蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第24部分

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When　the　car　had　finally　driven　off　Katherine　went　slowly　upstairs。　A　voice　called　her　and　she　went　in　to　Miss　Viner's　bedroom。　

〃Friend　gone？〃　

〃Yes。　Thank　you　so　much　for　letting　me　ask　him　down。〃　

〃No　need　to　thank　me。　Do　you　think　I　am　the　sort　of　old　curmudgeon　who　will　never　do　anything　for　anybody？〃　

〃I　think　you　are　a　dear；〃　said　Katherine　affectionately。　

〃Humph；〃　said　Miss　Viner　mollified。　

As　Katherine　was　leaving　the　room　she　called　her　back。　

〃Katherine？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃I　was　wrong　about　that　young　man　of　yours。　A　man　when　he　is　making　up　to　anybody　can　be　cordial　and　gallant　and　full　of　little　attentions　and　altogether　charming。　But　when　a　man　is　really　in　love　he　can't　help　looking　like　a　sheep。　Now；　whenever　that　young　man　looked　at　you　he　looked　like　a　sheep。　I　take　back　all　I　said　this　morning。　It　is　genuine。〃　


Chapter　31　

MR　AARONS　LUNCHES

〃Ah！〃　said　Mr　Joseph　Aarons　appreciatively。　

He　took　a　long　draught　from　his　tankard；　set　it　down　with　a　sigh；　wiped　the　froth　from　his　lips；　and　beamed　across　the　table　at　his　host；　Monsieur　Hercule　Poirot。　

〃Give　me；〃　said　Mr　Aarons；　〃a　good　Porterhouse　steak　and　a　tankard　of　something　worth　drinking；　and　anyone　can　have　your　French　fallals　and　whatnots；　your　ordoovres　and　your　omelettes　and　your　little　bits　of　quail。　Give　me；〃　he　reiterated；　〃a　Porterhouse　steak。〃　

Poirot；　who　had　just　plied　pathetically。　

〃Not　that　there　is　much　wrong　with　a　steak　and　kidney　pudding；〃　continued　Mr　Aarons。　〃Apple　tart？　Yes；　I　will　take　apple　tart；　thank　you；　Miss；　and　a　jug　of　cream。〃　

The　meal　proceeded。　Finally；　with　a　long　sigh；　Mr　Aarons　laid　down　his　spoon　and　fork　preparatory　to　toying　with　some　cheese　before　turning　his　mind　to　other　matters。　

〃There　was　a　little　matter　of　business　I　think　you　said；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　he　remarked。　〃Anything　I　can　do　to　help　you　I　am　sure　I　shall　be　most　happy。〃　

〃That　is　very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　said　to　myself；　'If　you　want　to　know　anything　about　the　dramatic　profession　there　is　one　person　who　knows　all　that　is　to　be　known　and　that　is　my　old　friend；　Mr　Joseph　Aarons。'〃　

〃And　you　don't　say　far　wrong；〃　said　Mr　Aarons　placently；　〃whether　it　is　past；　present；　or　future；　Joe　Aarons　is　the　man　to　e　to。〃　

〃Précisément。　Now　I　want　to　ask　you；　Monsieur　Aarons；　what　you　know　about　a　young　woman　called　Kidd。〃　

〃Kidd？　Kitty　Kidd？〃　

〃Kitty　Kidd。〃　

〃Pretty　smart；　she　was。　Male　impersonator；　song　and　a　dance　…　That　one？〃　

〃That　is　the　one。〃　

〃Very　smart；　she　was。　Made　a　good　ine。　Never　out　of　an　engagement。　Male　impersonation　mostly；　but；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　you　could　not　touch　her　as　a　character　actress。〃　

〃So　I　have　heard；〃　said　Poirot；　〃but　she　has　not　been　appearing　lately；　has　she？〃　

〃No。　Dropped　right　out　of　things。　Went　over　to　France　and　took　up　with　some　swell　nobleman　there。　She　quitted　the　stage　then　for　good　and　all；　I　guess。〃　

