天锡小说网

第18部分（第1页）

〃What　happened　to　them？〃

〃I　gave　them　to　the　conductor　on　the　French　train；　sir；　he　said　it　was　usual。　I　hope　I　did　right；　sir？〃

〃Oh；　quite　right；　quite　right。　A　mere　matter　of　detail。〃

Both　M。　Caux　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　looked　at　him　curiously。　Mason　stood　uncertainly　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　the　Magistrate　gave　her　a　brief　nod　of　dismissal；　and　she　went　out。　Poirot　scribbled　something　on　a　scrap　of　paper　and　handed　it　across　to　M。　Carrege。　The　latter　read　it　and　his　brow　cleared。

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　demanded　the　Count　haughtily；　〃am　I　to　be　detained　further？〃

〃Assuredly　not；　assuredly　not；〃　M。　Carrege　hastened　to　say；　with　a　great　deal　of　amiability。　〃Everything　is　now　cleared　up　as　regards　your　own　position　in　this　affair。　Naturally；　in　view　of　Madames　letter；　we　were　bound　to　question　you。〃

The　Count　rose；　picked　up　his　handsome　stick　from　the　corner；　and；　with　rather　a　curt　bow；　left　the　room。

〃And　that　is　that；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃You　。　Poirot　…　much　better　to　let　him　feel　he　is　not　suspected。　Two　of　my　men　will　shadow　him　night　and　day；　and　at　the　same　time　we　will　go　into　the　question　of　the　alibi。　It　seems　to　me　rather　…　er　…　a　fluid　one。〃

〃Possibly；〃　agreed　Poirot　thoughtfully。

〃I　asked　M。　Kettering　to　e　here　this　morning；〃　continued　the　Magistrate；　〃though　really　I　doubt　if　we　have　much　to　ask　him；　but　there　are　one　or　two　suspicious　circumstances　…〃　He　paused；　rubbing　his　nose。

〃Such　as？〃　asked　Poirot。

〃Well　…〃　the　Magistrate　coughed　…　〃this　lady　with　whom　he　is　said　to　be　travelling　…　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。　She　is　staying　at　one　hotel　and　he　at　another。　That　strikes　me　…　er　…　as　rather　odd。〃

〃It　looks；〃　said　M。　Caux；　〃as　though　they　were　being　careful。〃

〃Exactly；〃　said　M。　Carrege　triumphantly；　〃and　what　should　they　have　to　be　careful　about？〃

〃An　excess　of　caution　is　suspicious；　eh？〃　said　Poirot。

〃Précisément。〃

〃We　might；　I　think；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃ask　M。　Kettering　one　or　two　questions。〃

The　Magistrate　gave　instructions。　A　moment　or　two　later；　Derek　Kettering；　debonair　as　ever；　entered　the　room。

〃Good　morning；　Monsieur；〃　said　the　Judge　politely。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Derek　Kettering　curtly。　〃You　sent　for　me。　Has　anything　fresh　turned　up？〃

〃Pray　sit　down；　Monsieur。〃

Derek　took　a　seat　and　flung　his　hat　and　stick　on　the　table。

〃Well？〃　he　asked　impatiently。

〃We　have；　so　far；　no　fresh　data；〃　said　M。　Carrege　cautiously。

〃Thats　very　interesting；〃　said　Derek　drily。　〃Did　you　get　me　here　in　order　to　tell　me　that？〃

〃We　naturally　thought；　Monsieur；　that　you　would　like　to　be　informed　of　the　progress　of　the　case；〃　said　the　Magistrate　severely。　〃Even　if　the　progress　was　nonexistent。〃

〃We　also　wished　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃

〃Ask　away。〃

〃You　are　quite　sure　that　you　neither　saw　nor　spoke　with　your　wife　on　the　train？〃

〃Ive　answered　that　already。　I　did　not。〃

〃You　had；　no　doubt；　your　reasons。〃

Derek　stared　at　him　suspiciously。

〃I　…　did　…　not　…　know　…　she　…　was　…　on　…　the　…　train；〃　he　explained；　spacing　his　words　elaborately；　as　though　to　someone　dull　of　intellect。

〃That　is　what　you　say；　yes；〃　murmured　M。　Carrege。

A　frown　suffused　Dereks　face。

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　youre　driving　at。　Do　you　know　what　I　think；　M。　Carrege？〃