蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第10部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ars　and　refused　to　budge。〃　

〃Anyway；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　hopefully；　〃she　doesn't　look　to　me　at　all　mean。　Some　people；　when　they　e　into　money；　seem　to　attach　undue　importance　to　it。〃　

〃Oh；　you'll　easily　touch　her　for　what　you　want；〃　said　Lenox；　〃and；　after　all；　that　is　all　that　matters；　isn't　it？　That　is　what　she　is　here　for。〃　

〃She　is　my　own　cousin；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　with　dignity。　

〃Cousin；　eh？〃　said　Mr　Evans；　waking　up　again。　〃I　suppose　I　call　her　Katherine；　don't　I？〃　

〃It　is　of　no　importance　at　all　what　you　call　her；　Chubby；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin。　

〃Good；〃　said　Mr　Evans；　〃then　I　will。　Do　you　suppose　she　plays　tennis？〃　he　added　hopefully。　

〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin。　〃She　has　been　a　panion；　I　tell　you。　panions　don't　play　tennis　…　or　golf。　They　might　possibly　play　golf…croquet；　but　I　have　always　understood　that　they　wind　wool　and　wash　dogs　most　of　the　day。〃　

〃O　God！〃　said　Mr　Evans；　〃do　they　really？〃　

Lenox　drifted　upstairs　again　to　Katherine's　room。　〃Can　I　help　you？〃　she　asked　rather　perfunctorily。　

On　Katherine's　disclaimer；　Lenox　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　stared　thoughtfully　at　her　guest。　

〃Why　did　you　e？〃　she　said　at　last。　〃To　us；　I　mean。　We're　not　your　sort。〃　

〃Oh；　I　am　anxious　to　get　into　Society。〃　

〃Don't　be　an　ass；〃　said　Lenox　promptly　detecting　the　flicker　of　a　smile。　〃You　know　what　I　mean　well　enough。　You　are　not　a　bit　what　I　thought　you　would　be。　I　say；　you　have　got　some　decent　clothes。〃　

She　sighed。　〃Clothes　are　no　good　to　me。　I　was　born　awkward。　It's　a　pity；　because　I　love　them。〃　

〃I　love　them　too；〃　said　Katherine；　〃but　it　has　not　been　much　use　my　loving　them　up　to　now。　Do　you　think　this　is　nice？〃　

She　and　Lenox　discussed　several　models　with　artistic　fervour。　

〃I　like　you；〃　said　Lenox　suddenly。　〃I　came　up　to　warn　you　not　to　be　taken　in　by　Mother；　but　I　think　now　that　there　is　no　need　to　do　that。　You　are　frightfully　sincere　and　upright　and　all　those　queer　things；　but　you　are　not　a　fool。　Oh　hell！　what　is　it　now？〃　

Lady　Tamplin's　voice　was　calling　plaintively　from　the　hall：　

〃Lenox；　Derek　has　just　rung　up。　He　wants　to　e　to　dinner　tonight。　Will　it　be　all　right？　I　mean；　we　haven't　got　anything　awkward；　like　quails；　have　we？〃　

Lenox　reassured　her　and　came　back　into　Katherine's　room。　Her　face　looked　brighter　and　less　sullen。　

〃I'm　glad　old　Derek　is　ing；〃　she　said；　〃you'll　like　him。〃　

〃Who　is　Derek？〃　

〃He　is　Lord　Leconbury's　son；　married　a　rich　American　woman。　Women　are　simply　potty　about　him。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃Oh；　the　usual　reason　…　very　good…looking　and　a　regular　bad　lot。　Everyone　goes　off　their　head　about　him。〃　

〃Do　you？〃　

〃Sometimes　I　do；〃　said　Lenox；　〃and　sometimes　I　think　I　would　like　to　marry　a　nice　curate　and　live　in　the　country　and　grow　things　in　frames。〃　She　paused　a　minute；　and　then　added；　〃An　Irish　curate　would　be　best；　and　then　I　should　hunt。〃　

