蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第26部分

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　piece　of　testimony　was　worthless。　

〃I　concentrated　on　the　chief　stumbling…block　to　my　theory。　Major　Knighton's　statement　that　he　saw　Ada　Mason　at　the　Ritz　after　the　Blue　Train　had　left　Paris。　That　seemed　conclusive　enough；　but　yet；　on　examining　the　facts　carefully；　I　noted　two　things。　First；　that　by　a　curious　coincidence　he；　too；　had　been　exactly　two　months　in　your　service。　Secondly；　his　initial　letter　was　the　same　…　'K。'　Supposing　…　just　supposing　…　that　it　was　his　cigarette　case　which　had　been　found　in　the　carriage。　Then；　if　Ada　Mason　and　he　were　working　together；　and　she　recognized　it　when　we　showed　it　to　her；　would　she　not　act　precisely　as　she　had　done？　At　first；　taken　aback；　she　quickly　evolved　a　plausible　theory　that　would　agree　with　Mr　Kettering's　guilt。　Bien　entendu；　that　was　not　the　original　idea。　The　te　de　la　Roche　was　to　be　the　scapegoat；　though　Ada　Mason　would　not　make　her　recognition　of　him　too　certain；　in　case　he　should　be　able　to　prove　an　alibi。　Now；　if　you　will　cast　your　mind　back　to　that　time；　you　will　remember　a　significant　thing　that　happened。　I　suggested　to　Ada　Mason　that　the　man　she　had　seen　was　not　the　te　de　la　Roche；　but　Derek　Kettering。　She　seemed　uncertain　at　the　time；　but　after　I　had　got　back　to　my　hotel　you　rang　me　up　and　told　me　that　she　had　e　to　you　and　said　that；　on　thinking　it　over；　she　was　now　quite　convinced　that　the　man　in　question　was　Mr　Kettering。　I　had　been　expecting　something　of　the　kind。　There　could　be　but　one　explanation　of　this　sudden　certainty　on　her　part。　After　my　leaving　your　hotel；　she　had　had　time　to　consult　with　somebody；　and　had　received　instructions　which　she　acted　upon。　Who　had　given　her　these　instructions？　Major　Knighton。　And　there　was　another　very　small　point；　which　might　mean　nothing　or　might　mean　a　great　deal。　In　casual　conversation　Knighton　had　talked　of　a　jewel　robbery　in　Yorkshire　in　a　house　where　he　was　staying。　Perhaps　a　mere　coincidence　…　perhaps　another　small　link　in　the　chain。〃　

〃But　there　is　one　thing　I　do　not　understand；　Monsieur　Poirot。　I　guess　I　must　be　dense　or　I　would　have　seen　it　before　now。　Who　was　the　man　in　the　train　at　Paris？　Derek　Kettering　or　the　te　de　la　Roche？〃　

〃That　is　the　simplicity　of　the　whole　thing。　There　was　no　man。　Ah　…　mille　tonnerres！　…　do　you　not　see　the　cleverness　of　it　all？　Whose　word　have　we　for　it　that　there　ever　was　a　man　there？　Only　Ada　Mason's。　And　we　believe　in　Ada　Mason　because　of　Knighton's　evidence　that　she　was　left　behind　in　Paris。〃　

〃But　Ruth　herself　told　the　conductor　that　she　had　left　her　maid　behind　there；〃　demurred　Van　Aldin。　

〃Ah！　I　am　ing　to　that。　We　have　Mrs　Kettering's　own　evidence　there；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　we　have　not　really　got　her　evidence；　because；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　a　dead　woman　cannot　give　evidence。　It　is　not　her　evidence；　but　the　evidence　of　the　conductor　of　the　train　…　a　very　different　affair　altogether。〃　

〃So　you　think　the　man　was　lying？〃　

〃No；　no；　not　at　all。　He　spoke　what　he　thought　to　be　the　truth。　But　the　woman　who　told　him　that　she　had　left　her　maid　in　Paris　was　not　Mrs　Kettering。〃　

