蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)- 第21部分

His　countenance　was　hardly　a　prepossessing　one；　but　the　correctitude　of　his　demeanour　went　far　to　obliterate　the　fact。　

He　was　now　the　picture　of　respectful　attention。　

〃It　is　possible；〃　said　the　te；　〃that　in　the　course　of　the　next　few　days　various　strangers　may　e　to　the　house。　They　will　endeavour　to　scrape　acquaintance　with　you　and　with　Marie。　They　will　probably　ask　you　various　questions　concerning　me。〃　

〃Yes；　Monsieur　le　te。〃　

〃Perhaps　this　has　already　happened？〃　

〃No；　Monsieur　le　te。〃　

〃There　have　been　no　strangers　about　the　place？　You　are　certain？〃　

〃There　has　been　no　one；　Monsieur　le　te。〃　

〃That　is　well；〃　said　the　te　drily；　〃nevertheless　they　will　e　…　I　am　sure　of　it。　They　will　ask　questions。〃　

Hippolyte　looked　at　his　master　in　intelligent　anticipation。　

The　te　spoke　slowly；　without　looking　at　Hippolyte。　

〃As　you　know；　I　arrived　here　last　Tuesday　morning。　If　the　police　or　any　other　inquirer　should　question　you；　do　not　forget　that　fact。　I　arrived　on　Tuesday；　the　14th　…　not　Wednesday；　the　15th。　You　understand？〃　

〃Perfectly；　Monsieur　le　te。〃　

〃In　an　affair　where　a　lady　is　concerned；　it　is　always　necessary　to　be　discreet。　I　feel　certain；　Hippolyte；　that　you　can　be　discreet。〃　

〃I　can　be　discreet；　Monsieur。〃　

〃And　Marie？〃　

〃Marie　also。　I　will　answer　for　her。〃　

〃That　is　well　then；〃　murmured　the　te。　

When　Hippolyte　had　withdrawn；　the　te　sipped　his　black　coffee　with　a　reflective　air。　Occasionally　he　frowned；　once　he　shook　his　head　slightly；　twice　he　nodded　it　…　into　the　midst　of　these　cogitations　came　Hippolyte　once　more。　

〃A　lady；　Monsieur。〃　

〃A　lady？〃　

The　te　was　surprised。　Not　that　a　visit　from　a　lady　was　an　unusual　thing　at　the　Villa　Marina；　but　at　this　particular　moment　the　te　could　not　think　who　the　lady　was　likely　to　be。　

〃She　is；　I　think；　a　lady　not　known　to　Monsieur；〃　murmured　the　valet　helpfully。　

The　te　was　more　and　more　intrigued。　

〃Show　her　out　here；　Hippolyte；〃　he　manded。　

A　moment　later　a　marvellous　vision　in　orange　and　black　stepped　out　on　the　terrace；　acpanied　by　a　strong　perfume　of　exotic　blossoms。　

〃Monsieur　le　te　de　la　Roche？〃　

〃At　your　service；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　te；　bowing。　

〃My　name　is　Mirelle。　You　may　have　heard　of　me。〃　

〃Ah；　indeed；　Mademoiselle；　but　who　has　not　been　enchanted　by　the　dancing　of　Mademoiselle　Mirelle？　Exquisite！〃　

The　dancer　acknowledged　this　pliment　with　a　brief　mechanical　smile。　

〃My　descent　upon　you　is　unceremonious；〃　she　began。　

〃But　seat　yourself；　I　beg　of　you；　Mademoiselle；〃　cried　the　te；　bringing　forward　a　chair。　

Behind　the　gallantry　of　his　manner　he　was　observing　her　narrowly。　There　were　very　few　things　that　the　te　did　not　know　about　women。　True；　his　experience　had　not　lain　much　in　ladies　of　Mirelle's　class；　who　were　themselves　predatory。　He　and　the　dancer　were；　in　a　sense；　birds　of　a　feather。　His　arts；　the　te　knew；　would　be　thrown　away　on　Mirelle。　She　was　a　Parisienne；　and　a　shrewd　one。　Nevertheless；　there　was　one　thing　that　the　te　could　recognize　infallibly　when　he　saw　it。　He　knew　at　once　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　a　very　angry　woman；　and　an　angry　woman；　as　the　te　was　well　aware；　always　says　more　than　is　prudent；　and　is　occasionally　a　source　of　profit　to　a　level…headed　gentleman　who　keeps　cool。　