After　a　minute　or　two　she　reverted　to　her　former　theme。　〃There　is　something　queer　about　Derek。　All　that　family　are　a　bit　potty　…　mad　gamblers；　you　know。　In　the　old　days　they　used　to　gamble　away　their　wives　and　their　estates；　and　did　most　reckless　things　just　for　the　love　of　it。　Derek　would　have　made　a　perfect　highwayman　…　debonair　and　gay；　just　the　right　manner。〃　She　moved　to　the　door。　〃Well；　e　down　when　you　like　it。〃　

Left　alone；　Katherine　gave　herself　up　to　thought。　Just　at　present　she　felt　thoroughly　ill　at　ease　and　jarred　by　her　surroundings。　

The　shock　of　the　discovery　in　the　train　and　the　reception　of　the　news　by　her　new　friends　jarred　upon　her　susceptibilities。　She　thought　long　and　earnestly　about　the　murdered　woman。　She　had　been　sorry　for　Ruth；　but　she　could　not　honestly　say　that　she　had　liked　her。　She　had　divined　only　too　well　the　ruthless　egoism　that　was　the　keynote　of　her　personality；　and　it　repelled　her。　

She　had　been　amused　and　a　trifle　hurt　by　the　other's　cool　dismissal　of　her　when　she　had　served　her　turn。　That　she　had　e　to　some　decision；　Katherine　was　quite　certain；　but　she　wondered　now　what　that　decision　had　been。　Whatever　it　was；　death　had　stepped　in　and　made　all　decisions　meaningless。　

Strange　that　it　should　have　been　so；　and　that　a　brutal　crime　should　have　been　the　ending　of　that　fateful　journey。　But　suddenly　Katherine　remembered　a　small　fact　that　she　ought；　perhaps；　to　have　told　the　police　…　a　fact　that　had　for　the　moment　escaped　her　memory。　Was　it　of　any　real　importance？　She　had　certainly　thought　that　she　had　seen　a　man　going　into　that　particular　partment？　But　she　realized　that　she　might　easily　have　been　mistaken。　It　might　have　been　the　partment　next　door；　and　certainly　the　man　in　question　could　be　no　train　robber。　She　recalled　him　very　clearly　as　she　had　seen　him　on　those　two　previous　occasions　…　once　at　the　Savoy　and　once　at　Cook's　office。　No；　doubtless　she　had　been　mistaken。　He　had　not　gone　into　the　dead　woman's　partment；　and　it　was　perhaps　as　well　that　she　had　said　nothing　to　the　police。　She　might　have　done　incalculable　harm　by　doing　so。　

She　went　down　to　join　the　others　on　the　terrace　outside。　Through　the　branches　of　mimosa；　she　looked　out　over　the　blue　of　the　Mediterranean；　and；　whilst　listening　with　half　an　ear　to　Lady　Tamplin's　chatter；　she　was　glad　that　she　had　e。　This　was　better　than　St　Mary　Mead。　

That　evening　she　put　on　the　mauvy　pink　dress　that　went　by　the　name　of　soupir　d'automne；　and　after　smiling　at　her　reflection　in　the　mirror；　went　downstairs　with；　for　the　first　time　in　her　life；　a　faint　feeling　of　shyness。　

Most　of　Lady　Tamplin's　guests　had　arrived；　and　since　noise　was　the　essential　of　Lady　Tamplin's　parties；　the　din　was　already　critic。　Chubby　rushed　up　to　Katherine；　passed　a　cocktail　upon　her；　and　took　her　under　his　wing。　

〃Oh；　here　you　are；　Derek；〃　cried　Lady　Tamplin；　as　the　door　opened　to　admit　the　last　er。　〃Now　at　last　we　can　have　something　to　eat。　I　am　starving。〃　

Katherine　looked　across　the　room。　She　was　startled。　So　this　…　was　Derek；　and　she　realized　that　she　was　not　surprised。　She　had　always　known　that　she　would　some　day　meet　the　man　whom　she　had　seen　three　times　by　such　a　curious　chain　of　coincidences。　She　thought；　too；　that　he　recognized　her。　He　paused　abruptly　in　what　he　was　saying　to　Lady　Tamplin；　and　went　on　again　as　though　with　an　effort。　They　all　went　in　to　dinner；　and　Katherine　found　that　he　was　placed　beside　her。　He　turned　to　her　at　once　with　a　vivid　smile。　

