蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)- 第42部分

Knighton　still　looked　slightly　doubtful；　but　Poirot　took　no　notice　of　his　hesitation。　

At　the　hotel；　they　were　told　that　Mademoiselle　was　in；　and　Poirot　sent　up　both　his　and　Knighton's　cards；　with　〃From　Mr　Van　Aldin〃　pencilled　upon　them。　

Word　came　down　that　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　would　receive　them。　

When　they　were　ushered　into　the　dancer's　apartments；　Poirot　immediately　took　the　lead。　

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　murmured；　bowing　very　low；　〃we　are　here　on　behalf　of　M。　Van　Aldin。〃　

〃Ah！　And　why　did　he　not　e　himself？〃　

〃He　is　indisposed；〃　said　Poirot　mendaciously；　〃the　Riviera　throat；　it　has　him　in　its　grip；　but　me；　I　am　empowered　to　act　for　him；　as　is　Major　Knighton；　his　secretary。　Unless；　of　course；　Mademoiselle　would　prefer　to　wait　a　fortnight　or　so。〃　

If　there　was　one　thing　of　which　Poirot　was　tolerably　certain；　it　was　that　to　a　temperament　such　as　Mirelle's　the　mere　word　〃wait〃　was　anathema。　

〃Eh　bien；　I　will　speak；　Messieurs；〃　she　cried。　〃I　have　been　patient。　I　have　held　my　hand。　And　for　what？　That　I　should　be　insulted！　Yes；　insulted！　Ah！　Does　he　think　to　treat　Mirelle　like　that？　To　throw　her　off　like　an　old　glove。　I　tell　you　never　has　a　man　tired　of　me。　Always　it　is　I　who　tire　of　them。〃　

She　paced　up　and　down　the　room；　her　slender　body　trembling　with　rage。　A　small　table　impeded　her　free　passage　and　she　flung　it　from　her　into　a　corner；　where　it　splintered　against　the　wall。　

〃That　is　what　I　will　do　to　him；〃　she　cried；　〃and　that！〃　

Picking　up　a　glass　bowl　filled　with　lilies　she　flung　it　into　the　grate；　where　it　smashed　into　a　hundred　pieces。　

Knighton　was　looking　at　her　with　cold　British　disapproval。　He　felt　embarrassed　and　ill　at　ease。　Poirot；　on　the　other　hand；　with　twinkling　eyes　was　thoroughly　enjoying　the　scene。　

〃Ah；　it　is　magnificent！〃　he　cried。　〃It　can　be　seen　…　Madame　has　a　temperament。〃　

〃I　am　an　artist；〃　said　Mirelle；　〃every　artist　has　a　temperament。　I　told　Dereek　to　beware；　and　he　would　not　listen。〃　She　whirled　round　on　Poirot　suddenly。　〃It　is　true；　is　it　not；　that　he　wants　to　marry　that　English　miss？〃　

Poirot　coughed。　

〃On　m'a　dit；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　he　adores　her　passionately。〃　

Mirelle　came　towards　them。　

〃He　murdered　his　wife；〃　she　screamed。　〃There　…　now　you　have　it！　He　told　me　beforehand　that　he　meant　to　do　it。　He　had　got　to　an　impasse　…　zut！　he　took　the　easiest　way　out。〃　

〃You　say　that　M。　Kettering　murdered　his　wife。〃　

〃Yes；　yes；　yes。　Have　I　not　told　you　so？〃　

〃The　police；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃will　need　proof　of　that　…　er　…　statement。〃　

〃I　tell　you　I　saw　him　e　out　of　her　partment　that　night　on　the　train。〃　

〃When？〃　asked　Poirot　sharply。　

〃Just　before　the　train　reached　Lyons。〃　

〃You　will　swear　to　that；　Mademoiselle？〃　

It　was　a　different　Poirot　who　spoke　now；　sharp　and　decisive。　

〃Yes。〃　

There　was　a　moment's　silence。　Mirelle　was　panting；　and　her　eyes；　half　defiant；　half　frightened；　went　from　the　face　of　one　man　to　the　other。　

〃This　is　a　serious　matter；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　detective。　〃You　realize　how　serious？〃　

〃Certainly　I　do。〃　

〃That　is　well；〃　said　Poirot。　〃Then　you　understand；　Mademoiselle；　that　no　time　must　be　lost。　You　will；　perhaps；　acpany　us　immediately　to　the　office　of　the　Examining　Magistrate。〃　

Mirelle　was　taken　aback。　She　hesitated；　but；　as　Poirot　had　foreseen；　she　had　no　loophole　for　escape。　

〃Very　well；〃　she　muttered。　〃I　will　fetch　a　coat。〃　

Left　alone　together；　Poirot　and　Knighton　exchanged　glances。　

〃It　is　necessary　to　act　while　…　how　do　you　say　it？　…　the　iron　is　hot；〃　murmured　Poirot。　〃She　is　temperamental；　in　an　hour's　time；　maybe；　she　will　repent；　and　she　will　wish　to　draw　back。　We　must　prevent　that　at　all　costs。〃　

