heartily。　Derek　Kettering　was　already　conscious　of　a　distinct　longing　to　kick　the　Count　bodily　out　of　the　room。　It　was　only　the　realization　that　scandal　would　be　unfortunate　just　at　present　that　restrained　him。　He　marveled　anew　that　Ruth　could　have　cared；　as　she　certainly　had；　for　this　fellow。　A　bounder；　and　worse　than　a　bounder。　He　looked　with　distaste　at　the　Count's　exquisitely　manicured　hands。　

〃I　called；〃　said　the　te；　〃on　a　little　matter　of　business。　It　would　be　advisable　I　think；　for　you　to　listen　to　me。〃　

Again　Derek　felt　strongly　tempted　to　kick　him　out；　but　again　he　refrained。　The　hint　of　a　threat　was　not　lost　upon　him；　but　he　interpreted　it　in　his　own　way。　There　were　various　reasons　why　it　would　be　better　to　hear　what　the　te　had　to　say。　

He　sat　down　and　drummed　impatiently　with　his　fingers　on　the　table。　

〃Well；〃　he　said　sharply；　〃what　is　it？〃　

It　was　not　the　te's　way　to　e　out　into　the　open　at　once。　

〃Allow　me；　Monsieur；　to　offer　you　my　condolences　on　your　recent　bereavement。〃　

〃If　I　have　any　impertinence　from　you；〃　said　Derek　quietly；　〃you　go　out　by　that　window。〃　

He　nodded　his　head　towards　the　window　beside　the　te；　and　the　latter　moved　uneasily。　

〃I　will　send　my　friends　to　you；　Monsieur；　if　that　is　what　you　desire；〃　he　said　haughtily。　

Derek　laughed。　

〃A　duel；　eh？　My　dear　Count；　I　don't　take　you　seriously　enough　for　that。　But　I　should　take　a　good　deal　of　pleasure　in　kicking　you　down　the　Promenade　des　Anglais。〃　

The　te　was　not　at　all　anxious　to　take　offence。　He　merely　raised　his　eyebrows　and　murmured：　

〃The　English　are　barbarians。〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Derek；　〃what　is　it　you　have　to　say　to　me？〃　

〃I　will　be　frank；〃　said　the　te；　〃I　will　e　immediately　to　the　point。　That　will　suit　us　both；　will　it　not？〃　

Again　he　smiled　in　his　agreeable　fashion。　

〃Go　on；〃　said　Derek　curtly。　

The　te　looked　at　the　ceiling；　joined　the　tips　of　his　fingers　together；　and　murmured　softly：　

〃You　have　e　into　a　lot　of　money；　Monsieur。〃　

〃What　the　devil　has　that　got　to　do　with　you？〃　

The　te　drew　himself　up。　

〃Monsieur；　my　name　is　tarnished！　I　am　suspected　…　accused　…　of　foul　crime。〃　

〃The　accusation　does　not　e　from　me；〃　said　Derek　coldly；　〃as　an　interested　party　I　have　not　expressed　any　opinion。〃　

〃I　am　innocent；〃　said　the　te；　〃I　swear　before　heaven　…〃　he　raised　his　hand　to　heaven　…　〃that　I　am　innocent。〃　

〃M。　Carrege　is；　I　believe；　the　Juge　d'Instruction　in　charge　of　the　case；〃　hinted　Derek　politely。　

The　te　took　no　notice。　

〃Not　only　am　I　unjustly　suspected　of　a　crime　that　I　did　not　mit；　but　I　am　also　in　serious　need　of　money。〃　

He　coughed　softly　and　suggestively。　

Derek　rose　to　his　feet。　

〃I　was　waiting　for　that；〃　he　said　softly；　〃you　blackmailing　brute！　I　will　not　give　you　a　penny。　My　wife　is　dead；　and　no　scandal　that　you　can　make　can　touch　her　now。　She　wrote　you　foolish　letters；　I　dare　say。　If　I　were　to　buy　them　from　you　for　a　round　sum　at　this　minute；　I　am　pretty　certain　that　you　would　manage　to　keep　one　or　two　back；　and　I　will　tell　you　this；　M。　de　la　Roche；　blackmailing　is　an　ugly　word　both　in　England　and　in　France。　That　is　my　answer　to　you。　Good　afternoon。〃　

〃One　moment　…〃　the　te　stretched　out　a　hand　as　Derek　was　turning　to　leave　the　room。　〃You　are　mistaken；　Monsieur。　You　are　pletely　mistaken。　I　am；　I　hope；　a　'gentleman。'〃　

Derek　laughed。　

〃Any　letters　that　a　lady　might　write　to　me　I　should　hold　sacred。〃　He　flung　back　his　head　with　a　beautiful　air　of　nobility。　〃The　proposition　that　I　was　putting　before　you　was　of　quite　a　different　nature。　I　am；　as　I　said；　extremely　short　of　money；　and　my　conscience　might　impel　me　to　go　to　the　police　with　certain　information。〃　

Derek　came　slowly　back　into　the　room。　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　

The　te's　agreeable　smile　flashed　forth　once　more。　

〃Surely　it　is　not　necessary　to　go　into　details；〃　he　purred。　〃Seek　whom　the　crime　benefits；　they　say；　don't　they？　As　I　said　just　now；　you　have　e　into　a　lot　of　money　lately。〃　

Derek　laughed。　

〃If　that　is　all　…〃　he　said　contemptuously。　

But　the　te　was　shaking　his　head。　〃But　it　is　not　all；　my　dear　sir。　I　should　not　e　to　you　unless　I　had　much　more　precise　and　detailed　information　than　that。　It　is　not　agreeable；　Monsieur；　to　be　arrested　and　tried　for　murder。〃　