Van　Aldin　stared　at　him。　

〃Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　Ruth　Kettering　was　dead　before　the　train　arrived　at　the　Gare　de　Lyon。　It　was　Ada　Mason；　dressed　in　her　mistress's　very　distinctive　clothing；　who　purchased　a　dinner　basket　and　who　made　that　very　necessary　statement　to　the　conductor。〃　

〃Impossible！〃　

〃No；　no；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　not　impossible。　Les　femmes；　they　look　so　much　alike　nowadays　that　one　identifies　them　more　by　their　clothing　than　by　their　faces。　Ada　Mason　was　the　same　height　as　your　daughter。　Dressed　in　that　very　sumptuous　fur　coat　and　the　little　red　lacquer　hat　jammed　down　over　her　eyes；　with　just　a　bunch　of　auburn　curls　showing　over　each　ear；　it　was　no　wonder　that　the　conductor　was　deceived。　He　had　not　previously　spoken　to　Mrs　Kettering；　you　remember。　True；　he　had　seen　the　maid　just　for　a　moment　when　she　handed　him　the　tickets；　but　his　impression　had　been　merely　that　of　a　gaunt；　black…clad　female。　If　he　had　been　an　unusually　intelligent　man；　he　might　have　gone　so　far　as　to　say　that　mistress　and　maid　were　not　unlike；　but　it　is　extremely　unlikely　that　he　would　even　think　that。　And　remember；　Ada　Mason；　or　Kitty　Kidd；　was　an　actress；　able　to　change　her　appearance　and　tone　of　voice　at　a　moment's　notice。　No；　no；　there　was　no　danger　of　his　recognizing　the　maid　in　the　mistress's　clothing；　but　there　was　the　danger　that　when　he　came　to　discover　the　body　he　might　realize　it　was　not　the　woman　he　had　talked　to　the　night　before。　And　now　we　see　the　reason　for　the　disfigured　face。　The　chief　danger　that　Ada　Mason　ran　was　that　Katherine　Grey　might　visit　her　partment　after　the　train　left　Paris；　and　she　provided　against　that　difficulty　by　ordering　a　dinner　basket　and　by　locking　herself　in　her　partment。〃　

〃But　who　killed　Ruth　…　and　when？〃　

〃First；　bear　it　in　mind　that　the　crime　was　planned　and　undertaken　by　the　two　of　them　…　Knighton　and　Ada　Mason；　working　together。　Knighton　was　in　Paris　that　day　on　your　business。　He　boarded　the　train　somewhere　on　its　way　round　the　ceinture。　Mrs　Kettering　would　be　surprised；　but　she　would　be　quite　unsuspicious。　Perhaps　he　draws　her　attention　to　something　out　the　window；　and　as　she　turns　to　look　he　slips　the　cord　round　her　neck　…　and　the　whole　thing　is　over　in　a　second　or　two。　The　door　of　the　partment　is　locked；　and　he　and　Ada　Mason　set　to　work。　They　strip　off　the　dead　woman's　outer　clothes。　Mason　and　Knighton　roll　the　body　up　in　a　rug　and　put　it　on　the　seat　in　the　adjoining　partment　amongst　the　bags　and　suitcases。　Knighton　drops　off　the　train；　taking　the　jewel…case　containing　the　rubies　with　him。　Since　the　crime　is　not　supposed　to　have　been　mitted　until　nearly　twelve　hours　later　he　is　perfectly　safe；　and　his　evidence　and　the　supposed　Mrs　Kettering's　words　to　the　conductor　will　provide　a　perfect　alibi　for　his　acplice。　

