蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第2章

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hy　cast　of　countenance。　

〃Good　evening；〃　said　the　stranger。　〃Your　master　is　within？〃　

〃The　master　is　here；　but　he　does　not　see　chance　visitors　at　this　time　of　night；〃　growled　the　other。　

〃I　think　he　will　see　me。　Tell　him　that　his　friend　M。　le　Marquis　is　here。〃　

The　man　opened　the　door　a　little　wider　and　allowed　the　visitor　to　enter。　

The　man　who　gave　his　name　as　M。　le　Marquis　had　shielded　his　face　with　his　hand　as　he　spoke。　When　the　man…servant　returned　with　the　information　that　M。　Papopolous　would　be　pleased　to　receive　the　visitor　a　further　change　had　taken　place　in　the　stranger's　appearance。　The　man…servant　must　have　been　very　unobservant　or　very　well　trained　for　he　betrayed　no　surprise　at　the　small　black　satin　mask　which　hid　the　other's　features。　

Leading　the　way　to　a　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　he　opened　it　and　announced　in　a　respectful　murmur：　〃M。　le　Marquis。〃　

The　figure　which　rose　to　receive　this　strange　guest　was　an　imposing　one。　There　was　something　venerable　and　patriarchal　about　M。　Papopolous。　He　had　a　high　domed　forehead　and　a　beautiful　white　beard。　His　manner　had　in　it　something　ecclesiastical　and　benign。　

〃My　dear　friend；〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　He　spoke　in　French　and　his　tones　were　rich　and　unctuous。　

〃I　must　apologize；〃　said　the　visitor；　〃for　the　lateness　of　the　hour。〃　

〃Not　at　all。　Not　at　all；〃　said　M。　Papopolous　…　〃an　interesting　time　of　night。　You　have　had；　perhaps；　an　interesting　evening？〃　

〃Not　personally；〃　said　M。　Le　Marquis。　

〃Not　personally；〃　repeated　M。　Papopolous；　〃no；　no；　of　course　not。　And　there　is　news；　eh？〃　

He　cast　a　sharp　glance　sideways　at　the　other；　a　glance　that　was　not　ecclesiastical　or　benign　in　the　least。　

〃There　is　no　news。　The　attempt　failed。　I　hardly　expected　anything　else。〃　

〃Quite　so；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　〃anything　crude　…〃　

He　waved　his　hand　to　express　his　intense　distaste　for　crudity　in　any　form。　There　was　indeed　nothing　crude　about　M。　Papopolous　nor　about　the　goods　he　handled。　He　was　well　known　in　most　European　courts；　and　kings　called　him　Demetrius　in　a　friendly　manner。　He　had　the　reputation　for　the　most　exquisite　discretion。　That；　together　with　the　nobility　of　his　aspect；　had　carried　him　through　several　very　questionable　transactions。　

〃The　direct　attack　…〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　answers　sometimes　…　but　very　seldom。〃　

The　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃It　saves　time；〃　he　remarked；　〃and　to　fail　costs　nothing　…　or　next　to　nothing。　The　other　plan　…　will　not　fail。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　looking　at　him　keenly。　

The　other　nodded　slowly。　

〃I　have　great　confidence　in　your　…　er　…　reputation；〃　said　the　antique　dealer。　

M。　le　Marquis　smiled　gently。　

〃I　think　I　may　say；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　your　confidence　will　not　be　misplaced。〃　

〃You　have　unique　opportunities；〃　said　the　other；　with　a　note　of　envy　in　his　voice。　

〃I　make　them；〃　said　M。　le　Marquis。　

He　rose　and　took　up　the　cloak　which　he　had　thrown　carelessly　on　the　back　of　a　chair。　

〃I　will　keep　you　informed；　M。　Papopolous；　through　the　usual　channels；　but　there　must　be　no　hitch　in　your　arrangements。〃　

M。　Papopolous　was　pained。　

〃There　is　never　a　hitch　in　my　arrangements；〃　he　plained。　

The　other　smiled；　and　without　any　further　word　of　adieu　he　left　the　room；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　

M。　Papopolous　remained　in　thought　for　a　moment　stroking　his　venerable　white　beard；　and　then　moved　across　to　a　second　door　which　opened　inwards。　As　he　turned　the　handle；　a　young　woman；　who　only　too　clearly　had　been　leaning　against　it　with　her　ear　to　the　keyhole；　stumbled　headlong　into　the　room。　M。　Papopolous　displayed　neither　surprise　nor　concern。　It　。　

〃Well；　Zia？〃　he　asked。　

〃I　did　not　hear　him　go；〃　explained　Zia。　

She　was　a　handsome　young　woman；　built　on　Junoesque　lines；　with　dark　flashing　eyes　and　such　a　general　air　of　resemblance　to　M。　Papopolous　that　it　was　easy　to　see　they　were　father　and　daughter。　

