蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第27章

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〃The　address？〃　asked　the　other　sharply。　

Poirot　nodded　his　head。　

〃Might　have　told　us　something；　but　unfortunately　it　does　not。　The　package　was　addressed　to　one　of　these　little　newspaper　shops　in　Paris　where　letters　and　parcels　are　kept　until　called　for　on　payment　of　a　small　mission。〃　

〃Yes；　but　what　is　inside？〃　demanded　Van　Aldin　impatiently。　

Poirot　unwrapped　the　brown　paper　and　disclosed　a　square　cardboard　box。　He　looked　round　him。　

〃It　is　a　good　moment；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃All　eyes　are　on　the　tennis。　Look；　Monsieur！〃　

He　lifted　the　lid　of　the　box　for　the　fraction　of　a　second。　An　exclamation　of　utter　astonishment　came　from　the　millionaire。　His　face　turned　as　white　as　chalk。　

〃My　God！〃　he　breathed；　〃the　rubies。〃　

He　sat　for　a　minute　as　though　dazed。　Poirot　restored　the　box　to　his　pocket。　Then　suddenly　the　millionaire　seemed　to　e　out　of　his　trance；　he　leaned　across　to　Poirot　and　wrung　his　hand　so　heartily　that　the　little　man　winced　with　pain。　

〃This　is　great；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Great！　You　are　the　goods；　M。　Poirot。　Once　and　for　all；　you　are　the　goods。〃　

〃It　is　nothing；〃　said　Poirot　modestly。　〃Order；　method；　being　prepared　for　eventualities　beforehand　…　that　is　all　there　is　to　it。〃　

〃And　now；　I　suppose；　the　te　de　la　Roche　has　been　arrested？〃　continued　Van　Aldin　eagerly。　

〃No；〃　said　Poirot。　

A　look　of　utter　astonishment　came　over　Van　Aldin's　face。　

〃But　why？　What　more　do　you　want？〃　

〃The　te's　alibi　is　still　unshaken。〃　

〃But　that　is　nonsense。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　rather　think　it　is　nonsense；　but　unfortunately　we　have　to　prove　it　so。〃　

〃In　the　meantime　he　will　slip　through　your　fingers。〃　

Poirot　shook　his　head　very　energetically。　

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃he　will　not　do　that。　The　one　thing　the　te　cannot　afford　to　sacrifice　is　his　social　position。　At　all　costs　he　must　stop　and　brazen　it　out。〃　

Van　Aldin　was　still　dissatisfied。　

〃But　I　don't　see　…〃　

Poirot　raised　a　hand。　〃Grant　me　a　little　moment；　Monsieur。　Me；　I　have　a　little　idea。　Many　have　mocked　themselves　at　the　little　ideas　of　Hercule　Poirot　…　and　they　have　been　wrong。〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃go　ahead。　What　is　this　little　idea？〃　

Poirot　paused　for　a　moment　and　then　he　said：　

〃I　will　call　upon　you　at　your　hotel　at　eleven　o'clock　tomorrow　morning。　Until　then；　say　nothing　to　anyone。〃

Chapter　22　

M。　PAPOPOULOS　AT　BREAKFAST

M。　Papopolous　was　at　breakfast。　Opposite　him　sat　his　daughter；　Zia。　

There　was　a　knock　at　the　sitting…room　door；　and　a　chasseur　entered　with　a　card　which　he　brought　to　Mr　Papopolous。　The　latter　scrutinized　it；　raised　his　eyebrows；　and　passed　it　over　to　his　daughter。　

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　scratching　his　left　ear　thoughtfully；　〃Hercule　Poirot。　I　wonder　now。〃　

Father　and　daughter　looked　at　each　other。　

〃I　saw　him　yesterday　at　the　tennis；〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　〃Zia；　I　hardly　like　this。〃　

〃He　was　very　useful　to　you　once；〃　his　daughter　reminded　him。　

〃That　is　true；〃　acknowledged　M。　Papopolous；　〃also　he　has　retired　from　active　work；　so　I　hear。〃　

