天锡小说网

第24部分（第1页）

u　happened　to　mention　that　you　had　once　mistaken　the　te　for　your　son…in…law。　That　told　me　that　they　were　of　the　same　height　and　build；　and　alike　in　colouring。　It　put　some　curious　ideas　in　my　head。　The　maid　had　only　been　with　your　daughter　a　short　time。　It　was　unlikely　that　she　would　know　Mr　Kettering　well　by　sight；　since　he　had　not　been　living　in　Curzon　Street；　also　the　man　was　careful　to　keep　his　face　turned　away。〃

〃You　believe　he　…　murdered　her；〃　said　Van　Aldin　hoarsely。

Poirot　raised　a　hand　quickly。

〃No；　no；　I　did　not　say　that　…　but　it　is　a　possibility　…　a　very　strong　possibility。　He　was　in　a　tight　corner；　a　very　tight　corner；　threatened　with　ruin。　This　was　the　one　way　out。〃

〃But　why　take　the　jewels？〃

〃To　make　the　crime　appear　an　ordinary　one　mitted　by　train　robbers。　Otherwise　suspicion　might　have　fallen　on　him　straight　away。〃

〃If　that　is　so；　what　has　he　done　with　the　rubies？〃

〃That　remains　to　be　seen。　There　are　several　possibilities。　There　is　a　man　in　Nice　who　may　be　able　to　help；　the　man　I　pointed　out　at　the　tennis。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet　and　Van　Aldin　rose　also　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　little　mans　shoulder。

His　voice　when　he　spoke　was　harsh　with　emotion。

〃Find　Ruths　murderer　for　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　is　all　I　ask。〃

Poirot　drew　himself　up。

〃Leave　it　in　the　hands　of　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　superbly；　〃have　no　fears。　I　will　discover　the　truth。〃

He　brushed　a　speck　of　fluff　from　his　hat；　smiled　reassuringly　at　the　millionaire；　and　left　the　room。　Nevertheless；　as　he　went　down　the　stairs　some　of　the　confidence　faded　from　his　face。

〃It　is　all　very　well；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃but　there　are　difficulties。　Yes；　there　are　great　difficulties。〃　As　he　was　passing　out　of　the　hotel　he　came　to　a　sudden　halt。　A　car　had　drawn　up　in　front　of　the　door。　In　it　was　Katherine　Grey；　and　Derek　Kettering　was　standing　beside　it　talking　to　her　earnestly。

A　minute　or　two　later　the　car　drove　off　and　Derek　remained　standing　on　the　pavement　looking　after　it。　The　expression　on　his　face　was　an　odd　one。　He　gave　a　sudden　impatient　gesture　of　the　shoulders；　sighed　deeply；　and　turned　to　find　Hercule　Poirot　standing　at　his　elbow。　In　spite　of　himself　he　started。　The　two　men　looked　at　each　other。　Poirot　steadily　and　unwaveringly　and　Derek　with　a　kind　of　light…hearted　defiance。　There　was　a　sneer　behind　the　easy　mockery　of　his　tone　when　he　spoke；　raising　his　eyebrows　slightly　as　he　did　so。

〃Rather　a　dear；　isnt　she？〃　he　asked　easily。

His　manner　was　perfectly　natural。

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃that　describes　Mademoiselle　Katherine　very　well。　It　is　very　English；　that　phrase　there；　and　Mademoiselle　Katherine；　she　also　is　very　English。〃

Derek　remained　perfectly　still　without　answering。

〃And　yet　she　is　sympathique；　is　it　not　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Derek；　〃there　are　not　many　like　her。〃

He　spoke　softly；　almost　as　though　to　himself。　Poirot　nodded　significantly。　Then　he　leant　towards　the　other　and　spoke　in　a　different　tone；　a　quiet；　grave　tone　that　was　new　to　Derek　Kettering。

〃You　will　pardon　an　old　man；　Monsieur；　if　he　says　to　you　something　that　you　may　consider　impertinent。　There　is　one　of　your　English　proverbs　that　I　would　quote　to　you。　It　says　that　it　is　well　to　be　off　with　the　old　love；　before　being　on　with　the　new。〃

Kettering　turned　on　him　angrily。　〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean？〃

〃You　enrage　yourself　at　me；〃　said　Poirot　placidly。　〃I　expected　as　much。　As　to　what　I　mean　…　I　mean；　Monsieur；　that　there　is　a　second　car　with　a　lady　in　it。　If　you　turn　your　head　you　will　see　her。〃

Derek　spun　around。　His　face　darkened　with　anger。

〃Mirelle；　damn　her！〃　he　muttered。　〃I　will　soon　…〃

Poirot　arrested　the　movement　he　was　about　to　make。

〃Is　it　wise　what　you　are　about　to　do　there？〃　he　asked　warningly。　His　eyes　shone　brightly　with　a　green　light　in　them。　But　Derek　was　past　noticing　the　warning　signs。　In　his　manner　he　was　pletely　off　his　guard。

〃I　have　broken　with　her　utterly；　and　she　knows　it；〃　cried　Derek　angrily。

〃You　have　broken　with　her；　yes；　but　has　she　broken　with　you？〃

Derek　gave　a　sudden　harsh　laugh。

〃She　wont　break　with　two　million　pounds　if　she　can　help　it；〃　he　murmured　brutally；　〃trust　Mirelle　for　that。〃

Poirot　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃You　have　the　outlook　cynical；〃　he　murmured。