快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


〃Marvellous　luck；〃　murmured　Chubby。　〃I　wish　I　could　have　gone　along　with　you　…　and　seen　…　all　the　exhibits。〃　

His　tone　was　wistful　and　childlike。　

Katherine　said　nothing。　The　police　had　laid　no　injunctions　of　secrecy　upon　her；　and　it　was　clearly　impossible　to　suppress　the　bare　facts　or　try　to　keep　them　from　her　hostess。　

But　she　did　rather　wish　it　had　been　possible　to　do　so。　

〃Yes；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　ing　suddenly　out　of　her　reverie；　〃I　do　think　something　might　be　done。　A　little　account；　you　know；　cleverly　written　up。　An　eyewitness；　a　feminine　touch：　'How　I　chatted　with　the　dead　woman；　little　thinking　…'　that　sort　of　thing；　you　know。〃　

〃Rot！〃　said　Lenox。　

〃You　have　no　idea；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　in　a　soft；　wistful　voice；　〃what　newspapers　will　pay　for　a　little　tit…bit！　Written；　of　course；　by　someone　of　really　unimpeachable　social　position。　You　would　not　like　to　do　it　yourself；　I　dare　say；　Katherine　dear；　but　just　give　me　the　bare　bones　of　it；　and　I　will　manage　the　whole　thing　for　you。　Mr　de　Haviland　is　a　special　friend　of　mine。　We　have　a　little　understanding　together。　A　most　delightful　man　…　not　at　all　reporterish。　How　does　the　idea　strike　you；　Katherine？〃　

〃I　would　much　prefer　to　do　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　said　Katherine　bluntly。　

Lady　Tamplin　was　rather　disconcerted　at　this　unpromising　refusal。　She　sighed　and　turned　to　the　elucidation　of　further　details。　

〃A　very　striking…looking　woman；　you　said？　I　wonder　now　who　she　could　have　been。　You　didn't　hear　her　name？〃　

〃It　was　mentioned；〃　Katherine　admitted；　〃but　I　can't　remember　it。　You　see；　I　was　rather　upset。〃　

〃I　should　think　so；〃　said　Mr　Evans；　〃it　must　have　been　a　beastly　shock。〃　

It　is　to　be　doubted　whether；　even　if　Katherine　had　remembered　the　name；　she　would　have　admitted　the　fact。　Lady　Tamplin's　remorseless　cross…examination　was　making　her　restive。　Lenox；　who　was　observant　in　her　own　way；　noticed　this；　and　offered　to　take　Katherine　upstairs　to　see　her　room。　She　left　her　there；　remarking　kindly　before　she　went；　〃You　mustn't　mind　Mother；　she　would　make　a　few　pennies'　profit　out　of　her　dying　grandmother　if　she　could。〃　

Lenox　went　down　again　to　find　her　mother　and　her　stepfather　discussing　the　newer。　

〃Presentable；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃quite　presentable。　Her　clothes　are　all　right。　That　grey　thing　is　the　same　model　that　Gladys　Cooper　wore　in　Palm　Trees　in　Egypt　…〃　

〃Have　you　noticed　her　eyes　…　what？〃　interposed　Mr　Evans。　

〃Never　mind　her　eyes；　Chubby；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　tartly；　〃we　are　discussing　the　things　that　really　matter。〃　

〃Oh；　quite；〃　said　Mr　Evans；　and　retired　into　his　shell。　

〃She　doesn't　seem　to　me　very　…　malleable；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　rather　hesitating　to　choose　the　right　word。　

〃She　has　all　the　instincts　of　a　lady；　as　they　say　in　books；〃　said　Lenox；　with　a　grin。　

〃Narrow…minded；〃　murmured　Lady　Tamplin。　〃Inevitable　under　the　circumstances；　I　suppose。〃　

〃I　expect　you　will　do　your　best　to　broaden　her；〃　said　Lenox；　with　a　grin；　〃but　you　will　have　your　work　cut　out。　Just　now；　you　noticed；　she　stuck　down　her　forefeet　and　laid　back　her　ears　and　refused　to　budge。〃　

〃Anyway；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　hopefully；　〃she　doesn't　look　to　me　at　all　mean。　Some　people；　when　they　e　into　money；　seem　to　attach　undue　importance　to　it。〃　

〃Oh；　you'll　easily　touch　her　for　what　you　want；〃　said　Lenox；　〃and；　after　all；　that　is　all　that　matters；　isn't　it？　That　is　what　she　is　here　for。〃　

〃She　is　my　own　cousin；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　with　dignity。　

〃Cousin；　eh？〃　said　Mr　Evans；　waking　up　again。　〃I　suppose　I　call　her　Katherine；　don't　I？〃　

〃It　is　of　no　importance　at　all　what　you　call　her；　Chubby；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin。　

〃Good；〃　said　Mr　Evans；　〃then　I　will。　Do　you　suppose　she　plays　tennis？〃　he　added　hopefully。　

〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin。　〃She　has　been　a　panion；　I　tell　you。　panions　don't　play　tennis　…　or　golf。　They　might　possibly　play　golf…croquet；　but　I　have　always　understood　that　they　wind　wool　and　wash　dogs　most　of　the　day。〃　