〃How　long　ago　was　that？〃　

〃Let　me　see。　Three　years　ago。　And　she　has　been　a　loss　…　let　me　tell　you　that。〃　

〃She　was　clever？〃　

〃Clever　as　a　cartload　of　monkeys。〃　

〃You　don't　know　the　name　of　the　man　she　became　friends　with　in　Paris？〃　

〃He　was　a　swell；　I　know　that。　A　Count　…　or　e　to　think　of　it；　I　believe　it　was　a　Marquis。〃　

〃And　you　know　nothing　about　her　since？〃　

〃Nothing。　Never　even　run　across　her　accidentally　like。　I　bet　she　is　tooling　it　round　some　of　these　foreign　resorts。　Being　a　Marquise　to　the　life。　You　couldn't　put　one　over　on　Kitty。　She　would　give　as　good　as　she　got　any　day。〃　

〃I　see；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully。　

〃I　am　sorry　I　can't　tell　you　more；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　said　the　other。　〃I　would　like　to　be　of　use　to　you　if　I　could。　You　did　me　a　good　turn　once。〃　

〃Ah；　but　we　are　quits　on　that；　you；　too；　did　me　a　good　turn。〃　

〃One　good　turn　deserves　another。　Ha；　ha！〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　

〃Your　profession　must　be　a　very　interesting　one；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃So…so；〃　said　Mr　Aarons　nonmittally。　〃Taking　the　rough　with　the　smooth；　it　is　all　right。　I　don't　do　so　badly　at　it；　all　things　considered；　but　you　have　to　keep　your　eyes　skinned。　Never　know　what　the　public　will　jump　for　next。〃　

〃Dancing　has　e　very　much　to　the　fore　in　the　last　few　years；〃　murmured　Poirot　reflectively。　

〃I　never　saw　anything　in　this　Russian　ballet；　but　people　like　it。　Too　highbrow　for　me。〃　

〃I　met　one　dancer　out　on　the　Riviera　…　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃　

〃Mirelle？　She　is　hot　stuff；　by　all　accounts。　There　is　always　money　going　to　back　her　…　though；　so　far　as　that　goes；　the　girl　can　dance；　I　have　seen　her；　and　I　know　what　I　am　talking　about。　I　never　had　much　to　do　with　her　myself；　but　I　hear　she　is　a　terror　to　deal　with。　Tempers　and　tantrums　all　the　time。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃yes；　so　I　should　imagine。〃　

〃Temperament！〃　said　Mr　Aarons；　〃temperament！　That　is　what　they　call　it　themselves。　My　missus　was　a　dancer　before　she　married　me；　but　I　am　thankful　to　say　she　never　had　any　temperament。　You　don't　want　temperament　in　the　home；　Monsieur　Poirot。〃　

〃I　agree　with　you；　my　friend；　it　is　out　of　place　there。〃　

〃A　woman　should　be　calm　and　sympathetic；　and　a　good　cook；〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　

〃Mirelle　has　not　been　long　before　the　public；　has　she？〃　asked　Poirot。　

〃About　two　and　a　half　years；　that　is　all；〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　〃Some　French　Duke　started　her。　I　hear　now　that　she　has　taken　up　with　the　ex…Prime　Minister　of　Greece。　These　are　the　chaps　who　manage　to　put　money　away　quietly。〃　

〃That　is　news　to　me；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃Oh；　she's　not　one　to　let　the　grass　grow　under　her　feet。　They　say　that　young　Kettering　murdered　his　wife　on　her　account。　I　don't　know；　I　am　sure。　Anyway；　he　is　in　prison；　and　she　had　to　look　round　for　herself；　and　pretty　smart　she　has　been　about　it。　They　say　she　is　wearing　a　ruby　the　size　of　a　pigeon's　egg　…　not　that　I　have　ever　seen　a　pigeon's　egg　myself；　but　that　is　what　they　always　call　it　in　works　of　fiction。〃　

〃A　ruby　the　size　of　a　pigeon's　egg！〃　said　Poirot。　His　eyes　were　green　and　catlike。　〃How　interesting！〃　

