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蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第35章

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There was a pause。 

〃And in what way can I assist you; Mr Poirot?〃 asked the dealer politely。 

〃Voilà;〃 said Poirot; 〃I shall e to the point。〃 He took from his pocket the same box that he had displayed at Cannes; and opening it; he took out the rubies and pushed them across the table to Papopolous。 

Although Poirot was watching him narrowly; not a muscle of the old man's face moved。 He took up the jewels and examined them with a kind of detached interest; then he looked across at the detective inquiringly: 

〃Superb; are they not?〃 asked Poirot。 

〃Quite excellent;〃 said M。 Papopolous。 

〃How much should you say they are worth?〃 

The Greek's face quivered a little。 

〃Is it really necessary to tell you; M。 Poirot?〃 he asked。 

〃You are shrewd; M。 Papopolous。 No; it is not。 They are not; for instance; worth five hundred thousand dollars。〃 

Papopolous laughed; and Poirot joined with him。 

〃As an imitation;〃 said Papopolous; handing them back to Poirot; 〃they are; as I said; quite excellent。 Would it be indiscreet to ask; M。 Poirot; where you came across them?〃 

〃Not at all;〃 said Poirot; 〃I have no objection to telling an old friend like yourself。 They were in the possession of the te de la Roche。〃 

M。 Papopolous' eyebrows lifted themselves eloquently。 

〃In…deed;〃 he murmured。 

Poirot leant forward and assumed his most innocent and beguiling air。 

〃M。 Papopolous;〃 he said; 〃I am going to lay my cards upon the table。 The original of these jewels was stolen from Madame Kettering on the Blue Train。 Now I will say to you first this: I am not concerned with the recovery of these jewels。 That is the affair of the police。 I am working not for the police but for M。 Van Aldin。 I want to lay hands on the man who killed Madame Kettering。 I am interested in the jewels only in so far as they may lead me to the man。 You understand?〃 

The last two words were uttered with great magnificence。 M。 Papopolous; his face quite unmoved; said quietly: 〃Go on。〃 

〃It seems to me probable; Monsieur; that the jewels will change hands in Nice … maybe they have done so。〃 

〃Ah!〃 said M。 Papopolous。 

He sipped his coffee reflectively; and looked a shade more noble and patriarchal than usual。 

〃I say to myself;〃 continued Poirot; with animation; 〃what good fortune! My old friend; M。 Papopolous; is in Nice。 He will aid me。〃 

〃And how do you think I can aid you?〃 inquired M。 Papopolous coldly。 

〃I said to myself; without doubt M。 Papopolous is in Nice on business。〃 

〃Not at all;〃 said M。 Papopolous; 〃I am here for my health … by the doctor's orders。〃 

He coughed hollowly。 

〃I am desolated to hear it;〃 replied Poirot; with somewhat insincere sympathy。 〃But to continue。 When a Russian Grand Duke; an Austrian Archduchess; or an Italian Prince wish to dispose of their family jewels … to whom do they go? To M。 Papopolous; is it not? He who is famous all over the world for the discretion with which he arranges these things。〃 

The other bowed。 

〃You flatter me。〃 

〃It is a great thing; discretion;〃 mused Poirot; and was rewarded by the fleeting smile which passed across the Greek's face。 〃I; too; can be discreet。〃 

The eyes of the two men met。 

Then Poirot went on speaking very slowly; and obviously picking his words with care。 

〃I say to myself; this: if these jewels have changed hands in Nice; M。 Papopolous would have heard of it。 He has knowledge of all that passes in the jewel world。〃 

〃Ah!〃 said M。 Papopolous; and helped himself to a croissant。 

〃The police; you understand;〃 said M。 Poirot; 〃do not enter into the matter。 It is a personal affair。〃 

〃One hears rumours;〃 admitted M。 Papopolous cautiously。 

〃Such as?〃 prompted Poirot。 

〃Is there any reason why I should pass them on?〃 

〃Yes;〃 said Poirot; 〃I think there is。 You may remember; M。 Papopolous; that seventeen years ago there was a certain article in your hands; left there as security by a very … er … Prominent Person。 It was in your keeping and it unaccountably disappeared。 You were; if I may use the English expression; in the soup。〃 

His eyes came gently round to the girl。 She had pushed her cup and plate aside; and with both elbows on the table and her chin resting on her hands was listening eagerly。 Still keeping an eye on her he went on: 

〃I am in Paris at the time。 You send for me。 You place yourself in my hands。 If I restore to you that … article; you say I shall earn your undying gratitude。 Eh bien! I did restore it to you。〃 

A long sigh came from M。 Papopolous。 

〃It was the most unpleasant moment of my career;〃 he murmured。 

〃Seventeen years is a long time;〃 said Poirot thoughtfully; 〃but I believe that I am right in saying; Monsieur; that your race does not forget。〃 

〃A Greek?〃 murmured Papopolous; with an ironical smile。 

〃It was not as a Greek I meant;〃 said Poirot。 

There was a silence; and then the old man drew himself up proudly。 

〃You are right; M。 Poirot;〃 he said quietly。 〃I am a Jew。 And; as you say; our race does not forget。〃 

〃You will aid me then?〃 

〃As regards the jewels; Monsieur; I can do nothing。〃 

The old man; as Poirot had done just now; picked his words carefully。 

〃I know nothing。 I have heard nothing; but I can perhaps do you a good turn … that is if you are interested in racing。〃 

〃Under certain circumstances I might be;〃 said Poirot; eyeing him steadily。 

〃There is a horse running at Longchamps that would; I think; repay attention。 I cannot say for certain; you understand; this news passed through so many hands。〃 

He stopped; fixing Poirot with his eye; as though to make sure that the latter was prehending him。 

〃Perfectly; perfectly;〃 said Poirot; nodding。 

〃The name of the horse;〃 said M。 Papopolous; leaning back and joining the tips of his fingers together; 〃is the Marquis。 I think; but I am not sure; that it is an English horse; eh; Zia?〃 

〃I think so too;〃 said the girl。 

Poirot got up briskly。 

〃I thank you; Monsieur;〃 he said。 〃It is a great thing to have what the English call a tip from the stable。 Au revoir; Monsieur; and many thanks。〃 

He turned to the girl。 

〃Au revoir; Mademoiselle Zia。 It seems to me but yesterday that I saw you in Paris。 One would say that two years had passed at most。〃 

〃There is a difference between sixteen and thirty…three;〃 said Zia ruefully。 

〃Not in your case;〃 declared Poirot gallantly。 〃You and your father will perhaps dine with me one night。〃 

〃We shall be delighted;〃 replied Zia。 

〃Then we will arrange it;〃 declared Poirot; 〃and now … je me sauve。〃 

Poirot walked along the street humming a little tune to himself。 He twirled his stick with a jaunty air; once or twice he smiled to himself quietly。 He turned into the first Bureau de Poste he came to and sent off a telegram。 

He took some time in wording it; but it was in code and he had to call upon his memory。 It purported to deal with a missing scarf…pin; and was addressed to Inspector Japp; Scotland Yard。 

Decoded; it was short and to the point。 〃Wire me everything known about man arquis。〃 

Chapter 23 

A NEW THEORY

It was exactly eleven o'clock when Poirot presented himself at Van Ald
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