蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)- 第25部分

〃It　seems　to　me　probable；　Monsieur；　that　the　jewels　will　change　hands　in　Nice　…　maybe　they　have　done　so。〃　

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　

He　sipped　his　coffee　reflectively；　and　looked　a　shade　more　noble　and　patriarchal　than　usual。　

〃I　say　to　myself；〃　continued　Poirot；　with　animation；　〃what　good　fortune！　My　old　friend；　M。　Papopolous；　is　in　Nice。　He　will　aid　me。〃　

〃And　how　do　you　think　I　can　aid　you？〃　inquired　M。　Papopolous　coldly。　

〃I　said　to　myself；　without　doubt　M。　Papopolous　is　in　Nice　on　business。〃　

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　〃I　am　here　for　my　health　…　by　the　doctor's　orders。〃　

He　coughed　hollowly。　

〃I　am　desolated　to　hear　it；〃　replied　Poirot；　with　somewhat　insincere　sympathy。　〃But　to　continue。　When　a　Russian　Grand　Duke；　an　Austrian　Archduchess；　or　an　Italian　Prince　wish　to　dispose　of　their　family　jewels　…　to　whom　do　they　go？　To　M。　Papopolous；　is　it　not？　He　who　is　famous　all　over　the　world　for　the　discretion　with　which　he　arranges　these　things。〃　

The　other　bowed。　

〃You　flatter　me。〃　

〃It　is　a　great　thing；　discretion；〃　mused　Poirot；　and　was　rewarded　by　the　fleeting　smile　which　passed　across　the　Greek's　face。　〃I；　too；　can　be　discreet。〃　

The　eyes　of　the　two　men　met。　

Then　Poirot　went　on　speaking　very　slowly；　and　obviously　picking　his　words　with　care。　

〃I　say　to　myself；　this：　if　these　jewels　have　changed　hands　in　Nice；　M。　Papopolous　would　have　heard　of　it。　He　has　knowledge　of　all　that　passes　in　the　jewel　world。〃　

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　and　helped　himself　to　a　croissant。　

〃The　police；　you　understand；〃　said　M。　Poirot；　〃do　not　enter　into　the　matter。　It　is　a　personal　affair。〃　

〃One　hears　rumours；〃　admitted　M。　Papopolous　cautiously。　

〃Such　as？〃　prompted　Poirot。　

〃Is　there　any　reason　why　I　should　pass　them　on？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　think　there　is。　You　may　remember；　M。　Papopolous；　that　seventeen　years　ago　there　was　a　certain　article　in　your　hands；　left　there　as　security　by　a　very　…　er　…　Prominent　Person。　It　was　in　your　keeping　and　it　unaccountably　disappeared。　You　were；　if　I　may　use　the　English　expression；　in　the　soup。〃　

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　o'clock　when　Poirot　presented　himself　at　Van　Aldin's　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？〃　

〃Yes；　my　little　idea。〃　Poirot　smiled。　〃First　of　all；　Monsieur；　I　should　like　to　interview　once　more　the　maid；　Ada　Mason。　She　is　here？〃　

〃Yes；　she's　here。〃　

〃Ah！〃　

Van　Aldin　looked　at　him　curiously。　He　rang　the　bell；　and　a　messenger　was　dispatched　to　find　Mason。　

Poirot　greeted　her　with　his　usual　politeness；　which　was　never　without　effect　on　that　particular　class。　

〃Good　afternoon；　Mademoiselle；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　〃Be　seated；　will　you　not；　if　Monsieur　permits。〃　

〃Yes；　yes；　sit　down；　my　girl；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Mason　primly；　and　she　sat　down　on　the　extreme　edge　of　a　chair。　She　looked　bonier　and　more　acid　than　ever。　

〃I　have　e　to　ask　you　yet　more　questions；〃　said　Poirot。　〃We　must　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　affair。　Alan　in　the　train。　You　have　been　shown　the　te　de　la　Roche。　You　say　that　it　is　possible　he　was　the　man；　but　you　are　not　sure。〃　

〃As　I　told　you；　sir；　I　never　saw　the　gentleman's　face。　That　is　what　makes　it　so　difficult。〃　

Poirot　beamed　and　nodded。　

〃Precisely；　exactly。　I　prehend　well　the　difficulty。　Now；　Mademoiselle；　you　have　been　in　the　service　of　Madame　Kettering　two　months；　you　say。　During　that　time；　how　often　did　you　see　your　master？〃　