〃I　had　it　from　a　friend　of　mine；〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　〃But；　for　all　I　know；　it　may　be　coloured　glass。　They　are　all　the　same；　these　women　…　they　never　stop　telling　tall　stories　about　their　jewels。　Mirelle　goes　about　bragging　that　it　has　got　a　curse　on　it。　'Heart　of　Fire；'　I　think　she　calls　it。〃　

〃But　if　I　remember　rightly；〃　said　Poirot；　〃the　ruby　that　is　named　'Heart　of　Fire'　is　the　centre　stone　in　a　necklace。〃　

〃There　you　are！　Didn't　I　tell　you　there　is　no　end　to　the　lies　women　will　tell　about　their　jewellery？　This　is　a　single　stone；　hung　on　a　platinum　chain　round　her　neck；　but；　as　I　said　before；　ten　to　one　it　is　a　bit　of　coloured　glass。〃　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot　gently；　〃no　…　somehow　I　do　not　think　it　is　coloured　glass。〃

Chapter　32　

KATHERINE　AND　POIROT　PARE　NOTES

〃You　have　changed；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　Poirot　suddenly。　He　and　Katherine　were　seated　opposite　each　other　at　a　small　table　at　the　Savoy。　

〃Yes；　you　have　changed；〃　he　continued。　

〃In　what　way？〃　

〃Mademoiselle；　these　nuances　are　difficult　to　express。〃　

〃I　am　older。〃　

〃Yes；　you　are　older。　And　by　that　I　do　not　mean　that　the　wrinkles　and　the　crows'　feet　are　ing。　When　I　first　saw　you；　Mademoiselle；　you　were　a　looker…on　at　life。　You　had　the　quiet；　amused　look　of　one　who　sits　back　in　the　stalls　and　watches　the　play。〃　

〃And　now？〃　

〃Now；　you　no　longer　watch。　It　is　an　absurd　thing；　perhaps；　that　I　say　here；　but　you　have　the　wary　look　of　a　fighter　who　is　playing　a　difficult　game。〃　

〃My　old　lady　is　difficult　sometimes；〃　said　Katherine；　with　a　smile；　〃but　I　can　assure　you　that　I　don't　engage　in　deadly　contests　with　her。　You　must　go　down　and　see　her　some　day；　Monsieur　Poirot。　I　think　you　are　one　of　the　people　who　would　appreciate　her　pluck　and　her　spirit。〃　

There　was　a　silence　while　the　waiter　deftly　served　them　with　chicken　en　casserole。　When　he　had　departed；　Poirot　said：　

〃You　have　heard　me　speak　of　my　friend　Hastings？　…　he　who　said　that　I　was　a　human　oyster。　Eh　bien；　Mademoiselle；　I　have　met　my　match　in　you。　You；　far　more　than　I；　play　a　lone　hand。〃　

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Katherine　lightly。　

〃Never　does　Hercule　Poirot　talk　nonsense。　It　is　as　I　say。〃　

Again　there　was　a　silence。　Poirot　broke　it　by　inquiring：　

〃Have　you　seen　any　of　our　Riviera　friends　since　you　have　been　back；　Mademoiselle？〃　

〃I　have　seen　something　of　Major　Knighton。〃　

〃A…ha！　Is　that　so？〃　

Something　in　Poirot's　twinkling　eyes　made　Katherine　lower　hers。　

〃So　Mr　Van　Aldin　remains　in　London？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃I　must　try　to　see　him　tomorrow　or　the　next　day。〃　

〃You　have　news　for　him？〃　

〃What　makes　you　think　that？〃　

〃I　…　wondered；　that　is　all。〃　

Poirot　looked　across　at　her　with　twinkling　eyes。　

〃And　now；　Mademoiselle；　there　is　much　that　you　wish　to　ask　me；　I　can　see　that。　And　why　not？　Is　not　the　affair　of　the　Blue　Train　our　own　'Roman　Policier'？〃　

〃Yes；　there　are　things　I　should　like　to　ask　you。〃　

〃Eh　bien？〃　

Katherine　looked　up　with　a　sudden　air　of　resolution。　

〃What　were　you　doing　in　Paris；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