Mirelle　reappeared；　wrapped　in　a　sand…coloured　velvet　wrap　trimmed　with　leopard　skin。　She　looked　not　altogether　unlike　a　leopardess；　tawny　and　dangerous。　Her　eyes　still　flashed　with　anger　and　determination。　

They　found　M。　Caux　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　together。　A　few　brief　introductory　words　from　Poirot；　and　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　was　courteously　entreated　to　tell　her　tale。　This　she　did　in　much　the　same　words　as　she　had　done　to　Knighton　and　Poirot；　though　with　far　more　soberness　of　manner。　

〃This　is　an　extraordinary　story；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　M。　Carrege　slowly。　He　leant　back　in　his　chair；　adjusted　his　pince…nez；　and　looked　keenly　and　searchingly　at　the　dancer　through　them。　

〃You　wish　us　to　believe　M。　Kettering　actually　boasted　of　the　crime　to　you　beforehand？〃　

〃Yes；　yes。　She　was　too　healthy；　he　said。　If　she　were　to　die　it　must　be　an　accident　…　he　would　arrange　it　all。〃　

〃You　are　aware；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　M。　Carrege　sternly；　〃that　you　are　making　yourself　out　to　be　an　accessory　before　the　fact？〃　

〃Me？　But　not　the　least　in　the　world；　Monsieur。　Not　for　a　moment　did　I　take　that　statement　seriously。　Ah　no；　indeed！　I　know　men；　Monsieur；　they　say　many　wild　things。　It　would　be　an　odd　state　of　affairs　if　one　were　to　take　all　they　said　au　pied　de　la　lettre。〃　

The　Examining　Magistrate　raised　his　eyebrows。　

〃We　are　to　take　it；　then；　that　you　regarded　M。　Kettering's　threats　as　mere　idle　words？　May　I　ask；　Mademoiselle；　what　made　you　throw　up　your　engagements　in　London　and　e　out　to　the　Riviera？〃　

Mirelle　looked　at　him　with　melting　black　eyes。　

〃I　wished　to　be　with　the　man　I　loved；〃　she　said　simply。　〃Was　it　so　unnatural？〃　

Poirot　interpolated　a　question　gently。　

〃Was　it；　then；　at　M。　Kettering's　wish　that　you　acpanied　him　to　Nice？〃　

Mirelle　seemed　to　find　a　little　difficulty　in　answering　this。　She　hesitated　perceptibly　before　she　spoke。　When　she　did；　it　was　with　a　haughty　indifference　of　manner。　

〃In　such　matters　I　please　myself；　Monsieur；〃　she　said。　

That　the　answer　was　not　an　answer　at　all　was　noted　by　all　three　men。　They　said　nothing。　

〃When　were　you　first　convinced　that　M。　Kettering　had　murdered　his　wife？〃　

〃As　I　tell　you；　Monsieur；　I　saw　M。　Kettering　e　out　of　his　wife's　partment　just　before　the　train　drew　into　Lyons。　There　was　a　look　on　his　face　…　ah！　at　the　moment　I　could　not　understand　it　…　a　look　haunted　and　terrible。　I　shall　never　forget　it。〃　

Her　voice　rose　shrilly；　and　she　flung　out　her　arms　in　an　extravagant　gesture。　

〃Quite　so；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　

〃Afterwards；　when　I　found　that　Madame　Kettering　was　dead　when　the　train　left　Lyons；　then　…　then　I　knew！〃　

〃And　still　…　you　did　not　go　to　the　police；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　missary　mildly。　

Mirelle　glanced　at　him　superbly；　she　was　clearly　enjoying　herself　in　the　role　she　was　playing。　

〃Shall　I　betray　my　lover？〃　she　asked。　〃Ah　no；　do　not　ask　a　woman　to　do　that。〃　

〃Yet　now　…〃　hinted　M。　Caux。　

〃Now　it　is　different。　He　has　betrayed　me！　Shall　I　suffer　that　in　silence？〃　

The　Examining　Magistrate　checked　her。　

〃Quite　so；　quite　so；〃　he　murmured　soothingly。　

〃And　now；　Mademoiselle；　perhaps　you　will　read　over　the　statement　of　what　you　have　told　us；　see　that　it　is　correct；　and　sign　it。〃　

Mirelle　wasted　no　time　on　the　document。　

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　correct。〃　She　rose　to　her　feet。　〃You　require　me　no　longer；　Messieurs？〃　

〃At　present；　no；　Mademoiselle。〃　

〃And　Dereek　will　be　arrested？〃　

〃At　once；　Mademoiselle。〃　

Mirelle　laughed　cruelly　and　drew　her　fu