蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第17章

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〃In　what　way　did　she　plain　of　his　behaviour？〃　

〃He　was　being　seen　about　with　a　very　notorious　lady　…　the　one　we　have　been　speaking　of　…　Mirelle。〃　

〃The　dancer。　Ah…ha！　And　Madame　Kettering　objected？　Was　she　very　devoted　to　her　husband？〃　

〃I　would　not　say　that；〃　said　Van　Aldin　hesitating　a　little。　

〃It　was　not　her　heart　that　suffered；　it　was　her　pride　…　is　that　what　you　would　say？〃　

〃Yes；　I　suppose　you　might　put　it　like　that。〃　

〃I　gather　that　the　marriage　had　not　been　a　happy　one　from　the　beginning？〃　

〃Derek　Kettering　is　rotten　to　the　core；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃He　is　incapable　of　making　any　woman　happy。〃　

〃He　is；　as　you　say　in　England；　a　bad　lot。　That　is　right；　is　it　not？〃　

Van　Aldin　nodded。　

〃Très　bien！　You　advise　Madame　to　seek　a　divorce；　she　agrees；　you　consult　your　solicitors。　When　does　M。　Kettering　get　news　of　what　is　in　the　wind？〃　

〃I　sent　for　him　myself；　and　explained　the　course　of　action　I　proposed　to　take。〃　

〃And　what　did　he　say？〃　murmured　Poirot　softly。　

Van　Aldin's　face　darkened　at　the　remembrance。　

〃He　was　infernally　impudent。〃　

〃Excuse　the　question；　Monsieur；　but　did　he　refer　himself　to　le　te　de　la　Roche？〃　

〃Not　by　name；〃　growled　the　other　unwillingly；　〃but　he　showed　himself　cognizant　of　the　affair。〃　

〃What；　if　I　may　ask；　was　M。　Kettering's　financial　position　at　the　time？〃　

〃How　do　you　suppose　I　should　know　that？〃　asked　Van　Aldin；　after　a　very　brief　hesitation。　

〃It　seemed　likely　to　me　that　you　would　inform　yourself　on　that　point。〃　

〃Well　…　you　are　quite　right；　I　did。　I　discovered　that　Kettering　was　on　the　rocks。〃　

〃And　now　he　has　inherited　two　million　pounds！　Ma　foi　…　it　is　a　strange　thing；　is　it　not？〃　

Van　Aldin　looked　at　him　sharply。　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　

〃I　moralize；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　reflect；　I　speak　the　philosophy。　But　to　return　to　where　we　were。　Surely　M。　Kettering　did　not　propose　to　allow　himself　to　be　divorced　without　making　a　fight　for　it？〃　

Van　Aldin　did　not　answer　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　he　said：　

〃I　don't　exactly　know　what　his　intentions　were。〃　

〃Did　you　hold　any　further　munications　with　him？〃　

Again　a　slight　pause；　then　Van　Aldin　said：　〃No。〃　

Poirot　stopped　dead；　took　off　his　hat；　and　held　out　his　hand。　

〃I　must　wish　you　good…day；　Monsieur。　I　can　do　nothing　for　you。〃　

〃What　are　you　getting　at？〃　demanded　Van　Aldin　angrily。　

〃If　you　do　not　tell　me　the　truth；　I　can　do　nothing。〃　

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃　

〃I　think　you　do。　You　may　rest　assured；　M。　Van　Aldin；　that　I　know　how　to　be　discreet。〃　

〃Very　well；　then；〃　said　the　millionaire。　〃I'll　admit　that　I　was　not　speaking　the　truth　just　now。　I　did　have　further　munication　with　my　son…in…law。〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃To　be　exact；　I　sent　my　secretary；　Major　Knighton；　to　see　him；　with　instructions　to　offer　him　the　sum　of　one　hundred　thousand　pounds　in　cash　if　the　divorce　went　through　undefended。〃　

〃A　pretty　sum　of　money；〃　said　Poirot　appreciatively；　〃and　the　answer　of　Monsieur；　your　son…in…law？〃　

〃He　sent　back　word　that　I　could　go　to　hell；〃　replied　the　millionaire　succinctly。　

〃Ah！〃　said　Poirot。　

He　betrayed　no　emotion　of　any　kind。　At　the　moment　he　was　engaged　in　methodically　recording　facts。　

〃Monsieur　Kettering　has　told　the　police　that　he　neither　saw　nor　spoke　to　his　wife　on　the　journey　from　England。　Are　you　inclined　to　believe　that　statement；　Monsieur？〃　

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃He　would　take　particular　pains　to　keep　out　of　her　way；　I　should　say。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃Because　he　had　got　that　woman　with　him。〃　

〃Mirelle？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃How　did　you　e　to　know　that　fact？〃　

〃A　man　of　mine；　whom　I　had　put　on　to　watch　him；　reported　to　me　that　they　had　both　left　by　that　train。〃　