These　interchanges　between　father　and　daughter　had　passed　in　their　own　language。　Now　M。　Papopolous　turned　to　the　chasseur　and　said　in　French：　

〃Faites　monter　ce　monsieur。〃　

A　few　minutes　later　Hercule　Poirot；　exquisitely　attired；　and　swinging　a　cane　with　a　jaunty　air；　entered　the　room。　

〃My　dear　M。　Papopolous。〃　

〃My　dear　M。　Poirot。〃　

〃And　Mademoiselle　Zia。〃　Poirot　swept　her　a　low　bow。　

〃You　will　excuse　us　going　on　with　our　breakfast；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　pouring　himself　out　another　cup　of　coffee。　〃Your　call　is　…　ahem！　…　a　little　early。〃　

〃It　is　scandalous；〃　said　Poirot；　〃but　see　you；　I　am　pressed。〃　

〃Ah！〃　murmured　M。　Papopolous；　〃you　are　on　an　affair　then？〃　

〃A　very　serious　affair；〃　said　Poirot；　〃the　death　of　Madame　Kettering。〃　

〃Let　me　see；〃　M。　Papopolous　looked　innocently　up　at　the　ceiling；　〃that　was　the　lady　who　died　on　the　Blue　Train；　was　it　not？　I　saw　a　mention　of　it　in　the　papers；　but　there's　no　suggestion　of　foul　play。〃　

〃In　the　interests　of　justice；〃　said　Poirot；　〃it　was　thought　best　to　suppress　that　fact。〃　

There　was　a　pause。　

〃And　in　what　way　can　I　assist　you；　Mr　Poirot？〃　asked　the　dealer　politely。　

〃Voilà；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　shall　e　to　the　point。〃　He　took　from　his　pocket　the　same　box　that　he　had　displayed　at　Cannes；　and　opening　it；　he　took　out　the　rubies　and　pushed　them　across　the　table　to　Papopolous。　

Although　Poirot　was　watching　him　narrowly；　not　a　muscle　of　the　old　man's　face　moved。　He　took　up　the　jewels　and　examined　them　with　a　kind　of　detached　interest；　then　he　looked　across　at　the　detective　inquiringly：　

〃Superb；　are　they　not？〃　asked　Poirot。　

〃Quite　excellent；〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　

〃How　much　should　you　say　they　are　worth？〃　

The　Greek's　face　quivered　a　little。　

〃Is　it　really　necessary　to　tell　you；　M。　Poirot？〃　he　asked。　

〃You　are　shrewd；　M。　Papopolous。　No；　it　is　not。　They　are　not；　for　instance；　worth　five　hundred　thousand　dollars。〃　

Papopolous　laughed；　and　Poirot　joined　with　him。　

〃As　an　imitation；〃　said　Papopolous；　handing　them　back　to　Poirot；　〃they　are；　as　I　said；　quite　excellent。　Would　it　be　indiscreet　to　ask；　M。　Poirot；　where　you　came　across　them？〃　

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Poirot；　〃I　have　no　objection　to　telling　an　old　friend　like　yourself。　They　were　in　the　possession　of　the　te　de　la　Roche。〃　

M。　Papopolous'　eyebrows　lifted　themselves　eloquently。　

〃In…deed；〃　he　murmured。　

Poirot　leant　forward　and　assumed　his　most　innocent　and　beguiling　air。　

〃M。　Papopolous；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　lay　my　cards　upon　the　table。　The　original　of　these　jewels　was　stolen　from　Madame　Kettering　on　the　Blue　Train。　Now　I　will　say　to　you　first　this：　I　am　not　concerned　with　the　recovery　of　these　jewels。　That　is　the　affair　of　the　police。　I　am　working　not　for　the　police　but　for　M。　Van　Aldin。　I　want　to　lay　hands　on　the　man　who　killed　Madame　Kettering。　I　am　interested　in　the　jewels　only　in　so　far　as　they　may　lead　me　to　the　man。　You　understand？〃　

The　last　two　words　were　uttered　with　great　magnificence。　M。　Papopolous；　his　face　quite　unmoved；　said　quietly：　〃Go　on。〃　

〃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。〃