〃It　is　annoying；〃　she　continued　vexedly；　〃that　one　cannot　see　through　a　keyhole　and　hear　through　it　at　the　same　time。〃　

〃It　has　often　annoyed　me；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　with　great　simplicity。　

〃So　that　is　M。　le　Marquis；〃　said　Zia　slowly。　〃Does　he　always　wear　a　mask；　father？〃　

〃Always。〃　

There　was　a　pause。　

〃It　is　the　rubies；　I　suppose？〃　asked　Zia。　

Her　father　nodded。　

〃What　do　you　think；　my　little　one？〃　he　inquired；　with　a　hint　of　amusement　in　his　beady　black　eyes。　

〃Of　M。　le　Marquis？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃I　think；〃　said　Zia　slowly；　〃that　it　is　a　very　rare　thing　to　find　a　well…bred　Englishman　who　speaks　French　as　well　as　that。〃　

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　〃so　that　is　what　you　think。〃　

As　usual；　he　did　not　mit　himself；　but　he　regarded　Zia　with　benign　approval。　

〃I　thought；　too；〃　said　Zia；　〃that　his　head　was　an　odd　shape。〃　

〃Massive；〃　said　her　father　…　〃a　trifle　massive。　But　then　that　effect　is　always　created　by　a　wig。〃　

They　both　looked　at　each　other　and　smiled。

Chapter　3　

HEART　OF　FIRE

Rufus　Van　Aldin　passed　through　the　revolving　doors　of　the　Savoy；　and　walked　to　the　reception　desk。　The　desk　clerk　smiled　a　respectful　greeting。　

〃Pleased　to　see　you　back　again；　Mr　Van　Aldin；〃　he　said。　

The　American　millionaire　nodded　his　head　in　a　casual　greeting。　

〃Everything　all　right？〃　he　asked。　

〃Yes；　sir。　Major　Knighton　is　upstairs　in　the　suite　now。〃　

Van　Aldin　nodded　again。　

〃Any　mail？〃　he　vouchsafed。　

〃They　have　all　been　sent　up；　Mr　Van　Aldin。　Oh！　wait　a　minute。〃　

He　dived　into　a　pigeon　hole；　and　produced　a　letter。　

〃Just　e　this　minute；〃　he　explained。　

Rufus　Van　Aldin　took　the　letter　from　him；　and　as　he　saw　the　handwriting；　a　woman's　flowing　hand；　his　face　was　suddenly　transformed。　The　harsh　contours　of　it　softened；　and　the　hard　line　of　his　mouth　relaxed。　He　looked　a　different　man。　He　walked　across　to　the　lift　with　the　letter　in　his　hand　and　the　smile　still　on　his　lips。　

In　the　drawing…room　of　his　suite；　a　young　man　was　sitting　at　a　desk　nimbly　sorting　correspondence　with　the　ease　born　of　long　practice。　He　sprang　up　as　Van　Aldin　entered。　

〃Hallo；　Knighton！〃　

〃Glad　to　see　you　back；　sir。　Had　a　good　time？〃　

〃So　so！〃　said　the　millionaire　unemotionally。　〃Paris　is　rather　a　one…horse　city　nowadays。　Still　…　I　got　what　I　went　over　for。〃　

He　smiled　to　himself　rather　grimly。　

〃You　usually　do；　I　believe；〃　said　the　secretary；　laughing。　

〃That's　so；〃　agreed　the　other。　

He　spoke　in　a　matter…of…fact　manner；　as　one　stating　a　well…known　fact。　Throwing　off　his　heavy　overcoat；　he　advanced　to　the　desk。　

〃Anything　urgent？〃　

〃I　don't　think　so；　sir。　Mostly　the　usual　stuff。　I　have　not　quite　finished　sorting　it　out。〃　

Van　Aldin　nodded　briefly。　He　was　a　man　who　seldom　expressed　either　blame　or　praise。　His　methods　with　those　he　employed　were　simple；　he　gave　them　a　fair　trial　and　dismissed　promptly　those　who　were　inefficient。　His　selections　of　people　were　unconventional。　

Knighton；　for　instance；　he　had　met　casually　at　a　Swiss　resort　two　months　previously。　He　had　approved　of　the　fellow；　looked　up　his　war　record；　and　found　in　it　the　explanation　of　the　limp　with　which　he　walked。　Knighton　had　made　no　secret　of　the　fact　that　he　was　looking　for　a　job；　and　indeed　diffidently　asked　the　millionaire　if　he　knew　of　any　available　post。　Van　Aldin　remembered；　with　a　grim　smile　of　amusement；　the　young　man's　plete　astonishment　when　he　had　been　offered　the　post　of　secretary　to　the　great　man　himself。　

