蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)- 第29部分

In　spite　of　his　careless　words；　his　face　looked　haggard　and　strained。　Mirelle　leaned　forward　suddenly。　

〃You　cannot　deceive　me；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　know　…　I　know　what　you　have　done　for　me。〃　

He　looked　up　at　her　sharply。　Some　undercurrent　in　her　voice　arrested　his　attention。　

She　nodded　her　head　at　him。　

〃Ah！　have　no　fear；　I　am　discreet。　You　are　magnificent！　You　have　a　superb　courage；　but；　all　the　same；　it　was　I　who　gave　you　the　idea　that　day；　when　I　said　to　you　in　London　that　accidents　sometimes　happened。　And　you　are　not　in　danger？　The　police　do　not　suspect　you？〃　

〃What　the　devil　…〃　

〃Hush！〃　

She　held　up　a　slim　olive　hand　with　one　big　emerald　on　the　little　finger。　

〃You　are　right；　I　should　not　have　spoken　in　so　a　public　place。　We　will　not　speak　of　the　matter　again；　but　our　troubles　are　ended；　our　life　together　will　be　wonderful　…　wonderful！〃　

Derek　laughed　suddenly　…　a　harsh；　disagreeable　laugh。　

〃So　the　rats　e　back；　do　they？　Two　million　makes　a　difference　…　of　course　it　does。　I　ought　to　have　known　that。〃　He　laughed　again。　〃You　will　help　me　to　spend　that　two　million；　won't　you；　Mirelle？　You　know　how；　no　woman　better。〃　He　laughed　again。　

〃Hush！〃　cried　the　dancer。　〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Dereek？　See　…　people　are　turning　to　stare　at　you。〃　

〃Me？　I　will　tell　you　what　is　the　matter。　I　have　finished　with　you；　Mirelle。　Do　you　hear？　Finished！〃　

Mirelle　did　not　take　it　as　he　expected　her　to　do。　She　looked　at　him　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　she　smiled　softly。　

〃But　what　a　child！　You　are　angry　…　you　are　sore；　and　all　because　I　am　practical。　Did　I　not　always　tell　you　that　I　adored　you？〃　

She　leaned　forward。　

〃But　I　know　you；　Dereek。　Look　at　me？　…　see；　it　is　Mirelle　who　speaks　to　you。　You　cannot　live　without　her；　you　know　it。　I　loved　you　before；　I　will　love　you　a　hundred　times　more　now。　I　will　make　life　wonderful　for　you　…　but　wonderful。　There　is　no　one　like　Mirelle。〃　Her　eyes　burned　into　his。　She　saw　him　grow　pale　and　draw　in　his　breath；　and　she　smiled　to　herself　contentedly。　She　knew　her　own　magic　and　power　over　men。　

〃That　is　settled；〃　she　said　softly；　and　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃And　now；　Dereek；　will　you　give　me　lunch？〃　

〃No。〃　

He　drew　in　his　breath　sharply　and　rose　to　his　feet。　

〃I　am　sorry；　but　I　told　you　…　I　have　got　an　engagement。〃　

〃You　are　lunching　with　someone　else？　Bah！　I　don't　believe　it。〃　

〃I　am　lunching　with　that　lady　over　there。〃　

He　crossed　abruptly　to　where　a　lady　in　white　had　just　e　up　the　steps。　He　addressed　her　a　little　breathlessly。　

〃Miss　Grey；　will　you　…　will　you　have　lunch　with　me？　You　met　me　at　Lady　Tamplin's；　if　you　remember。〃　

Katherine　looked　at　him　for　a　minute　or　so　with　those　thoughtful　grey　eyes　that　said　so　much。　

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said；　after　a　moment's　pause；　〃I　should　like　to　very　much。〃

Chapter　19　

AN　UNEXPECTED　VISITOR

The　te　de　la　Roche　had　just　finished　déjeuner；　consisting　of　an　omelette　fines　herbes；　an　entrec？te　Bearnaise；　and　a　Savarin　au　Rhum。　Wiping　his　fine　black　moustache　delicately　with　his　table　napkin；　the　te　rose　from　the　table。　He　passed　through　the　salon　of　the　villa；　noting　with　appreciation　the　few　objets　d'art　which　were　carelessly　scattered　about。　The　Louis　XV　snuff…box；　the　satin　shoe　worn　by　Marie　Antoite；　and　the　other　historic　trifles　were　part　of　the　te's　mise　en　scene。　They　were；　he　would　explain　to　his　fair　visitors；　heirlooms　in　his　family。　Passing　through　on　to　the　terrace；　the　te　looked　out　on　the　Mediterranean　with　an　unseeing　eye。　He　was　in　no　mood　for　appreciating　the　beauties　of　scenery。　A　fully　matured　scheme　had　been　rudely　brought　to　naught；　and　his　plans　had　to　be　cast　afresh。　Stretching　himself　out　in　a　basket　chair；　a　cigarette　held　between　his　white　fingers；　the　te　pondered　deeply。　

Presently　Hippolyte；　his　manservant；　brought　out　coffee　and　a　choice　of　liqueurs。　The　te　selected　some　very　fine　old　brandy。　

As　the　man…servant　was　preparing　to　depart；　the　te　arrested　him　with　a　slight　gesture。　Hippolyte　stood　respectfully　to　attention。　

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；　alw