蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第39章

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　me　your　jewels　in　their　case　every　night　and　I　will　lock　them　away　for　you。'　My　mother　was　a　very　tactful　woman；　and　she　knew　that　gentlemen　like　having　their　own　way；　and　she　brought　him　the　jewel…case　locked　up　just　as　he　said。　

〃And　one　night　burglars　broke　in；　and　of　course　…　naturally　…　the　first　thing　they　went　for　was　the　safe！　It　would　be；　with　my　father　talking　up　and　down　the　village　and　bragging　about　it　until　you　might　have　thought　he　kept　all　King　Solomon's　diamonds　there。　They　made　a　clean　sweep；　got　the　tankards；　the　silver　cups；　and　the　presentation　gold　plate　that　my　father　had　had　presented　to　him；　and　the　jewel…case。〃　

She　sighed　reminiscently。　〃My　father　was　in　a　great　state　over　my　mother's　jewels。　There　was　the　Veian　set　and　some　very　fine　cameos；　and　some　pale　pink　corals；　and　two　diamond　rings　with　quite　large　stones　in　them。　And　then；　of　course；　she　had　to　tell　him　that；　being　a　sensible　woman；　she　had　kept　her　jewellery　rolled　up　in　a　pair　of　corsets；　and　there　it　was　still　as　safe　as　anything。〃　

〃And　the　jepty？〃　

〃Oh　no；　dear；〃　said　Miss　Viner；　〃it　would　have　been　too　light　a　weight　then。　My　mother　was　a　very　intelligent　woman；　she　saw　to　that。　She　kept　her　buttons　in　the　jewel…case；　and　a　very　handy　place　it　was。　Boot　buttons　in　the　top　tray；　trouser　buttons　in　the　second　tray；　and　assorted　buttons　below。　Curiously　enough；　my　father　was　quite　annoyed　with　her。　He　said　he　didn't　like　deceit。　But　I　mustn't　go　chattering　on；　you　want　to　go　and　ring　up　your　friend；　and　mind　you　choose　a　nice　piece　of　steak；　and　tell　Ellen　she　is　not　to　have　holes　in　her　stockings　when　she　waits　at　lunch。〃　

〃Is　her　name　Ellen　or　Helen；　Miss　Viner？　I　thought　…〃　

Miss　Viner　closed　her　eyes。　

〃I　can　sound　my　h's；　dear；　as　well　as　anyone；　but　Helen　is　not　a　suitable　name　for　a　servant。　I　don't　know　what　the　mothers　in　the　lower　classes　are　ing　to　nowadays。〃　

The　rain　had　cleared　away　when　Knighton　arrived　at　the　cottage。　The　pale　fitful　sunshine　shone　down　on　it　and　burnished　Katherine's　head　as　she　stood　in　the　doorway　to　wele　him。　He　came　up　to　her　quickly；　almost　boyishly。　

〃I　say；　I　hope　you　don't　mind。　I　simply　had　to　see　you　again　soon。　I　hope　the　friend　you　are　staying　with　does　not　mind。〃　

〃e　in　and　make　friends　with　her；〃　said　Katherine。　〃She　can　be　most　alarming；　but　you　will　soon　find　that　she　has　the　softest　heart　in　the　world。〃　

Miss　Viner　was　enthroned　majestically　in　the　drawing…room；　wearing　a　plete　set　of　the　cameos　which　had　been　so　providentially　preserved　in　the　family。　She　greeted　Knighton　with　dignity　and　an　austere　politeness　which　would　have　damped　many　men。　Knighton；　however；　had　a　charm　of　manner　which　was　not　easily　set　aside；　and　after　about　ten　minutes　Miss　Viner　thawed　perceptibly。　Luncheon　was　a　merry　meal；　and　Ellen；　or　Helen；　in　a　new　pair　of　silk　stockings　devoid　of　ladders　performed　prodigies　of　waiting。　Afterwards；　Katherine　and　Knighton　went　for　a　walk　and　they　came　back　to　have　tea　tête…а…tête；　since　Miss　Viner　had　gone　to　lie　down。　

