蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第17节

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with　a　curt　word。　But　now　Van　Aldin　seemed　to　be　throwing　himself　into　work　with　redoubled　energy；　and　the　secretary　made　the　most　of　his　opportunities。　Always　tactful；　he　plied　the　spur　so　unobtrusively　that　Van　Aldin　never　suspected　it。　

Yet　in　the　middle　of　this　absorption　in　business　matters；　one　little　fact　lay　at　the　back　of　Van　Aldin's　mind。　A　chance　remark　of　Knighton's；　uttered　by　the　secretary　in　all　unconsciousness；　had　given　rise　to　it。　It　now　festered　unseen；　gradually　reaching　further　and　further　forward　into　Van　Aldin's　consciousness；　until　at　last；　in　spite　of　himself　he　had　to　yield　to　its　insistence。　

He　listened　to　what　Knighton　was　saying　with　his　usual　air　of　keen　attention；　but　in　reality　not　one　word　of　it　perated　his　mind。　He　nodded　automatically；　however；　and　the　secretary　turned　to　some　other　paper。　

As　he　was　sorting　them　out；　his　employer　spoke：　

〃Do　you　mind　telling　me　that　over　again；　Knighton？〃　

For　a　moment　Knighton　was　at　a　loss。　

〃You　mean　about　this；　sir？〃　He　held　up　a　closely　written　pany　report。　

〃No；　no；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃what　you　told　me　about　seeing　Ruth's　maid　in　Paris　last　night。　I　can't　make　it　out。　You　must　have　been　mistaken。〃　

〃I　can't　have　been　mistaken；　sir；　I　actually　spoke　to　her。〃　

〃Well；　tell　me　the　whole　thing　again。〃　

Knighton　plied。　

〃I　had　fixed　up　the　deal　with　Barthermers；〃　he　explained；　〃and　had　gone　back　to　the　Ritz　to　pick　up　my　traps　preparatory　to　having　dinner　and　catching　the　nine　o'clock　train　from　the　Gare　du　Nord。　At　the　reception　desk　I　sars　Kettering's　maid。　I　went　up　to　her　and　asked　if　Mrs　Kettering　was　staying　there。〃　

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Of　course。　Naturally。　And　she　told　you　that　Ruth　had　gone　on　to　the　Riviera　and　had　sent　her　to　the　Ritz　to　await　further　orders　there？〃　

〃Exactly　that；　sir。〃　

〃It　is　very　odd；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Very　odd；　indeed；　unless　the　woman　had　been　impertinent　or　something　of　that　kind。〃　

〃In　that　case；〃　objected　Knighton；　〃surely　Mrs　Kettering　would　have　paid　her　down　a　sum　of　money；　and　told　her　to　go　back　to　England。　She　would　hardly　have　sent　her　to　the　Ritz。〃　

〃No；〃　muttered　the　millionaire；　〃that's　true。〃　

He　was　about　to　say　something　further；　but　checked　himself。　He　was　fond　of　Knighton　and　liked　and　trusted　him；　but　he　could　hardly　discuss　his　daughter's　private　affairs　with　his　secretary。　He　had　already　felt　hurt　by　Ruth's　lack　of　frankness；　and　this　chance　revelation　which　had　e　to　him　did　nothing　to　allay　his　misgivings。　

Why　had　Ruth　got　rid　of　her　maid　in　Paris？　What　possible　object　or　motive　could　she　have　had　in　so　doing？　

He　reflected　for　a　moment　or　two　on　the　curious　bination　of　chance。　How　should　it　have　occurred　to　Ruth；　except　as　the　wildest　coincidence；　that　the　first　person　that　the　maid　should　run　across　in　Paris　should　be　her　father's　secretary？　Ah；　but　that　was　the　way　things　happened。　That　was　the　way　things　got　found　out。　

He　winced　at　the　last　phrase；　it　had　arisen　with　plete　naturalness　to　his　mind。　Was　there　then　'something　to　be　found　out'？　He　hated　to　put　this　question　to　himself；　he　had　no　doubt　of　the　answer。　The　answer　was　…　he　was　sure　of　it　…　Armand　de　la　Roche。　