Mason　reflected　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　said：　

〃Only　twice；　sir。〃　

〃And　was　that　near　to；　or　far　away？〃　

〃Well　once；　sir；　he　came　to　Curzon　Street。　I　was　upstairs；　and　I　looked　over　the　banisters　and　saw　him　in　the　hall　below。　I　was　a　bit　curious　like；　you　understand；　knowing　the　way　things　…　er　…　were。〃　Mason　finished　up　with　her　discreet　cough。　

〃And　the　other　time？〃　

〃I　was　in　the　Park；　sir；　with　Annie　…　one　of　the　housemaids；　sir；　and　she　pointed　out　the　master　to　me　walking　with　a　foreign　lady。〃　

Again　Poirot　nodded。　

〃Now　listen；　Mason；　this　man　whom　you　saw　in　the　carriage　talking　to　your　mistress　at　the　Gare　de　Lyon；　how　do　you　know　it　was　not　your　master？〃　

〃The　master；　sir？　Oh；　I　don't　think　it　would　have　been。〃　

〃But　you　are　not　sure；〃　Poirot　persisted。　

〃Well　…　I　never　thought　of　it；　sir。〃　

Mason　was　clearly　upset　at　the　idea。　

〃You　have　heard　that　your　master　was　also　on　the　train。　What　more　natural　than　that　it　should　be　he　who　came　along　the　corridor。〃　

〃But　the　gentleman　who　was　talking　to　the　mistress　must　have　e　from　outside；　sir。　He　was　dressed　for　the　street。　In　an　overcoat　and　soft　hat。〃　

〃Just　so；　Mademoiselle；　but　reflect　a　minute。　The　train　has　just　arrived　at　the　Gare　de　Lyon。　Many　of　the　passengers　promenade　themselves　upon　the　quay。　Your　mistress　was　about　to　do　so；　and　for　that　purpose　had　doubtless　put　on　her　fur　coat；　eh？〃　

〃Yes；　sir；〃　agreed　Mason。　

〃Your　master；　then；　does　the　same。　The　train　is　heated；　but　outside　in　the　station　it　is　cold。　He　puts　on　his　overcoat　and　his　hat　and　he　walks　along　beside　the　train；　and　looking　up　at　the　lighted　windows　he　suddenly　sees　Madame　Kettering。　Until　then　he　has　had　no　idea　that　she　was　on　the　train。　Naturally；　he　mounts　the　carriage　and　goes　to　her　partment。　She　gives　an　exclamation　of　surprise　at　seeing　him　and　quickly　shuts　the　door　between　the　two　partments　since　it　is　possible　that　their　conversation　may　be　of　a　private　nature。〃　

He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　watched　the　suggestion　slowly　take　effect。　No　one　knew　better　than　Hercule　Poirot　that　the　class　to　which　Mason　belongs　cannot　be　hurried。　

He　must　give　her　time　to　get　rid　of　her　own　preconceived　ideas。　At　the　end　of　three　minutes　she　spoke：　

〃Well；　of　course；　sir；　it　might　be　so。　I　never　thought　of　it　that　way。　The　master　is　tall　and　dark；　and　just　about　that　build。　It　was　seeing　the　hat　and　coat　that　made　me　say　it　was　a　gentleman　from　outside。　Yes；　it　might　have　been　the　master。　I　would　not　like　to　say　either　way；　I　am　sure。〃　

〃Thank　you　very　much；　Mademoiselle。　I　shall　not　require　you　any　further。　Ah；　just　one　thing　more。〃　He　took　from　his　pocket　the　cigarette　case　he　had　already　shown　to　Katherine。　〃Is　that　your　mistress's　case？〃　he　said　to　Mason。　

〃No；　sir；　it　is　not　the　mistress's　…　at　least　…〃　

She　looked　suddenly　startled。　An　idea　was　clearly　working　its　way　to　the　forefront　of　her　mind。　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　encouragingly。　

〃I　think；　sir　…　I　can't　be　sure；　but　I　think　…　it　is　a　case　that　the　mistress　bought　to　give　to　the　master。〃　

〃Ah；〃　said　Poirot　in　a　nonmittal　manner。　

〃But　whether　she　ever　did　give　it　to　him　or　not；　I　can't　say；　of　course。〃　

〃Precisely；〃　said　Poirot；　〃precisely。　That　is　all；　I　think；　Mademoiselle。　I　wish　you　good　afternoon。〃　

Ada　Mason　retired　discreetly；　closing　the　door　noiselessly　behind　her。　

Poirot　looked　across　at　Van　Aldin；　a　faint　smile　up