〃At　the　Gare　de　Lyon　Ada　Mason　gets　a　dinner　basket；　and　shutting　herself　into　the　toilet　partment　she　quickly　changes　into　her　mistress's　clothes；　adjusts　two　false　bunches　of　auburn　curls；　and　generally　makes　up　to　resemble　her　as　closely　as　possible。　When　the　conductor　es　to　make　up　the　bed；　she　tells　him　the　prepared　story　about　having　left　her　maid　behind　in　Paris；　and　whilst　he　is　making　up　the　berth；　she　stands　looking　out　of　the　window；　so　that　her　back　is　towards　the　corridor　and　people　passing　along　there。　That　was　a　wise　precaution；　because；　as　we　know；　Miss　Grey　was　one　of　those　passing；　and　she　among　others；　was　willing　to　swear　that　Mrs　Kettering　was　still　alive　at　that　hour。〃　

〃Go　on；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃Before　getting　to　Lyons；　Ada　Mason　arranged　her　mistress's　body　in　the　bunk；　folded　up　the　dead　woman's　clothes　neatly　on　the　end　of　it；　and　herself　changed　into　a　man's　clothes　and　prepared　to　leave　the　train。　When　Derek　Kettering　entered　his　wife's　partment；　and；　as　he　thought；　saw　her　asleep　in　her　berth；　the　scene　had　been　set；　and　Ada　Mason　was　hidden　in　the　next　partment　waiting　for　the　moment　to　leave　the　train　unobserved。　As　soon　as　the　conductor　had　swung　himself　down　on　to　the　platform　at　Lyons；　she　follows；　slouching　along　as　though　just　taking　a　breath　of　air。　At　a　moment　when　she　is　unobserved；　she　hurriedly　crosses　to　the　other　platform；　and　takes　the　first　train　back　to　Paris　and　the　Ritz　Hotel。　Her　name　has　been　registered　there　as　taking　a　room　the　night　before　by　one　of　Knighton's　female　acplices。　She　has　nothing　to　do　but　wait　there　placidly　for　your　arrival。　The　jewels　are　not；　and　never　have　been；　in　her　possession。　Kettering　had　them。　No　suspicion　attaches　to　him；　and；　as　your　secretary；　he　brings　them　to　Nice　without　the　least　fear　of　discovery。　Their　delivery　there　to　Monsieur　Papopolous　is　already　arranged　for　and　they　are　entrusted　to　Mason　at　the　last　moment　to　hand　over　to　the　Greek。　Altogether　a　very　neatly　planned　coup；　as　one　would　expect　from　a　master　of　the　game　such　as　the　Marquis。〃　

〃And　you　honestly　mean　that　Richard　Knighton　is　a　well…known　criminal；　who　has　been　at　this　business　for　years？〃　

Poirot　nodded。　

〃One　of　the　chief　assets　of　the　gentleman　called　the　Marquis　was　his　plausible；　ingratiating　manner。　You　fell　a　victim　to　his　charm；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　when　you　engaged　him　as　a　secretary　on　such　a　slight　acquaintanceship？〃　

〃I　could　have　sworn　that　he　never　angled　for　the　post；〃　cried　the　millionaire。　

〃It　was　very　astutely　done　…　so　astutely　done　that　it　deceived　a　man　whose　knowledge　of　other　men　is　as　great　as　yours　is。〃　

〃I　looked　up　his　antecedents　too。　The　fellow's　record　was　excellent。〃　

〃Yes；　yes；　that　was　part　of　the　game。　As　Richard　Knighton　his　life　　reproach。　He　was　well…born；　well…connected；　did　honourable　service　in　the　war；　and　seemed　altogether　above　suspicion；　but　when　I　came　to　glean　information　about　the　mysterious　Marquis；　I　found　many　points　of　similarity。　Knighton　spoke　French　like　a　Frenchman；　he　had　been　in　America；　France；　and　England　at　much　the　same　time　as　the　Marquis　was　operating。　The　Marquis　was　last　heard　of　as　engineering　various　jewel　robberies　in　Switzerland；　and　it　was　in　Switzerland　that　you　had　e　across　Major　Knighton；　and　it　was　at　precisely　that　time　that　the　first　rumours　were　going　round　of　your　being　in　treaty　for　the　famous　rubies。〃　