It　was　bitter　to　Van　Aldin　that　a　daughter　of　his　should　be　gulled　by　such　a　man；　yet　he　was　forced　to　admit　that　she　was　in　good　pany　…　that　other　well…bred　and　intelligent　women　had　succumbed　just　as　easily　to　the　Count's　fascination。　Men　saw　through　him；　women　did　not。　

He　sought　now　for　a　phrase　that　would　allay　any　suspicion　that　his　secretary　might　have　felt。　

〃Ruth　is　always　changing　her　mind　about　things　at　a　moment's　notice；〃　he　remarked；　and　then　he　added　in　a　would…be　careless　tone；　〃The　maid　didn't　give　any　…　er　…　reason　for　this　change　of　plan？〃　

Knighton　was　careful　to　make　his　voice　as　natural　as　possible　as　he　replied：　

〃She　said；　sir；　that　Mrs　Kettering　had　met　a　friend　unexpectedly。〃　

〃Is　that　so？〃　

The　secretary's　practised　ears　caught　the　note　of　strain　underlying　the　seemingly　casual　tone。　

〃Oh；　I　see。　Man　or　woman？〃　

〃I　think　she　said　a　man；　sir。〃　

Van　Aldin　nodded。　His　worst　fears　were　being　realized。　He　rose　from　his　chair；　and　began　pacing　up　and　down　the　room；　a　habit　of　his　when　agitated。　Unable　to　contain　his　feelings　any　longer；　he　burst　forth：　

〃There　is　one　thing　no　man　can　do；　and　that　is　to　get　a　woman　to　listen　to　reason。　Somehow　or　other；　they　don't　seem　to　have　any　kind　of　sense。　Talk　of　woman's　instinct　…　why；　it　is　well　known　all　the　world　over　that　a　woman　is　the　surest　mark　for　any　rascally　swindler。　Not　one　in　ten　of　them　knows　a　scoundrel　when　she　meets　one；　they　can　be　preyed　on　by　any　good…looking　fellow　with　a　soft　side　to　his　tongue。　If　I　had　my　way　…〃　

He　was　interrupted。　A　page…boy　entered　with　a　telegram。　Van　Aldin　tore　it　open；　and　his　face　went　a　sudden　chalky　white。　He　caught　hold　of　the　back　of　a　chair　to　steady　himself；　and　waved　the　page…boy　from　the　room。　

〃What's　the　matter；　sir？〃　

Knighton　had　risen　in　concern。　

〃Ruth！〃　said　Van　Aldin　hoarsely。　

〃Mrs　Kettering？〃　

〃Killed！〃　

〃An　accident　to　the　train？〃　

Van　Aldin　shook　his　head。　

〃No。　From　this　it　seems　she　has　been　robbed　as　well。　They　don't　use　the　word；　Knighton；　but　my　poor　girl　has　been　murdered。〃　

〃Oh；　my　God；　sir！〃　

Van　Aldin　tapped　the　telegram　with　his　forefinger。　

〃This　is　from　the　police　at　Nice。　I　must　go　out　there　by　the　first　train。〃　

Knighton　was　efficient　as　ever。　He　glanced　at　the　clock。　

〃Five　o'clock　from　Victoria；　sir。〃　

〃That's　right。　You　will　e　with　me；　Knighton。　Tell　my　man；　Archer；　and　pack　your　own　things。　See　to　everything　here。　I　want　to　go　round　to　Curzon　Street。〃　

The　telephone　rang　sharply；　and　the　secretary　tilted　the　receiver。　

〃Yes；　who　is　it？〃　

Then　to　Van　Aldin。　

〃Mr　Goby；　sir。〃　

〃Goby？　I　can't　see　him　now。　No　…　wait；　we　have　plenty　of　time。　Tell　them　to　send　him　up。〃　

Van　Aldin　was　a　strong　man。　Already　he　had　recovered　that　iron　calm　of　his。　Few　people　would　have　noticed　anything　amiss　in　his　greeting　to　Mr　Goby。　