〃I　see；〃　said　Poirot。　〃In　that　case；　as　you　said　before；　he　would　not　be　likely　to　attempt　to　hold　any　munication　with　Madame　Kettering。〃　

The　little　man　fell　silent　for　some　time。　

Van　Aldin　did　not　interrupt　his　meditation。

Chapter　17　

AN　ARISTOCRATIC　GENTLEMAN

〃You　have　been　to　the　Riviera　before；　Georges？〃　said　Poirot　to　his　valet　the　following　morning。　

George　was　an　intensely　English；　rather　wooden…faced　individual。　

〃Yes；　sir。　I　was　here　two　years　ago　when　I　was　in　the　service　of　Lord　Edward　Frampton。〃　

〃And　today；〃　murmured　his　master；　〃you　are　here　with　Hercule　Poirot。　How　one　mounts　in　the　world！〃　

The　valet　made　no　reply　to　this　observation。　After　a　suitable　pause　he　asked：　

〃The　brown　lounge　suit；　sir？　The　wind　is　somewhat　chilly　today。〃　

〃There　is　a　grease　spot　on　the　waistcoat；〃　objected　Poirot。　〃A　morceau　of　Filet　de　sole　a　la　Jeate　alighted　there　when　I　was　lunching　at　the　Ritz　last　Tuesday。〃　

〃There　is　no　spot　there　now；　sir；〃　said　George　reproachfully。　〃I　have　removed　it。〃　

〃Très　bien！〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　am　pleased　with　you；　Georges。〃　

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　

There　was　a　pause；　and　then　Poirot　murmured　dreamily：　

〃Supposing；　my　good　Georges；　that　you　had　been　born　in　the　same　social　sphere　as　your　late　master；　Lord　Edward　Frampton　…　that；　penniless　yourself；　you　had　married　an　extremely　wealthy　wife；　but　that　that　wife　proposed　to　divorce　you；　with　excellent　reasons；　what　would　you　do　about　it？〃　

〃I　should　endeavour；　sir；〃　replied　George；　〃to　make　her　change　her　mind。〃　

〃By　peaceful　or　by　forcible　methods？〃　

George　looked　shocked。　

〃You　will　excuse　me；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃but　a　gentleman　of　the　aristocracy　would　not　behave　like　a　Whitechapel　coster。　He　would　not　do　anything　low。〃　

〃Would　he　not；　Georges？　I　wonder　now？　Perhaps　you　are　right。〃　

There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　George　went　to　it　and　opened　it　a　discreet　inch　or　two。　A　low　murmured　colloquy　went　on；　and　then　the　valet　returned　to　Poirot。　〃A　note；　sir。〃　

Poirot　took　it。　It　was　from　M。　Caux；　the　missary　of　Police。　

〃We　are　about　to　interrogate　the　te　de　la　Roche。　The　Juge　d'Instruction　begs　that　you　will　be　present。〃　

〃Quickly；　my　suit；　Georges。　I　must　hasten　myself。〃　

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　spick　and　span　in　his　brown　suit；　Poirot　entered　the　Examining　Magistrate's　room。　M。　Caux　was　already　there；　and　both　he　and　M。　Carrege　greeted　Poirot　with　polite　empressement。　

〃The　affair　is　somewhat　discouraging；〃　murmured　M。　Caux。　

〃It　appears　that　the　te　arrived　in　Nice　the　day　before　the　murder。〃　

〃If　that　is　true；　it　will　settle　your　affair　nicely　for　you；〃　responded　Poirot。　

M。　Carrege　cleared　his　throat。　

〃We　must　not　accept　this　alibi　without　very　cautious　inquiry；〃　he　declared。　He　struck　the　bell　upon　the　table　with　his　hand。　In　another　minute　a　tall　dark　man；　exquisitely　dressed；　with　a　somewhat　haughty　cast　of　countenance；　entered　the　room。　So　very　aristocratic…looking　was　the　Count；　that　it　would　have　seemed　sheer　heresy　even　to　whisper　that　his　father　had　been　an　obscure　corn…chandler　in　Nantes　…　which；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　was　the　case。　Looking　at　him；　one　would　have　been　prepared　to　swear　that　innumerable　ancestors　of　his　must　have　perished　by　the　guillotine　in　the　French　Revolution。〃　

〃I　am　here；　gentlemen；〃　said　the　Count　haughtily。　〃May　I　ask　why　you　wish　to　see　me？〃　

〃Pray　be　seated；　Monsieur　le　te；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　politely。　〃It　is　the　affair　of　the　death　of　Madame　Kettering　that　we　are　investigating。〃　

〃The　death　of　Madame　Kettering？　I　do　not　understand。〃　

〃You　were　…　ahem！　…　acquainted　with　the　lady；　I　believe；　Monsieur　le　te？〃　

〃Certainly　I　was　acquainted　with　her。　What　has　that　to　do　with　the　matter？〃　

Sticking　an　eyeglass　in　his　eye；　he　looked　coldly　round　the　room；　his　glance　resting　longest　on　Poirot；　who　was　gazing　at　him　with　a　kind　of　simple；　innocent　admiration　which　was　most　pleasing　to　the　Count's　vanity。　M。　Carrege　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　cleared　his　throat。　

