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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43章

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〃At present; no; Mademoiselle。〃 

〃And Dereek will be arrested?〃 

〃At once; Mademoiselle。〃 

Mirelle laughed cruelly and drew her fur draperies closer about her。 

〃He should have thought of this before he insulted me;〃 she cried。 

〃There is one little matter …〃 Poirot coughed apologetically … 〃just a matter of detail。〃 

〃Yes?〃 

〃What makes you think Madame Kettering was dead when the train left Lyons?〃 

Mirelle stared。 

〃But she was dead。〃 

〃Was she?〃 

〃Yes; of course。 I …〃 

She came to an abrupt stop。 Poirot was regarding her intently; and he saw the wary look that came into her eyes。 

〃I have been told so。 Everybody says so。〃 

〃Oh;〃 said Poirot; 〃I was not aware that the fact had been mentioned outside the Examining Magistrate's office。〃 

Mirelle appeared somewhat disposed。 

〃One hears those things;〃 she said vaguely; 〃they get about。 Somebody told me。 I can't remember who it was。〃 

She moved to the door。 M。 Caux sprang forward to open it for her; and as he did so; Poirot's voice rose gently once more。 

〃And the jewels? Pardon; Mademoiselle。 Can you tell me anything about those?〃 

〃The jewels? What jewels?〃 

〃The rubies of Katherine the Great。 Since you hear so much; you must have heard of them。〃 

〃I know nothing about any jewels;〃 said Mirelle sharply。 

She went out; closing the door behind her。 M。 Caux came back to his chair; the Examining Magistrate sighed。 

〃What a fury!〃 he said; 〃but diablement chic。 I wonder if she is telling the truth? I think so。〃 

〃There is some truth in her story; certainly;〃 said Poirot。 〃We have confirmation of it from Miss Grey。 She was looking down the corridor a short time before the train reached Lyons and she saw M。 Kettering go into his wife's partment。〃 

〃The case against him seems quite clear;〃 said the missary; sighing; 〃it is a thousand pities;〃 he murmured。 

〃How do you mean?〃 asked Poirot。 

〃It has been the ambition of my life to lay the te de la Roche by the heels。 This time; ma foi; I thought we had got him。 This other … it is not nearly so satisfactory。〃 

M。 Carrege rubbed his nose。 

〃If anything goes wrong;〃 he observed cautiously; 〃it will be most awkward。 M。 Kettering is of the aristocracy。 It will get into the newspapers。 If we have made a mistake …〃 He shrugged his shoulders forebodingly。 

〃The jewels now;〃 said the missary; 〃what do you think he has done with them?〃 

〃He took them for a plant; of course;〃 said M。 Carrege; 〃they must have been a great inconvenience to him and very awkward to dispose of。〃 

Poirot smiled。 

〃I have an idea of my own about the jewels。 Tell me; Messieurs; what do you know of a man called the Marquis?〃 

The missary leant forward excitedly。 

〃The Marquis;〃 he said; 〃the Marquis? Do you think he is mixed up in this affair; M。 Poirot?〃 

〃I ask you what you know of him。〃 

The missary made an expressive grimace。 

〃Not as much as we should like to;〃 he observed ruefully。 〃He works behind the scenes; you understand。 He has underlings who do his dirty work for him。 But he is someone high up。 That we are sure of。 He does not e from the criminal classes。〃 

〃A Frenchman?〃 

〃Yes。 At least we believe so。 But we are not sure。 He has worked in France; in England; in America。 There was a series of robberies in Switzerland last autumn which were laid at his door。 By all accounts he is a grand seigneur; speaking French and English with equal perfection and his origin is a mystery。〃 

Poirot nodded and rose to take his departure。 

〃Can you tell us nothing more; M。 Poirot?〃 urged the missary。 

〃At present; no;〃 said Poirot; 〃but I may have news awaiting me at my hotel。〃 

M。 Carrege looked unfortable。 〃If the Marquis is concerned in this …〃 he began; and then stopped。 

〃It upsets our ideas;〃 plained M。 Caux。 

〃It does not upset mine;〃 said Poirot。 〃On the contrary; I think it agrees with them very well。 Au revoir; Messieurs; if news of any importance es to me I will municate it to you immediately。〃 

He walked back to his hotel with a grave face。 In his absence a telegram had e to him。 Taking a paper…cutter from his pocket; he slit it open。 It was a long telegram; and he read it over twice before slowly putting it in his pocket。 Upstairs; George was awaiting his master。 

〃I am fatigued; Georges; much fatigued。 Will you order for me a small pot of chocolate?〃 

The chocolate was duly ordered and brought; and George set it at the little table at his master's elbow。 As he was preparing to retire; Poirot spoke: 

〃I believe; Georges; that you have a good knowledge of the English aristocracy?〃 murmured Poirot。 

George smiled apologetically。 

〃I think that I might say that I have; sir;〃 he replied。 

〃I suppose that it is your opinion; Georges; that criminals are invariably drawn from the lower orders。〃 

〃Not always; sir。 There was great trouble with one of the Duke of Devize's younger sons。 He left Eton under a cloud; and after that he caused great anxiety on several occasions。 The police would not accept the view that it was kleptomania。 A very clever young gentleman; sir; but vicious through and through; if you take my meaning。 His Grace shipped him to Australia; and I hear he was convicted out there under another name。 Very odd; sir; but there it is。 The young gentleman; I need hardly say; was not in want financially。〃 

Poirot nodded his head slowly。 

〃Love of excitement;〃 he murmured; 〃and a little kink in the brain somewhere。 I wonder now …〃 

He drew out the telegram from his pocket and read it again。 

〃Then there was Lady Mary Fox's daughter;〃 continued the valet in a mood of reminiscence。 〃Swindled trades…people something shocking; she did。 Very worrying to the best families; if I may say so; and there are many other queer cases I could mention。〃 

〃You have a wide experience; Georges;〃 murmured Poirot。 〃I often wonder having lived so exclusively with titled families that you demean yourself by ing as a valet to me。 I put it down to love of excitement on your part。〃 

〃Not exactly; sir;〃 said George。 〃I happened to see in Society Snippets that you had been received at Buckingham Palace。 That was just when I was looking for a new situation。 His Majesty; so it said; had been most gracious and friendly and thought very highly of your abilities。〃 

〃Ah;〃 said Poirot; 〃one always likes to know the reason for things。〃 

He remained in thought for a few moments and then said: 

〃You rang up Mademoiselle Papopolous?〃 

〃Yes; sir; she and her father will be pleased to dine with you tonight。〃 

〃Ah;〃 said Poirot thoughtfully。 He drank off his chocolate; set the cup and saucer neatly in the middle of the tray; and spoke gently; more to himself than to the valet。 

〃The squirrel; my good Georges; collects nuts。 He stores them up in the autumn so that they may be of advantage to him later。 To make a success of humanity; Georges; we must profit by the lessons of those below us in the animal kingdom。 I have always done so。 I have been the cat; watching at the mouse hole。 I have been the good dog following up the scent; and not taking my nose from the trail。 And also; my good Georges; I have been the squi
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