〃But　why　murder？〃　murmured　Van　Aldin　brokenly。　〃Surely　a　clever　thief　could　have　stolen　the　jewels　without　running　his　head　into　a　noose。〃　

Poirot　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　not　the　first　murder　that　lies　to　the　Marquis's　charge。　He　is　a　killer　by　instinct；　he　believes；　too；　in　leaving　no　evidence　behind　him。　Dead　men　and　women　tell　no　tales。　

〃The　Marquis　had　an　intense　passion　for　famous　and　historical　jewels。　He　laid　his　plans　far　beforehand　by　installing　himself　as　your　secretary　and　getting　his　acplice　to　obtain　the　situation　of　maid　with　your　daughter；　for　whom　he　guessed　the　jewels　were　destined。　And；　though　this　was　his　matured　and　carefully　thought…out　plan；　he　did　not　scruple　to　attempt　a　short…cut　by　hiring　a　couple　of　Apaches　to　waylay　you　in　Paris　on　the　night　you　bought　the　jewels。　That　plan　failed；　which　hardly　surprised　him；　I　think。　This　plan　was；　so　he　thought；　pletely　safe。　No　possible　suspicion　could　attach　to　Richard　Knighton。　But　like　all　great　men　…　and　the　Marquis　was　a　great　man　…　he　had　his　weaknesses。　He　fell　genuinely　in　love　with　Miss　Grey；　and　suspecting　her　liking　for　Derek　Kettering；　he　could　not　resist　the　temptation　to　saddle　him　with　the　crime　when　the　opportunity　presented　itself。　And　now；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　I　am　going　to　tell　you　something　very　curious。　Miss　Grey　is　not　a　fanciful　woman　by　any　means；　yet　she　firmly　believes　that　she　felt　your　daughter's　presence　beside　her　one　day　in　the　Casino　Gardens　at　Monte　Carlo；　just　after　she　had　been　having　a　long　talk　with　Knighton。　She　was　convinced；　she　says；　that　the　dead　woman　was　urgently　trying　to　tell　her　something；　and　it　suddenly　came　to　her　that　what　the　dead　woman　was　trying　to　say　was　that　Knighton　was　her　murderer！　The　idea　seemed　so　fantastic　at　the　time　that　Miss　Grey　spoke　of　it　to　no　one。　But　she　was　so　convinced　of　its　truth　that　she　acted　on　it　…　wild　as　it　seemed。　She　did　not　discourage　Knighton's　advances；　and　she　pretended　to　him　that　she　was　convinced　of　Derek　Kettering's　guilt。〃　

〃Extraordinary；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃Yes；　it　is　very　strange。　One　cannot　explain　these　things。　Oh；　by　the　way；　there　is　one　little　point　that　baffled　me　considerably。　Your　secretary　has　a　decided　limp　…　the　result　of　a　wound　that　he　received　in　the　ost　decidedly　did　not　limp。　That　was　a　stumbling…block。　But　Miss　Lenox　Tamplin　happened　to　mention　one　day　that　Knighton's　limp　had　been　a　surprise　to　the　surgeons　who　had　been　in　charge　of　the　case　in　her　mother's　hospital。　That　suggested　camouflage。　When　I　was　in　London　I　went　to　the　surgeon　in　question；　and　I　got　several　technical　details　from　him　which　confirmed　me　in　that　belief。　I　mentioned　the　name　of　that　surgeon　in　Knighton's　hearing　the　day　before　yesterday。　The　natural　thing　would　have　been　for　Knighton　to　mention　that　he　had　been　attended　by　him　during　the　war；　but　he　said　nothing　…　and　that　little　point；　if　nothing　else；　gave　me　the　last　final　assurance　that　my　theory　of　the　crime　was　correct。　Miss　Grey；　too；　provided　me　with　a　cutting；　showing　that　there　had　been　a　robbery　at　Lady　Tamplin's　hospital　during　the　time　that　Knighton　had　been　there。　She　realized　that　I　was　on　the　same　track　as　herself　when　I　wrote　to　her　from　the　Ritz　in　Paris。　

