天锡小说网

第23部分（第1页）

up。〃

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　oclock　when　Poirot　presented　himself　at　Van　Aldins　hotel。　He　found　the　millionaire　alone。

〃You　are　punctual；　M。　Poirot；〃　he　said；　with　a　smile；　as　he　rose　to　greet　the　detective。

〃I　am　always　punctual；〃　said　Poirot。　〃The　exactitude　…　always　do　I　observe　it。　Without　order　and　method　…〃

He　broke　off。　〃Ah；　but　it　is　possible　that　I　have　said　these　things　to　you　before。　Let　us　e　at　once　to　the　object　of　my　visit。〃

〃Your　little　idea？〃