〃I　knew　I　was　going　to　meet　you　soon；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　I　never　dreamt　that　it　would　be　here。　It　had　to　be；　you　know。　Once　at　the　Savoy　and　once　at　Cook's　…　never　twice　without　three　times。　Don't　say　you　can't　remember　me　or　never　noticed　me。　I　insist　upon　your　pretending　that　you　noticed　me；　anyway。〃　

〃Oh；　I　did；〃　said　Katherine；　〃but　this　is　not　the　third　time。　It　is　the　fourth。　I　saw　you　on　the　Blue　Train。〃　

〃On　the　Blue　Train！〃　Something　undefinable　came　over　his　manner；　she　could　not　have　said　just　what　it　was。　It　was　as　though　he　had　received　a　check；　a　setback。　Then　he　said　carelessly：　

〃What　was　the　rumpus　this　morning？　Somebody　had　died；　hadn't　they？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine　slowly；　〃somebody　had　died。〃　

〃You　shouldn't　die　on　a　train；〃　remarked　Derek　flippantly。　〃I　believe　it　causes　all　sorts　of　legal　and　international　plications；　and　it　gives　the　train　an　excuse　for　being　even　later　than　usual。〃　

〃Mr　Kettering？〃　A　stout　American　lady；　who　was　sitting　opposite；　leaned　forward　and　spoke　to　him　with　the　deliberate　intonation　of　her　race。　〃Mr　Kettering；　I　do　believe　you　have　forgotten　me；　and　I　thought　you　such　a　perfectly　lovely　man。〃　

Derek　leaned　forward；　answering　her；　and　Katherine　sat　almost　dazed。　

Kettering！　That　was　the　name；　of　course！　…　she　remembered　it　now　…　but　what　a　strange；　ironical　situation！　Here　was　this　man　whom　she　had　seen　go　into　his　wife's　apartment　last　night；　who　had　left　her　safe　and　well；　and　now　he　was　sitting　there；　quite　unconscious　of　the　fate　that　had　befallen　her。　Of　that　there　was　no　doubt。　He　did　not　know。　

A　servant　was　leaning　over　Derek；　handing　him　a　note　and　murmuring　in　his　ear。　

With　a　word　of　excuse　to　Lady　Tamplin；　he　broke　it　open；　and　an　expression　of　utter　astonishment　came　over　his　face　as　he　read；　then　he　looked　at　his　hostess。　

〃This　is　most　extraordinary。　I　say；　Rosalie；　I　am　afraid　I　will　have　to　leave　you。　The　Prefect　of　Police　wants　to　see　me　at　once。　I　can't　think　what　about。〃　

〃Your　sins　have　found　you　out；〃　remarked　Lenox。　

〃They　must　have；〃　said　Derek；　〃probably　some　idiotic　nonsense；　but　I　suppose　I　shall　have　to　push　off　to　the　Prefecture。　How　dare　the　old　boy　rout　me　out　from　dinner？　It　ought　to　be　something　deadly　serious　to　justify　that；〃　and　he　laughed　as　he　pushed　back　his　chair　and　rose　to　leave　the　room。　

Chapter　13　

VAN　ALDIN　GETS　A　TELEGRAM

On　the　afternoon　of　the　15th　February　a　thick　yellow　fog　had　settled　down　on　London。　

Rufus　Van　Aldin　was　in　his　suite　at　the　Savoy　and　was　making　the　most　of　the　atmospheric　conditions　by　working　double　time。　Knighton　was　overjoyed。　He　had　found　it　difficult　of　late　to　get　his　employer　to　concentrate　on　the　matters　in　hand。　When　he　had　ventured　to　urge　certain　courses；　Van　Aldin　had　put　him　off　with　a　curt　word。　But　now　Van　Aldin　seemed　to　be　throwing　himself　into　work　with　redoubled　energy；　and　the　secretary　made　the　most　of　his　opportunities。　Always　tactful；　he　plied　the　spur　so　unobtrusively　that　Van　Aldin　never　suspected　it。　