When　the　car　had　finally　driven　off　Katherine　went　slowly　upstairs。　A　voice　called　her　and　she　went　in　to　Miss　Viner's　bedroom。　

〃Friend　gone？〃　

〃Yes。　Thank　you　so　much　for　letting　me　ask　him　down。〃　

〃No　need　to　thank　me。　Do　you　think　I　am　the　sort　of　old　curmudgeon　who　will　never　do　anything　for　anybody？〃　

〃I　think　you　are　a　dear；〃　said　Katherine　affectionately。　

〃Humph；〃　said　Miss　Viner　mollified。　

As　Katherine　was　leaving　the　room　she　called　her　back。　

〃Katherine？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃I　was　wrong　about　that　young　man　of　yours。　A　man　when　he　is　making　up　to　anybody　can　be　cordial　and　gallant　and　full　of　little　attentions　and　altogether　charming。　But　when　a　man　is　really　in　love　he　can't　help　looking　like　a　sheep。　Now；　whenever　that　young　man　looked　at　you　he　looked　like　a　sheep。　I　take　back　all　I　said　this　morning。　It　is　genuine。〃　


Chapter　31　

MR　AARONS　LUNCHES

〃Ah！〃　said　Mr　Joseph　Aarons　appreciatively。　

He　took　a　long　draught　from　his　tankard；　set　it　down　with　a　sigh；　wiped　the　froth　from　his　lips；　and　beamed　across　the　table　at　his　host；　Monsieur　Hercule　Poirot。　

〃Give　me；〃　said　Mr　Aarons；　〃a　good　Porterhouse　steak　and　a　tankard　of　something　worth　drinking；　and　anyone　can　have　your　French　fallals　and　whatnots；　your　ordoovres　and　your　omelettes　and　your　little　bits　of　quail。　Give　me；〃　he　reiterated；　〃a　Porterhouse　steak。〃　

Poirot；　who　had　just　plied　pathetically。　

〃Not　that　there　is　much　wrong　with　a　steak　and　kidney　pudding；〃　continued　Mr　Aarons。　〃Apple　tart？　Yes；　I　will　take　apple　tart；　thank　you；　Miss；　and　a　jug　of　cream。〃　

The　meal　proceeded。　Finally；　with　a　long　sigh；　Mr　Aarons　laid　down　his　spoon　and　fork　preparatory　to　toying　with　some　cheese　before　turning　his　mind　to　other　matters。　

〃There　was　a　little　matter　of　business　I　think　you　said；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　he　remarked。　〃Anything　I　can　do　to　help　you　I　am　sure　I　shall　be　most　happy。〃　

〃That　is　very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　said　to　myself；　'If　you　want　to　know　anything　about　the　dramatic　profession　there　is　one　person　who　knows　all　that　is　to　be　known　and　that　is　my　old　friend；　Mr　Joseph　Aarons。'〃　

〃And　you　don't　say　far　wrong；〃　said　Mr　Aarons　placently；　〃whether　it　is　past；　present；　or　future；　Joe　Aarons　is　the　man　to　e　to。〃　

〃Précisément。　Now　I　want　to　ask　you；　Monsieur　Aarons；　what　you　know　about　a　young　woman　called　Kidd。〃　

〃Kidd？　Kitty　Kidd？〃　

〃Kitty　Kidd。〃　

〃Pretty　smart；　she　was。　Male　impersonator；　song　and　a　dance　…　That　one？〃　

〃That　is　the　one。〃　

〃Very　smart；　she　was。　Made　a　good　ine。　Never　out　of　an　engagement。　Male　impersonation　mostly；　but；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　you　could　not　touch　her　as　a　character　actress。〃　

〃So　I　have　heard；〃　said　Poirot；　〃but　she　has　not　been　appearing　lately；　has　she？〃　

〃No。　Dropped　right　out　of　things。　Went　over　to　France　and　took　up　with　some　swell　nobleman　there。　She　quitted　the　stage　then　for　good　and　all；　I　guess。〃　