Poirot　smiled　slightly。　

〃I　made　a　call　at　the　Russian　Embassy。〃　

〃Oh。〃　

〃I　see　that　that　tells　you　nothing。　But　I　will　not　be　a　human　oyster。　No；　I　will　lay　my　cards　on　the　table；　which　is　assuredly　a　thing　that　oysters　do　not　do。　You　suspect；　do　you　not；　that　I　am　not　satisfied　with　the　case　against　Derek　Kettering？〃　

〃That　is　what　I　have　been　wondering。　I　thought；　in　Nice；　that　you　had　finished　with　the　case。〃　

〃You　do　not　say　all　that　you　mean；　Mademoiselle。　But　I　admit　everything。　It　was　I　…　my　researches　…　which　placed　Derek　Kettering　where　he　is　now。　But　for　me　the　Examining　Magistrate　would　still　be　vainly　trying　to　fasten　the　crime　on　the　te　de　la　Roche。　Eh　bien；　Mademoiselle；　what　I　have　done　I　do　not　regret。　I　have　only　one　duty　…　to　discover　the　truth；　and　that　way　led　straight　to　Mr　Kettering。　But　did　it　end　there？　The　police　say　yes；　but　I；　Hercule　Poirot；　am　not　satisfied。〃　

He　broke　off　suddenly。　〃Tell　me；　Mademoiselle；　have　you　heard　from　Mademoiselle　Lenox　lately？〃　

〃One　very　short；　scrappy　letter。　She　is；　I　think；　annoyed　with　me　for　ing　back　to　England。〃　

Poirot　nodded。　

〃I　had　an　interview　with　her　the　night　that　Monsieur　Kettering　was　arrested。　It　was　an　interesting　interview　in　more　ways　than　one。〃　

Again　he　fell　silent；　and　Katherine　did　not　interrupt　his　train　of　thought。　

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I　am　now　on　delicate　ground；　yet　I　will　say　this　to　you。　There　is；　I　think；　someone　who　loves　Monsieur　Kettering　…　correct　me　if　I　am　wrong　…　and　for　her　sake　…　well　…　for　her　sake　I　hope　that　I　am　right　and　the　police　are　wrong。　You　know　who　that　someone　is？〃　

There　was　a　pause；　then　Katherine　said：　〃Yes　…　I　think　I　know。〃　

Poirot　leant　across　the　table　towards　her。　

〃I　am　not　satisfied；　Mademoiselle；　no；　I　am　not　satisfied。　The　facts；　the　main　facts；　led　straight　to　Monsieur　Kettering。　But　there　is　one　thing　that　has　been　left　out　of　account。〃　

〃And　what　is　that？〃　

〃The　disfigured　face　of　the　victim。　I　have　asked　myself；　Mademoiselle；　a　hundred　times；　'Was　Derek　Kettering　the　kind　of　man　who　would　deal　that　smashing　blow　after　having　mitted　murder？'　What　end　would　it　serve？　What　purpose　would　it　acplish？　Was　it　a　likely　action　for　one　of　Monsieur　Kettering's　temperament？　And；　Mademoiselle；　the　answer　to　these　questions　is　profoundly　unsatisfactory。　Again　and　again　I　go　back　to　that　one　point　…　'why？'　And　the　only　things　I　have　to　help　me　to　a　solution　of　the　problem　are　these。〃　

He　whipped　out　his　pocket…book　and　extracted　something　from　it　which　he　held　between　his　finger　and　thumb。　

〃Do　you　remember；　Mademoiselle？　You　saw　me　take　these　hairs　from　the　rug　in　the　railway　carriage。〃　

Katherine　leant　forward；　scrutinizing　the　hairs　keenly。　

Poirot　nodded　his　head　slowly　several　times。　

〃They　suggest　nothing　to　you；　I　see　that；　Mademoiselle。　And　yet　…　I　think　somehow　that　you　see　a　good　deal。〃　

〃I　have　had　ideas；〃　said　Katherine　slowly；　〃curious　ideas。　That　is　why　I　ask　you　what　you　were　doing　in　Paris；　Monsieur　Poirot。〃　

〃When　I　wrote　to　you　…〃　

〃From　the　Ritz？〃　

A　curious　smile　came　over　Poirot's　face。　

〃Yes；　as　you　say；　from　the　Ritz。　I　am　a　luxurious　person　sometimes　…　when　a　millionaire　pays。〃　