〃I　had　some　trouble　in　my　inquiries　there；　but　I　got　what　I　wanted　…　evidence　that　Ada　Mason　arrived　on　the　morning　after　the　crime　and　not　on　the　evening　of　the　day　before。〃　

There　was　a　long　silence；　then　the　millionaire　stretched　out　a　hand　to　Poirot　across　the　table。　

〃I　guess　you　know　what　this　means　to　me；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃I　am　sending　you　round　a　cheque　in　the　morning；　but　no　cheque　in　the　world　will　express　what　I　feel　about　what　you　have　done　for　me。　You　are　the　goods；　Monsieur　Poirot。　Every　time；　you　are　the　goods。〃　

Poirot　rose　to　his　feet；　his　chest　swelled。　

〃I　am　only　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　modestly；　〃yet；　as　you　say；　in　my　own　way　I　am　a　big　man；　even　as　you　also　are　a　big　man。　I　am　glad　and　happy　to　have　been　of　service　to　you。　Now　I　go　to　repair　the　damages　caused　by　travel。　Alas！　my　excellent　Georges　is　not　with　me。〃　

In　the　lounge　of　the　hotel　he　encountered　a　friend　…　the　venerable　Monsieur　Papopolous；　his　daughter　Zia　beside　him。　

〃I　thought　you　had　left　Nice；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　murmured　the　Greek　as　he　took　the　detective's　affectionately　proffered　hand。　

〃Business　pelled　me　to　return；　my　dear　Monsieur　Papopolous。〃　

〃Business？〃　

〃Yes；　business。　And　talking　of　business；　I　hope　your　health　is　better；　my　dear　friend？〃　

〃Much　better。　In　fact；　we　are　returning　to　Paris　tomorrow。〃　

〃I　am　enchanted　to　hear　such　good　news。　You　have　not　pletely　ruined　the　Greek　ex…Minister；　I　hope。〃　

〃I？〃　

〃I　understand　you　sold　him　a　very　wonderful　ruby　which　…　strictly　entre　nous　…　is　being　worn　by　Mademoiselle　Mirelle；　the　dancer？〃　

〃Yes；〃　murmured　Monsieur　Papopolous；　〃yes；　that　is　so。〃　

〃A　ruby　not　unlike　the　famous　'Heart　of　Fire'？〃　

〃It　has　points　of　resemblance；　certainly；〃　said　the　Greek　casually。　

〃You　have　a　wonderful　hand　with　jewels；　Monsieur　Papopolous。　I　congratulate　you。　Mademoiselle　Zia；　I　am　desolate　that　you　are　returning　to　Paris　so　speedily。　I　had　hoped　to　see　some　more　of　you　now　that　my　business　is　acplished。〃　

〃Would　one　be　indiscreet　if　one　asked　what　that　business　was？〃　asked　Monsieur　Papopolous。　

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all。　I　have　just　succeeded　in　laying　the　Marquis　by　the　heels。〃　

A　far…away　look　came　over　Monsieur　Papopolous'　noble　countenance。　

〃The　Marquis？〃　he　murmured；　〃now　why　does　that　seem　familiar　to　me？　No　…　I　cannot　recall　it。〃　

〃You　would　not；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　refer　to　a　very　notable　criminal　and　jewel　robber。　He　has　just　been　arrested　for　the　murder　of　the　English　lady；　Madame　Kettering。〃　

〃Indeed？　How　interesting　these　things　are！〃　

A　polite　exchange　of　farewells　followed；　and　when　Poirot　was　out　of　earshot。　Monsieur　Papopolous　turned　to　his　daughter。　

〃Zia；〃　he　said；　with　feeling；　〃that　man　is　the　devil！〃　

〃I　like　him。〃　

〃I　like　him　myself；〃　admitted　Monsieur　Papopolous。　〃But　he　is　the　devil；　al