〃But　…　but　I　have　no　experience　of　business；〃　he　had　stammered。　

〃That　doesn't　matter　a　cuss；〃　Van　Aldin　had　replied。　〃I　have　got　three　secretaries　already　to　attend　to　that　kind　of　thing。　But　I　am　likely　to　be　in　England　for　the　next　six　months；　and　I　want　an　Englishman　who　…　well；　knows　the　ropes　…　and　can　attend　to　the　social　side　of　things　for　me。〃　

So　far；　Van　Aldin　had　found　his　judgment　confirmed。　Knighton　had　proved　quick；　intelligent；　and　resourceful；　and　he　had　a　distinct　charm　of　manner。　

The　secretary　indicated　three　or　four　letters　placed　by　themselves　on　the　top　of　the　desk。　

〃It　might　perhaps　be　as　well；　sir；　if　you　glanced　at　these；〃　he　suggested。　〃The　top　one　is　about　the　Colton　agreement　…〃　

But　Rufus　Van　Aldin　held　up　a　protesting　hand。　

〃I　am　not　going　to　look　at　a　darned　thing　tonight；〃　he　declared。　〃They　can　all　wait　till　the　morning。　Except　this　one；〃　he　added；　looking　down　at　the　letter　he　held　in　his　hand。　And　again　that　strange　transforming　smile　stole　over　his　face。　

Richard　Knighton　smiled　sympathetically。　

〃Mrs　Kettering？〃　he　murmured。　〃She　rang　up　yesterday　and　today。　She　seems　very　anxious　to　see　you　at　once；　sir。〃　

〃Does　she；　now！〃　

The　smile　faded　from　the　millionaire's　face。　He　ripped　open　the　envelope　which　he　held　in　his　hand　and　took　out　the　enclosed　sheet。　As　he　read　it　his　face　darkened；　his　mouth　set　grimly　in　the　line　which　Wall　Street　knew　so　well；　and　his　brows　knit　themselves　ominously。　Knighton　turned　tactfully　away；　and　went　on　opening　letters　and　sorting　them。　A　muttered　oath　escaped　the　millionaire；　and　his　clenched　fist　hit　the　table　sharply。　

〃I'll　not　stand　for　this；〃　he　muttered　to　himself。　〃Poor　little　girl；　it's　a　good　thing　she　has　her　old　father　behind　her。〃　

He　walked　up　and　down　the　room　for　some　minutes；　his　brows　drawn　together　in　a　scowl。　Knighton　still　bent　assiduously　over　the　desk。　Suddenly　Van　Aldin　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　He　took　up　his　overcoat　from　the　chair　where　he　had　thrown　it。　

〃Are　you　going　out　again；　sir？〃　

〃Yes；　I'm　going　round　to　see　my　daughter。〃　

〃If　Colton's　people　ring　up　…〃　

〃Tell　them　to　go　to　the　devil；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　secretary　unemotionally。　

Van　Aldin　had　his　overcoat　on　by　now。　Cramming　his　hat　upon　his　head；　he　went　towards　the　door。　He　paused　with　his　hand　upon　the　handle。　

〃You　are　a　good　fellow；　Knighton；〃　he　said。　〃You　don't　worry　me　when　I　am　rattled。〃　

Knighton　smiled　a　little；　but　made　no　reply。　

〃Ruth　is　my　only　child；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃and　there　is　no　one　on　this　earth　eans　to　me。〃　

A　faint　smile　irradiated　his　face。　He　slipped　his　hand　into　his　pocket。　

〃Care　to　see　something；　Knighton？〃　

He　came　back　towards　the　secretary。　

From　his　pocket　he　drew　out　a　parcel　carelessly　wrapped　in　brown　paper。　He　tossed　off　the　wrapping　and　disclosed　a　big；　shabby；　red　velvet　case。　In　the　centre　of　it　were　some　twisted　initials　surmounted　by　a　crown。　He　snapped　the　case　open；　and　the　secretary　drew　in　his　breath　sharply。　Against　the　slightly　dingy　white　of　the　interior；　the　stones　glowed　like　blood。　

〃My　God！　sir；〃　said　Knighton。　〃Are　they　…　are　they　real？〃　

Van　Aldin　laughed　a　quiet　little　cackle　of　amusement。　

〃I　don't　wonder　at　your　asking　that。　Amongst　these　rubies　are　the　three　largest　in　the　world。　Katherine　of　Russia　wore　them；　Knighton。　That　centre　one　there　is　known　as　Heart　of　Fire。　It's　perfect　…　not　a　flaw　in　it。〃　

〃But；〃　the　secretary　murmured；　〃they　must　be　worth　a　fortune。〃　

〃Four　or　five　hundred　thousand　dollars；〃　said　Van　Aldin　nonchalantly；　〃and　that　is　apart　from　the　historical　interest。〃　

〃And　you　carry　them　about　…　like　that；　loose　in　your　pocket？〃　

Van　Aldin　laughed　amusedly。　

〃I　guess　so。　You　see；　they　are　my　little　present　for　Ruthie。〃　

The　secretary　smiled　discreetly。　

〃