〃It　is　most　amiable　of　you；　Mademoiselle；　to　honour　my　poor　abode　thus。〃　

〃We　have　mutual　friends　in　Paris；〃　said　Mirelle。　〃I　have　heard　of　you　from　them；　but　I　e　to　see　you　today　for　another　reason。　I　have　heard　of　you　since　I　came　to　Nice　…　in　a　different　way；　you　understand。〃　

〃Ah？〃　said　the　te　softly。　

〃I　will　be　brutal；〃　continued　the　dancer；　〃nevertheless；　believe　that　I　have　your　welfare　at　heart。　They　are　saying　in　Nice；　Monsieur　le　te；　that　you　are　the　murderer　of　the　English　lady；　Madame　Kettering。〃　

〃I　…　the　murderer　of　Madame　Kettering？　Pah！　But　how　absurd！〃　

He　spoke　more　languidly　than　indignantly；　knowing　that　he　would　thus　provoke　her　further。　

〃But　yes；〃　she　insisted；　〃it　is　as　I　tell　you。〃　

〃It　amuses　people　to　talk；〃　murmured　the　te　indifferently。　〃It　would　be　beneath　me　to　take　such　wild　accusations　seriously。〃　

〃You　do　not　understand。〃　Mirelle　bent　forward；　her　dark　eyes　flashing。　〃It　is　not　the　idle　talk　of　those　in　the　streets。　It　is　the　police。〃　

〃The　police　…　ah？〃　

The　te　sat　up；　alert　once　more。　

Mirelle　nodded　her　head　vigorously　several　times。　

〃Yes；　yes。　You　prehend　me　…　I　have　friends　everywhere。　The　Prefect　himself　…〃　

She　left　the　sentence　unfinished；　with　an　eloquent　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　

〃Who　is　not　indiscreet　where　a　beautiful　woman　is　concerned？〃　murmured　the　Count　politely。　

〃The　police　believe　that　you　killed　Mrs　Kettering。　But　they　are　wrong。〃　

〃Certainly　they　are　wrong；〃　agreed　the　te　easily。　

〃You　say　that；　but　you　do　not　know　the　truth。　I　do。〃　

The　te　looked　at　her　curiously。　

〃You　know　who　killed　Madame　Kettering？　Is　that　what　you　would　say；　Mademoiselle？〃　

Mirelle　nodded　vehemently。　

〃Yes。〃　

〃Who　was　it？〃　asked　the　te　sharply。　

〃Her　husband。〃　She　bent　nearer　to　the　te；　speaking　in　a　low　voice　that　vibrated　with　anger　and　excitement。　〃It　was　her　husband　who　killed　her。〃　

The　te　leant　back　in　his　chair。　His　face　was　a　mask。　

〃Let　me　ask　you；　Mademoiselle　…　how　do　you　know　this？〃　

〃How　do　I　know　it？〃　Mirelle　sprang　to　her　feet；　with　a　laugh。　〃He　boasted　of　it　beforehand。　He　was　ruined；　bankrupt；　dishonoured。　Only　the　death　of　his　wife　could　save　him。　He　told　me　so。　He　travelled　on　the　same　train　…　but　she　was　not　to　know　it。　Why　was　that；　I　ask　you？　So　that　he　might　creep　upon　her　in　the　night　…　Ah！　…〃　she　shut　her　eyes　…　〃I　can　see　it　happening。。。〃　

The　Count　coughed。　

〃Perhaps　…　perhaps；〃　he　murmured。　〃But　surely；　Mademoiselle；　in　that　case　he　would　not　steal　the　jewels？〃　

〃The　jewels！〃　breathed　Mirelle。　〃The　jewels。　Ah！　Those　rubies。。。〃　

Her　eyes　grew　misty；　a　far…away　light　in　them。　The　te　looked　at　her　curiously；　wondering　for　the　hundredth　time　at　the　magical　influence　of　precious　stones　on　the　female　sex。　He　recalled　her　to　practical　matters。　

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　Mademoiselle？〃　

Mirelle　became　alert　and　businesslike　once　more。　

〃Surely　it　is　simple。　You　will　go　to　the　police。　You　will　say　to　them　that　M。　Kettering　mitted　this　crime。〃　

〃And　if　they　do　not　believe　me？　If　they　ask　for　proof？〃　He　was　eyeing　her　closely。　

Mirelle　laughed　softly；　and　drew　her　orange…and…black　wrap　closer　round　her。　

〃Send　them　to　me；　Monsieur　le　te；〃　she　said　softly；　〃I　will　give　them　the　proof　they　want。〃　