〃O　God！〃　said　Mr　Evans；　〃do　they　really？〃　

Lenox　drifted　upstairs　again　to　Katherine's　room。　〃Can　I　help　you？〃　she　asked　rather　perfunctorily。　

On　Katherine's　disclaimer；　Lenox　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　stared　thoughtfully　at　her　guest。　

〃Why　did　you　e？〃　she　said　at　last。　〃To　us；　I　mean。　We're　not　your　sort。〃　

〃Oh；　I　am　anxious　to　get　into　Society。〃　

〃Don't　be　an　ass；〃　said　Lenox　promptly　detecting　the　flicker　of　a　smile。　〃You　know　what　I　mean　well　enough。　You　are　not　a　bit　what　I　thought　you　would　be。　I　say；　you　have　got　some　decent　clothes。〃　

She　sighed。　〃Clothes　are　no　good　to　me。　I　was　born　awkward。　It's　a　pity；　because　I　love　them。〃　

〃I　love　them　too；〃　said　Katherine；　〃but　it　has　not　been　much　use　my　loving　them　up　to　now。　Do　you　think　this　is　nice？〃　

She　and　Lenox　discussed　several　models　with　artistic　fervour。　

〃I　like　you；〃　said　Lenox　suddenly。　〃I　came　up　to　warn　you　not　to　be　taken　in　by　Mother；　but　I　think　now　that　there　is　no　need　to　do　that。　You　are　frightfully　sincere　and　upright　and　all　those　queer　things；　but　you　are　not　a　fool。　Oh　hell！　what　is　it　now？〃　

Lady　Tamplin's　voice　was　calling　plaintively　from　the　hall：　

〃Lenox；　Derek　has　just　rung　up。　He　wants　to　e　to　dinner　tonight。　Will　it　be　all　right？　I　mean；　we　haven't　got　anything　awkward；　like　quails；　have　we？〃　

Lenox　reassured　her　and　came　back　into　Katherine's　room。　Her　face　looked　brighter　and　less　sullen。　

〃I'm　glad　old　Derek　is　ing；〃　she　said；　〃you'll　like　him。〃　

〃Who　is　Derek？〃　

〃He　is　Lord　Leconbury's　son；　married　a　rich　American　woman。　Women　are　simply　potty　about　him。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃Oh；　the　usual　reason　…　very　good…looking　and　a　regular　bad　lot。　Everyone　goes　off　their　head　about　him。〃　

〃Do　you？〃　

〃Sometimes　I　do；〃　said　Lenox；　〃and　sometimes　I　think　I　would　like　to　marry　a　nice　curate　and　live　in　the　country　and　grow　things　in　frames。〃　She　paused　a　minute；　and　then　added；　〃An　Irish　curate　would　be　best；　and　then　I　should　hunt。〃　

After　a　minute　or　two　she　reverted　to　her　former　theme。　〃There　is　something　queer　about　Derek。　All　that　family　are　a　bit　potty　…　mad　gamblers；　you　know。　In　the　old　days　they　used　to　gamble　away　their　wives　and　their　estates；　and　did　most　reckless　things　just　for　the　love　of　it。　Derek　would　have　made　a　perfect　highwayman　…　debonair　and　gay；　just　the　right　manner。〃　She　moved　to　the　door。　〃Well；　e　down　when　you　like　it。〃　

Left　alone；　Katherine　gave　herself　up　to　thought。　Just　at　present　she　felt　thoroughly　ill　at　ease　and　jarred　by　her　surroundings。　

The　shock　of　the　discovery　in　the　train　and　the　reception　of　the　news　by　her　new　friends　jarred　upon　her　susceptibilities。　She　thought　long　and　earnestly　about　the　murdered　woman。　She　had　been　sorry　for　Ruth；　but　she　could　not　honestly　say　that　she　had　liked　her。　She　had　divined　only　too　well　the　ruthless　egoism　that　was　the　keynote　of　her　personality；　and　it　repelled　her。　

She　had　been　amused　and　a　trifle　hurt　by　the　other's　cool　dismissal　of　her　when　she　had　served　her　turn。　That　she　had　e　to　some　decision；　Katherine　was　quite　certain；　but　she　wondered　now　what　that　decision　had　been。　Whatever　it　was；　death　had　stepped　in　and　made　all　decisions　meaningless。　

Strange　that　it　should　have　been　so；　and　that　a　brutal　crime　should　have　been　the　ending　of　that　fateful　journey。　But　suddenly　Katherine　remembered　a　small　fact　that　she　ought；　perhaps；　to　have　told　the　police　…　a　fact　that　had　for　the　moment　escaped　her　memory。　Was　it　of　any　real　importance？　She　had　certainly　thought　that　she　had　seen　a　man　going　into　that　particular　partment？　But　she　realized　that　she　might　easily　have　been　mistaken。　It　might　have　been　the　partment　next　door；　and　certainly　the　man　in　question　could　be　no　train　robber。　She　recalled　him　very　clearly　as　she　had　seen　him　on　those　two　previous　occasions　…　once　at　the　Savoy　and　once　at　Cook's　office。　No；　doubtless　she　had　been　mistaken。　He　had　not　gone　into　the　dead　woman's　partment；　and　it　was　perhaps　as　well　that　she　had　said　nothing　to　the　police。　She　might　have　done　incalculable　harm　by　doing　so。　