Yet　in　the　middle　of　this　absorption　in　business　matters；　one　little　fact　lay　at　the　back　of　Van　Aldin's　mind。　A　chance　remark　of　Knighton's；　uttered　by　the　secretary　in　all　unconsciousness；　had　given　rise　to　it。　It　now　festered　unseen；　gradually　reaching　further　and　further　forward　into　Van　Aldin's　consciousness；　until　at　last；　in　spite　of　himself　he　had　to　yield　to　its　insistence。　

He　listened　to　what　Knighton　was　saying　with　his　usual　air　of　keen　attention；　but　in　reality　not　one　word　of　it　perated　his　mind。　He　nodded　automatically；　however；　and　the　secretary　turned　to　some　other　paper。　

As　he　was　sorting　them　out；　his　employer　spoke：　

〃Do　you　mind　telling　me　that　over　again；　Knighton？〃　

For　a　moment　Knighton　was　at　a　loss。　

〃You　mean　about　this；　sir？〃　He　held　up　a　closely　written　pany　report。　

〃No；　no；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃what　you　told　me　about　seeing　Ruth's　maid　in　Paris　last　night。　I　can't　make　it　out。　You　must　have　been　mistaken。〃　

〃I　can't　have　been　mistaken；　sir；　I　actually　spoke　to　her。〃　

〃Well；　tell　me　the　whole　thing　again。〃　

Knighton　plied。　

〃I　had　fixed　up　the　deal　with　Barthermers；〃　he　explained；　〃and　had　gone　back　to　the　Ritz　to　pick　up　my　traps　preparatory　to　having　dinner　and　catching　the　nine　o'clock　train　from　the　Gare　du　Nord。　At　the　reception　desk　I　sars　Kettering's　maid。　I　went　up　to　her　and　asked　if　Mrs　Kettering　was　staying　there。〃　

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Of　course。　Naturally。　And　she　told　you　that　Ruth　had　gone　on　to　the　Riviera　and　had　sent　her　to　the　Ritz　to　await　further　orders　there？〃　

〃Exactly　that；　sir。〃　

〃It　is　very　odd；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Very　odd；　indeed；　unless　the　woman　had　been　impertinent　or　something　of　that　kind。〃　

〃In　that　case；〃　objected　Knighton；　〃surely　Mrs　Kettering　would　have　paid　her　down　a　sum　of　money；　and　told　her　to　go　back　to　England。　She　would　hardly　have　sent　her　to　the　Ritz。〃　

〃No；〃　muttered　the　millionaire；　〃that's　true。〃　

He　was　about　to　say　something　further；　but　checked　himself。　He　was　fond　of　Knighton　and　liked　and　trusted　him；　but　he　could　hardly　discuss　his　daughter's　private　affairs　with　his　secretary。　He　had　already　felt　hurt　by　Ruth's　lack　of　frankness；　and　this　chance　revelation　which　had　e　to　him　did　nothing　to　allay　his　misgivings。　

Why　had　Ruth　got　rid　of　her　maid　in　Paris？　What　possible　object　or　motive　could　she　have　had　in　so　doing？　

He　reflected　for　a　moment　or　two　on　the　curious　bination　of　chance。　How　should　it　have　occurred　to　Ruth；　except　as　the　wildest　coincidence；　that　the　first　person　that　the　maid　should　run　across　in　Paris　should　be　her　father's　secretary？　Ah；　but　that　was　the　way　things　happened。　That　was　the　way　things　got　found　out。　

He　winced　at　the　last　phrase；　it　had　arisen　with　plete　naturalness　to　his　mind。　Was　there　then　'something　to　be　found　out'？　He　hated　to　put　this　question　to　himself；　he　had　no　doubt　of　the　answer。　The　answer　was　…　he　was　sure　of　it　…　Armand　de　la　Roche。　