Upon　that　she　was　gone；　an　impetuous　whirlwind；　her　errand　acplished。　

The　te　looked　after　her；　his　eyebrows　delicately　raised。　

〃She　is　in　a　fury；〃　he　murmured。　〃What　has　happened　now　to　upset　her？　But　she　shows　her　hand　too　plainly。　Does　she　really　believe　that　Mr　Kettering　killed　his　wife？　She　would　like　me　to　believe　it。　She　would　even　like　the　police　to　believe　it。〃　

He　smiled　to　himself。　He　had　no　intention　whatsoever　of　going　to　the　police。　He　saw　various　other　possibilities；　to　judge　by　his　smile；　an　agreeable　vista　of　them。　

Presently；　however；　his　brow　clouded。　According　to　Mirelle；　he　was　suspected　by　the　police。　That　might　be　true　or　it　might　not。　

An　angry　woman　of　the　type　of　the　dancer　was　not　likely　to　bother　about　the　strict　veracity　of　her　statements。　On　the　other　hand；　she　might　easily　have　obtained　inside　information。　

In　that　case　…　his　mouth　set　grimly　…　in　that　case　he　must　take　certain　precautions。　

He　went　into　the　house　and　questioned　Hippolyte　closely　once　more　as　to　whether　any　strangers　had　been　to　the　house。　The　valet　was　positive　in　his　assurances　that　this　was　not　the　case。　The　te　went　up　to　his　bedroom　and　crossed　over　to　an　old　bureau　that　stood　against　the　wall。　He　let　down　the　lid　of　this；　and　his　delicate　fingers　sought　a　spring　at　the　back　of　one　of　the　pigeonholes。　

A　secret　drawer　flew　out；　in　it　was　a　small　brown　paper　package。　The　te　took　this　out　and　weighed　it　in　his　hand　carefully　for　a　minute　or　two。　Raising　his　hand　to　his　head；　with　a　slight　grimace　he　pulled　out　a　single　hair。　This　he　placed　on　the　lip　of　the　drawer　and　shut　it　carefully。　Still　carrying　the　small　parcel　in　his　hand；　he　went　downstairs　and　out　of　the　house　to　the　garage；　where　stood　a　scarlet　two…seater　car。　Ten　minutes　later　he　had　taken　the　road　for　Monte　Carlo。　

He　spent　a　few　hours　at　the　Casino；　then　sauntered　out　into　the　town。　Presently　he　reentered　the　car　and　drove　off　in　the　direction　of　Mentone。　Earlier　in　the　afternoon　he　had　noticed　an　inconspicuous　grey　car　some　little　distance　behind　him。　He　noticed　it　again　now。　He　smiled　to　himself。　The　road　was　climbing　steadily　upwards。　The　te's　foot　pressed　hard　on　the　accelerator。　The　little　red　car　had　been　specially　built　to　the　te's　design；　and　had　a　far　more　powerful　engine　than　would　have　been　suspected　from　its　appearance。　It　shot　ahead。　

Presently　he　looked　back　and　smiled；　the　grey　car　was　following　behind。　Smothered　in　dust；　the　little　red　car　leaped　along　the　road。　It　was　travelling　now　at　a　dangerous　pace；　but　the　te　was　a　first…class　driver。　

Now　they　were　going　downhill；　twisting　and　curving　unceasingly。　Presently　the　car　slackened　speed；　and　finally　came　to　a　standstill　before　a　Bureau　de　Poste。　The　te　jumped　out；　lifted　the　lid　of　the　tool　chest；　extracted　the　small　brown　paper　parcel　and　hurried　into　the　post　office。　Two　minutes　later　he　was　driving　once　more　in　the　direction　of　Mentone。　When　the　grey　car　arrived　there；　the　te　was　drinking　English　five　o'clock　tea　on　the　terrace　of　one　of　the　hotels。　

Later；　he　drove　back　to　Monte　Carlo；　dined　there；　and　reached　home　once　more　at　eleven　o'clock。　Hippolyte　came　out　to　meet　him　with　a　disturbed　face。　

〃Ah！　Monsieur　le　te　has　arrived。　Monsieur　le　te　did　not　telephone　me；　by　any　chance？〃　

The　te　shook　his　head。　

〃And　yet　at　three　o'clock　I　received　a　summons　from　Monsieur　le　te；　to　present　myself　to　him　at　Nice；　at　the　Negresco。〃　

〃Really；〃　said　the　te；　〃and　you　went？〃　

〃Certainly；　Monsieur；　but　at　the　Negresco　they　knew　nothing　of　Monsieur　le　te　…　he　had　not　been　there。〃　

〃Ah〃　said　the　te；　〃doubtless　at　that　hour　Marie　was　out　doing　her　afternoon　marketing？〃　

〃