Derek　came　close　up　to　him。　His　face　expressed　such　furious　anger　that　involuntarily　the　te　drew　back　a　pace　or　two。　

〃Are　you　threatening　me？〃　the　young　man　demanded　angrily。　

〃You　shall　hear　nothing　more　of　the　matter；〃　the　te　assured　him。　

〃Of　all　the　colossal　bluffs　that　I　have　ever　struck　…〃　

The　te　raised　a　white　hand。　

〃You　are　wrong。　It　is　not　a　bluff。　To　convince　you　I　will　tell　you　this。　My　information　was　obtained　from　a　certain　lady。　It　is　she　who　holds　the　irrefutable　proof　that　you　mitted　the　murder。〃　

〃She？　Who？〃　

〃Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃　

Derek　drew　back　as　though　struck。　

〃Mirelle；〃　he　muttered。　

The　te　was　quick　to　press　what　he　took　to　be　his　advantage。　

〃A　bagatelle　of　one　hundred　thousand　francs；〃　he　said。　〃I　ask　no　more。〃　

〃Eh？〃　said　Derek　absently。　

〃I　was　saying；　Monsieur；　that　a　bagatelle　of　one　hundred　thousand　francs　would　satisfy　my　…　conscience。〃　

Derek　seemed　to　recollect　himself。　He　looked　earnestly　at　the　te。　

〃You　would　like　my　answer　now？〃　

〃If　you　please；　Monsieur。〃　

〃Then　here　it　is。　You　can　go　to　the　devil。　See？〃　

Leaving　the　te　too　astonished　to　speak；　Derek　turned　on　his　heel　and　swung　out　of　the　room。　

Once　out　of　the　hotel　he　hailed　a　taxi　and　drove　to　Mirelle's　hotel。　On　inquiring；　he　learned　that　the　dancer　had　just　e　in。　Derek　gave　the　concierge　his　card。　

〃Take　this　up　to　Mademoiselle　and　ask　if　she　will　see　me。〃　

A　very　brief　interval　elapsed；　and　then　Derek　was　bidden　to　follow　a　chasseur。　

A　wave　of　exotic　perfume　assailed　Derek's　nostrils　as　he　stepped　over　the　threshold　of　the　dancer's　apartments。　The　room　was　filled　with　carnations；　orchids；　and　mimosa。　Mirelle　was　standing　by　the　window　in　a　peignoir　of　foamy　lace。　

She　came　towards　him；　her　hands　outstretched。　

〃Derek　…　you　have　e　to　me。　I　knew　you　would。〃　

He　put　aside　the　clinging　arms　and　looked　down　on　her　sternly。　

〃Why　did　you　send　the　te　de　la　Roche　to　me？〃　

She　looked　at　him　in　astonishment；　which　he　took　to　be　genuine。　

〃I？　Send　the　te　de　la　Roche　to　you？　But　for　what？〃　

〃Apparently　…　for　blackmail；〃　said　Derek　grimly。　

Again　she　stared。　Then　suddenly　she　smiled　and　nodded　her　head。　

〃Of　course。　It　was　to　be　expected。　It　is　what　he　would　do；　ce　type　là。　I　might　have　known　it。　No；　indeed；　Dereek；　I　did　not　send　him。〃　

He　looked　at　her　piercingly；　as　though　seeking　to　read　her　mind。　

〃I　will　tell　you；〃　said　Mirelle。　〃I　am　ashamed；　but　I　will　tell　you。　The　other　day　you　prehend；　I　ade　an　eloquent　gesture。　〃My　temperament；　it　is　not　a　patient　one。　I　want　to　be　revenged　on　you；　and　so　I　go　to　the　te　de　la　Roche；　and　I　tell　him　to　go　to　the　police　and　say　so　and　so；　and　so　and　so。　But　have　no　fear；　Dereek。　Not　pletely　did　I　lose　my　head；　the　proof　rests　with　me　alone。　The　police　can　do　nothing　without　my　word；　you　understand？　And　now　…　now？〃　

She　nestled　up　close　to　him；　looking　up　at　him　with　melting　eyes。　

He　thrust　her　roughly　away　from　him。　She　stood　there；　her　breast　heaving；　her　eyes　narrowing　to　a　catlike　slit。　

〃Be　careful；　Dereek；　be　very　careful。　You　have　e　back　to　me；　have　you　not？〃　

〃I　shall　never　e　back　to　you；〃　said　Derek　steadily。　

〃Ah！〃　

More　than　ever　the　dancer　looked　like　a　cat。　Her　eyelids　flickered。　

〃So　there　is　another　woman？　The　one　with　whom　you　lunched　that　day。　Eh；　am　I　right？〃　

〃I　intend　to　ask　that　lady　to　marry　me。　You　might　as　well　know。〃　

〃That　prim　Englishwoman！　Do　you　think　that　I　will　support　that　for　one　moment？　Ah；　no。〃　Her　beautiful　lithe　body　quivered。　

〃Listen；　Dereek；　do　you　remember　that　conversation　we　had　in　London？　You　said　the　only　thing　that　could　save　you　was　the　death　of　your　wife。　You　regretted　that　she　was　so　healthy。　Then　the　idea　of　an　accident　came　to　your　brain。　And　more　than　an　accident。〃　

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Derek　contemptuously；　〃that　it　was　this　conversation　that　you　repeated　to　th