〃The　Russian　Embassy；〃　said　Katherine；　frowning。　〃No；　I　don't　see　where　that　es　in。〃　

〃It　does　not　e　in　directly；　Mademoiselle。　I　went　there　to　get　certain　information。　I　saw　a　particular　personage　and　I　threatened　him　…　yes；　Mademoiselle；　I；　Hercule　Poirot；　threatened　him。〃　

〃With　the　police？〃　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot　drily；　〃with　the　Press　…　a　much　more　deadly　weapon。〃　

He　looked　at　Katherine　and　she　smiled　at　him；　just　shaking　her　head。　

〃Are　you　not　just　turning　back　into　an　oyster　again；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃　

〃No；　no！　I　do　not　wish　to　make　mysteries。　See；　I　will　tell　you　everything。　I　suspect　this　man　of　being　the　active　party　in　the　sale　of　the　jewels　of　Monsieur　Van　Aldin。　I　tax　him　with　it；　and　in　the　end　I　get　the　whole　story　out　of　him。　I　learn　where　the　jewels　were　handed　over；　and　I　learn；　too；　of　the　man　who　paced　up　and　down　outside　in　the　street　…　a　man　with　a　venerable　head　of　white　hair；　but　who　walked　with　the　light；　springy　step　of　a　young　man　…　and　I　give　that　man　a　name　in　my　own　mind　…　the　name　of　'Monsieur　le　Marquis。'〃　

〃And　now　you　have　e　to　London　to　see　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃　

〃Not　entirely　for　that　reason。　I　had　other　work　to　do。　Since　I　have　been　in　London　I　have　seen　two　more　people　…　a　theatrical　agent　and　a　Harley　Street　doctor。　From　each　of　them　I　have　got　certain　information。　Put　these　things　together；　Mademoiselle；　and　see　if　you　can　make　of　them　the　same　as　I　do。〃　

〃I？〃　

〃Yes；　you。　I　will　tell　you　one　thing；　Mademoiselle。　There　has　been　a　doubt　all　along　in　my　mind　as　to　whether　the　robbery　and　the　murder　were　done　by　the　same　person。　For　a　long　time　I　was　not　sure　…〃　

〃And　now？〃　

〃And　now　I　know。〃　

There　was　a　silence。　Then　Katherine　lifted　her　head。　Her　eyes　were　shining。　

〃I　am　not　clever　like　you；　Monsieur　Poirot。　Half　the　things　that　you　have　been　telling　me　don't　seem　to　me　to　point　anywhere　at　all。　The　ideas　that　came　to　me　came　from　such　an　entirely　different　angle　…〃　

〃Ah；　but　that　is　always　so；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃A　mirror　shows　the　truth；　but　everyone　stands　in　a　different　place　for　looking　into　the　mirror。〃　

〃My　ideas　may　be　absurd　…　they　may　be　entirely　different　from　yours；　but　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃Tell　me；　does　this　help　you　at　all？〃　

He　took　a　newspaper　cutting　from　her　outstretched　hand。　He　read　it　and；　looking　up；　he　nodded　gravely。　

〃As　I　told　you；　Mademoiselle；　one　stands　at　a　different　angle　for　looking　into　the　mirror；　but　it　is　the　same　mirror　and　the　same　things　are　reflected　there。〃　

Katherine　got　up。　〃I　must　rush；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　only　just　time　to　catch　my　train；　Monsieur　Poirot　…〃　

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃It　…　it　mustn't　be　much　longer；　you　understand。　I　…　I　can't　go　on　much　longer。〃　

There　was　a　break　in　her　voice。　

He　patted　her　hand　reassuringly。　

〃Courage；　Mademoiselle；　you　must　not　fail　now；　the　end　is　very　near。〃　

Chapter　33　

A　NEW　THEORY

〃Monsieur　Poirot　wants　to　see　you；　sir。〃　

〃Damn　the　fellow！〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

Knighton　remained　sympathetically　silent。　Van　Aldin　got　up　from　hi