〃You　do　not　perhaps　know；　Monsieur　le　te　…〃　he　paused　…　〃that　Madame　Kettering　was　murdered？〃　

〃Murdered？　Mon　Dieu；　how　terrible！〃　

The　surprise　and　the　sorrow　were　excellently　done　…　so　well　done；　indeed；　as　to　seem　wholly　natural。　

〃Madame　Kettering　was　strangled　between　Paris　and　Lyons；〃　continued　M。　Carrege；　〃and　her　jewels　were　stolen。〃　

〃It　is　iniquitous！〃　cried　the　Count　warmly；　〃the　police　should　do　something　about　these　train　bandits。　Nowadays　no　one　is　safe。〃　

〃In　Madame's　handbag；〃　continued　the　Judge；　〃we　found　a　letter　to　her　from　you。　She　had；　it　seemed；　arranged　to　meet　you？〃　

The　Count　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　spread　out　his　hands。　

〃Of　what　use　are　concealments；〃　he　said　frankly。　〃We　are　all　men　of　the　world。　Privately　and　between　ourselves；　I　admit　the　affair。〃　

〃You　met　her　in　Paris　and　travelled　down　with　her；　I　believe？〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃That　was　the　original　arrangement；　but　by　Madame's　wish　it　was　changed。　I　was　to　meet　her　at　Hyeres。〃　

〃You　did　not　meet　her　on　the　train　at　the　Gare　de　Lyon　on　the　evening　of　the　14th？〃　

〃On　the　contrary；　I　arrived　in　Nice　on　the　morning　of　that　day；　so　what　you　suggest　is　impossible。〃　

〃Quite　so；　quite　so；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　you　would　perhaps　give　me　an　account　of　your　movements　during　the　evening　and　night　of　the　14th。〃　

The　Count　reflected　for　a　minute。　

〃I　dined　in　Monte　Carlo　at　the　Café　de　Paris。　Afterwards　I　went　to　the　Le　Sporting。　I　won　a　few　thousand　francs；〃　he　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃I　returned　home　at　perhaps　one　o'clock。〃　

〃Pardon　me；　Monsieur；　but　how　did　you　return　home？〃　

〃In　my　own　two…seater　car。〃　

〃No　one　was　with　you？〃　

〃No　one。〃　

〃You　could　produce　witnesses　in　support　of　this　statement？〃　

〃Doubtless　many　of　my　friends　saw　me　there　that　evening。　I　dined　alone。〃　

〃Your　servant　admitted　you　on　your　return　to　your　villa？〃　

〃I　let　myself　in　with　my　own　latchkey。〃　

〃Ah！〃　murmured　the　Magistrate。　

Again　he　struck　the　bell　on　the　table　with　his　hand。　The　door　opened；　and　a　messenger　appeared。　

〃Bring　in　the　maid；　Mason；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃Very　good；　Monsieur　le　Juge。〃　

Ada　Mason　was　brought　in。　

〃Will　you　be　so　good；　Mademoiselle；　as　to　look　at　this　gentleman。　To　the　best　of　your　ability　was　it　he　who　entered　your　mistress's　partment　in　Paris？〃　

The　woman　looked　long　and　searchingly　at　the　Count；　who　was；　Poirot　fancied；　rather　uneasy　under　this　scrutiny。　

〃I　could　not　say；　sir；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Mason　at　last。　〃It　might　be　and　again　it　might　not。　Seeing　as　how　I　only　saw　his　back；　it's　hard　to　say。　I　rather　think　it　was　the　gentleman。〃　

〃But　you　are　not　sure？〃　

〃No…o；〃　said　Mason　unwillingly；　〃n…no；　I　am　not　sure。〃　

〃You　have　seen　this　gentleman　before　in　Curzon　Street？〃　

Mason　shook　her　head。　

〃I　should　not　be　likely　to　see　any　visitors　that　e　to　Curzon　Street；〃　she　explained；　〃unless　they　were　staying　in　the　house。〃　

〃Very　well；　that　will　do；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　sharply。　

Evidently　he　was　disappointed。　

〃One　moment；〃　said　Poirot。　〃There　is　a　question　I　would　like　to　put　to　Mademoiselle；　if　I　may？〃　

〃Certainly；　M。　Poirot　…　certainly；　by　all　means。〃　

Poirot　addressed　himself　to　the　maid。　

〃What　happened　to　the　tickets？〃　

〃The　tickets；　sir？〃　

〃Yes；　the　tickets　from　London　to　Nice。　Did　you　or　your　mistress　have　them？〃　

〃The　mistress　had　her　own　Pullman　ticket；　sir；　the　others　were　in　my　charge。〃　

〃What　happened　to　them？〃　

〃I　gave　them　to　the　conductor　on　the　French　t