〃I　am　pressed　for　time；　Goby。　Got　anything　important　to　tell　me？〃　

Mr　Goby　coughed。　

〃The　movements　of　Mr　Kettering；　sir。　You　wished　them　reported　to　you。〃　

〃Yes　…　well？〃　

〃Mr　Kettering；　sir；　left　London　for　the　Riviera　yesterday　morning。〃　

〃What？〃　

Something　in　his　voice　must　have　startled　Mr　Goby。　That　worthy　gentleman　departed　from　his　usual　practice　of　never　looking　at　a　person　to　whom　he　was　talking；　and　stole　a　fleeting　glance　at　the　millionaire。　

〃What　train　did　he　go　on？〃　demanded　Van　Aldin。　

〃The　Blue　Train；　sir。〃　

Mr　Goby　coughed　again　and　spoke　to　the　clock　on　the　mantelpiece。　

〃Mademoiselle　Mirelle；　the　dancer　from　the　Parthenon；　went　by　the　same　train。〃

Chapter　14　

ADA　MASON'S　STORY

〃I　cannot　repeat　to　you　often　enough；　Monsieur；　our　horror；　our　consternation；　and　the　deep　sympathy　we　feel　for　you。〃　

Thus　M。　Carrege；　the　Juge　d'Instruction；　addressed　Van　Aldin。　M。　Caux；　the　missary；　made　sympathetic　noises　in　his　throat。　Van　Aldin　brushed　away　horror；　consternation　and　sympathy　with　an　abrupt　gesture。　The　scene　was　the　Examining　Magistrate's　room　at　Nice。　Besides　M。　Carrege；　the　missary；　and　Van　Aldin；　there　was　a　further　person　in　the　room。　It　was　that　person　who　now　spoke。　

〃M。　Van　Aldin；〃　he　said；　〃desires　action　…　swift　action。〃　

〃Ah！〃　cried　the　missary；　〃I　have　not　yet　presented　you。　M。　Van　Aldin；　this　is　M。　Hercule　Poirot；　you　have　doubtless　heard　of　him。　Although　he　has　retired　from　his　profession　for　some　years　now；　his　name　is　still　a　household　word　as　one　of　the　greatest　living　detectives。〃　

〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　M。　Poirot；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　falling　back　mechanically　on　a　formula　that　he　had　discarded　some　years　ago。　〃You　have　retired　from　your　profession？〃　

〃That　is　so；　Monsieur。　Now　I　enjoy　the　world。〃　

The　little　man　made　a　grandiloquent　gesture。　

〃M。　Poirot　happened　to　be　travelling　on　the　Blue　Train；〃　explained　the　missary；　〃and　he　has　been　so　kind　as　to　assist　us　out　of　his　vast　experience。〃　

The　millionaire　looked　at　Poirot　keenly。　Then　he　said　unexpectedly：　

〃I　am　a　very　rich　man；　M。　Poirot。　It　is　usually　said　that　a　rich　man　labours　under　the　belief　that　he　can　buy　everything　and　everyone。　That　is　not　true。　I　am　a　big　man　in　my　way；　and　one　big　man　can　ask　a　favour　from　another　big　man。〃　

Poirot　nodded　a　quick　appreciation。　

〃That　is　very　well　said；　M。　Van　Aldin。　I　place　myself　entirely　at　your　service。〃　

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃I　can　only　say：　call　upon　me　at　any　time；　and　you　will　not　find　me　ungrateful。　And　now；　gentlemen；　to　business。〃　

〃I　propose；〃　said　M。　Carrege；　〃to　interrogate　the　maid；　Ada　Mason。　You　have　her　here；　I　understand？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃We　picked　her　up　in　Paris　in　passing　through。　She　was　very　upset　to　hear　of　her　mistress's　death；　but　she　tells　her　story　coherently　enough。〃　

〃We　will　have　her　in；　then；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

He　rang　the　bell　on　his　desk；　and　in　a　few　minutes　Ada　Mason　entered　the　room。　

She　was　very　neatly　dressed　in　black；　and　the　tip　of　her　nose　was　red。　She　had　exchanged　her　grey　travelling　gloves　for　a　pair　of　black　suede　ones。　She　cast　a　look　round　the　Exam