〃How　long　ago　was　that？〃　

〃Let　me　see。　Three　years　ago。　And　she　has　been　a　loss　…　let　me　tell　you　that。〃　

〃She　was　clever？〃　

〃Clever　as　a　cartload　of　monkeys。〃　

〃You　don't　know　the　name　of　the　man　she　became　friends　with　in　Paris？〃　

〃He　was　a　swell；　I　know　that。　A　Count　…　or　e　to　think　of　it；　I　believe　it　was　a　Marquis。〃　

〃And　you　know　nothing　about　her　since？〃　

〃Nothing。　Never　even　run　across　her　accidentally　like。　I　bet　she　is　tooling　it　round　some　of　these　foreign　resorts。　Being　a　Marquise　to　the　life。　You　couldn't　put　one　over　on　Kitty。　She　would　give　as　good　as　she　got　any　day。〃　

〃I　see；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully。　

〃I　am　sorry　I　can't　tell　you　more；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　said　the　other。　〃I　would　like　to　be　of　use　to　you　if　I　could。　You　did　me　a　good　turn　once。〃　

〃Ah；　but　we　are　quits　on　that；　you；　too；　did　me　a　good　turn。〃　

〃One　good　turn　deserves　another。　Ha；　ha！〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　

〃Your　profession　must　be　a　very　interesting　one；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃So…so；〃　said　Mr　Aarons　nonmittally。　〃Taking　the　rough　with　the　smooth；　it　is　all　right。　I　don't　do　so　badly　at　it；　all　things　considered；　but　you　have　to　keep　your　eyes　skinned。　Never　know　what　the　public　will　jump　for　next。〃　

〃Dancing　has　e　very　much　to　the　fore　in　the　last　few　years；〃　murmured　Poirot　reflectively。　

〃I　never　saw　anything　in　this　Russian　ballet；　but　people　like　it。　Too　highbrow　for　me。〃　

〃I　met　one　dancer　out　on　the　Riviera　…　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃　

〃Mirelle？　She　is　hot　stuff；　by　all　accounts。　There　is　always　money　going　to　back　her　…　though；　so　far　as　that　goes；　the　girl　can　dance；　I　have　seen　her；　and　I　know　what　I　am　talking　about。　I　never　had　much　to　do　with　her　myself；　but　I　hear　she　is　a　terror　to　deal　with。　Tempers　and　tantrums　all　the　time。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃yes；　so　I　should　imagine。〃　

〃Temperament！〃　said　Mr　Aarons；　〃temperament！　That　is　what　they　call　it　themselves。　My　missus　was　a　dancer　before　she　married　me；　but　I　am　thankful　to　say　she　never　had　any　temperament。　You　don't　want　temperament　in　the　home；　Monsieur　Poirot。〃　

〃I　agree　with　you；　my　friend；　it　is　out　of　place　there。〃　

〃A　woman　should　be　calm　and　sympathetic；　and　a　good　cook；〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　

〃Mirelle　has　not　been　long　before　the　public；　has　she？〃　asked　Poirot。　

〃About　two　and　a　half　years；　that　is　all；〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　〃Some　French　Duke　started　her。　I　hear　now　that　she　has　taken　up　with　the　ex…Prime　Minister　of　Greece。　These　are　the　chaps　who　manage　to　put　money　away　quietly。〃　

〃That　is　news　to　me；〃　said　Poirot。　

〃Oh；　she's　not　one　to　let　the　grass　grow　under　her　feet。　They　say　that　young　Kettering　murdered　his　wife　on　her　account。　I　don't　know；　I　am　sure。　Anyway；　he　is　in　prison；　and　she　had　to　look　round　for　herself；　and　pretty　smart　she　has　been　about　it。　They　say　she　is　wearing　a　ruby　the　size　of　a　pigeon's　egg　…　not　that　I　have　ever　seen　a　pigeon's　egg　myself；　but　that　is　what　they　always　call　it　in　works　of　fiction。〃　

〃A　ruby　the　size　of　a　pigeon's　egg！〃　said　Poirot。　His　eyes　were　green　and　catlike。　〃How　interesting！〃　

〃I　had　it　from　a　friend　of　mine；〃　said　Mr　Aarons。　〃But；　for　all　I　know；　it　may　be　coloured　glass。　They　are　all　the　same；　these　women　…　they　never　stop　telling　tall　stories　about　their　j