It　was　bitter　to　Van　Aldin　that　a　daughter　of　his　should　be　gulled　by　such　a　man；　yet　he　was　forced　to　admit　that　she　was　in　good　pany　…　that　other　well…bred　and　intelligent　women　had　succumbed　just　as　easily　to　the　Count's　fascination。　Men　saw　through　him；　women　did　not。　

He　sought　now　for　a　phrase　that　would　allay　any　suspicion　that　his　secretary　might　have　felt。　

〃Ruth　is　always　changing　her　mind　about　things　at　a　moment's　notice；〃　he　remarked；　and　then　he　added　in　a　would…be　careless　tone；　〃The　maid　didn't　give　any　…　er　…　reason　for　this　change　of　plan？〃　

Knighton　was　careful　to　make　his　voice　as　natural　as　possible　as　he　replied：　

〃She　said；　sir；　that　Mrs　Kettering　had　met　a　friend　unexpectedly。〃　

〃Is　that　so？〃　

The　secretary's　practised　ears　caught　the　note　of　strain　underlying　the　seemingly　casual　tone。　

〃Oh；　I　see。　Man　or　woman？〃　

〃I　think　she　said　a　man；　sir。〃　

Van　Aldin　nodded。　His　worst　fears　were　being　realized。　He　rose　from　his　chair；　and　began　pacing　up　and　down　the　room；　a　habit　of　his　when　agitated。　Unable　to　contain　his　feelings　any　longer；　he　burst　forth：　

〃There　is　one　thing　no　man　can　do；　and　that　is　to　get　a　woman　to　listen　to　reason。　Somehow　or　other；　they　don't　seem　to　have　any　kind　of　sense。　Talk　of　woman's　instinct　…　why；　it　is　well　known　all　the　world　over　that　a　woman　is　the　surest　mark　for　any　rascally　swindler。　Not　one　in　ten　of　them　knows　a　scoundrel　when　she　meets　one；　they　can　be　preyed　on　by　any　good…looking　fellow　with　a　soft　side　to　his　tongue。　If　I　had　my　way　…〃　

He　was　interrupted。　A　page…boy　entered　with　a　telegram。　Van　Aldin　tore　it　open；　and　his　face　went　a　sudden　chalky　white。　He　caught　hold　of　the　back　of　a　chair　to　steady　himself；　and　waved　the　page…boy　from　the　room。　

〃What's　the　matter；　sir？〃　

Knighton　had　risen　in　concern。　

〃Ruth！〃　said　Van　Aldin　hoarsely。　

〃Mrs　Kettering？〃　

〃Killed！〃　

〃An　accident　to　the　train？〃　

Van　Aldin　shook　his　head。　

〃No。　From　this　it　seems　she　has　been　robbed　as　well。　They　don't　use　the　word；　Knighton；　but　my　poor　girl　has　been　murdered。〃　

〃Oh；　my　God；　sir！〃　

Van　Aldin　tapped　the　telegram　with　his　forefinger。　

〃This　is　from　the　police　at　Nice。　I　must　go　out　there　by　the　first　train。〃　

Knighton　was　efficient　as　ever。　He　glanced　at　the　clock。　

〃Five　o'clock　from　Victoria；　sir。〃　

〃That's　right。　You　will　e　with　me；　Knighton。　Tell　my　man；　Archer；　and　pack　your　own　things。　See　to　everything　here。　I　want　to　go　round　to　Curzon　Street。〃　

The　telephone　rang　sharply；　and　the　secretary　tilted　the　receiver。　

〃Yes；　who　is　it？〃　

Then　to　Van　Aldin。　

〃Mr　Goby；　sir。〃　

〃Goby？　I　can't　see　him　now。　No　…　wait；　we　have　plenty　of　time。　Tell　them　to　send　him　up。〃　

Van　Aldin　was　a　strong　man。　Already　he　had　recovered　that　iron　calm　of　his。　Few　people　would　have　noticed　anything　amiss　in　his　greeting　to　Mr　Goby。　

〃I　am　pressed　for　time；　Goby。　Got　anything　important　to　tell　me？〃　

Mr　Goby　coughed。　

〃The　movements　of　Mr　Ke