She　went　down　to　join　the　others　on　the　terrace　outside。　Through　the　branches　of　mimosa；　she　looked　out　over　the　blue　of　the　Mediterranean；　and；　whilst　listening　with　half　an　ear　to　Lady　Tamplin's　chatter；　she　was　glad　that　she　had　e。　This　was　better　than　St　Mary　Mead。　

That　evening　she　put　on　the　mauvy　pink　dress　that　went　by　the　name　of　soupir　d'automne；　and　after　smiling　at　her　reflection　in　the　mirror；　went　downstairs　with；　for　the　first　time　in　her　life；　a　faint　feeling　of　shyness。　

Most　of　Lady　Tamplin's　guests　had　arrived；　and　since　noise　was　the　essential　of　Lady　Tamplin's　parties；　the　din　was　already　critic。　Chubby　rushed　up　to　Katherine；　passed　a　cocktail　upon　her；　and　took　her　under　his　wing。　

〃Oh；　here　you　are；　Derek；〃　cried　Lady　Tamplin；　as　the　door　opened　to　admit　the　last　er。　〃Now　at　last　we　can　have　something　to　eat。　I　am　starving。〃　

Katherine　looked　across　the　room。　She　was　startled。　So　this　…　was　Derek；　and　she　realized　that　she　was　not　surprised。　She　had　always　known　that　she　would　some　day　meet　the　man　whom　she　had　seen　three　times　by　such　a　curious　chain　of　coincidences。　She　thought；　too；　that　he　recognized　her。　He　paused　abruptly　in　what　he　was　saying　to　Lady　Tamplin；　and　went　on　again　as　though　with　an　effort。　They　all　went　in　to　dinner；　and　Katherine　found　that　he　was　placed　beside　her。　He　turned　to　her　at　once　with　a　vivid　smile。　

〃I　knew　I　was　going　to　meet　you　soon；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　I　never　dreamt　that　it　would　be　here。　It　had　to　be；　you　know。　Once　at　the　Savoy　and　once　at　Cook's　…　never　twice　without　three　times。　Don't　say　you　can't　remember　me　or　never　noticed　me。　I　insist　upon　your　pretending　that　you　noticed　me；　anyway。〃　

〃Oh；　I　did；〃　said　Katherine；　〃but　this　is　not　the　third　time。　It　is　the　fourth。　I　saw　you　on　the　Blue　Train。〃　

〃On　the　Blue　Train！〃　Something　undefinable　came　over　his　manner；　she　could　not　have　said　just　what　it　was。　It　was　as　though　he　had　received　a　check；　a　setback。　Then　he　said　carelessly：　

〃What　was　the　rumpus　this　morning？　Somebody　had　died；　hadn't　they？〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine　slowly；　〃somebody　had　died。〃　

〃You　shouldn't　die　on　a　train；〃　remarked　Derek　flippantly。　〃I　believe　it　causes　all　sorts　of　legal　and　international　plications；　and　it　gives　the　train　an　excuse　for　being　even　later　than　usual。〃　

〃Mr　Kettering？〃　A　stout　American　lady；　who　was　sitting　opposite；　leaned　forward　and　spoke　to　him　with　the　deliberate　intonation　of　her　race。　〃Mr　Kettering；　I　do　believe　you　have　forgotten　me；　and　I　thought　you　such　a　perfectly　lovely　man。〃　

Derek　leaned　forward；　answering　her；　and　Katherine　sat　almost　dazed。　

Kettering！　That　was　the　name；　of　course！　…　she　remembered　it　now　…　but　what　a　strange；　ironical　situation！　Here　was　this　man　whom　she　had　seen　go　into　his　wife's　apartment　last　night；　who　had　left　her　safe　and　well；　and　now　he　was　sitting　there；　quite　unconscious　of　the　fate　that　had　befallen　her。　Of　that　there　was　no　doubt。　He　did　not　know。　

A　servant　was　leaning　over　Derek；　handing　him　a　note　and　murmuring　in　his　ear。　

With　a　word　of　excuse　to　Lady　Tamplin；　he　broke　it　open；　and　an　expression　of　utter　astonishment　came　over　his　face　as　he　read；　then　he　looked　at　his　hostess。　

〃This　is　most　extraordinary。　I　say；　Rosalie；　I　am　afraid　I　will　have　to　leave　you。　The　Prefect　of　Police　wants　to　see　me　at　once。　I　can't　think　what　about。〃　

〃Your　sins　have　found　you　out；〃　remarked　Lenox。　

〃They　must　have；〃　said　Derek；　〃probably　some　idiotic　nonsense；　but　I　suppose　I　shall　have　to　push　off　to　the　Prefecture。　How　dare　the　old　boy　rout　me　out　from　dinner？　It　ought　to　be　something　deadly　serious　to　justify　that；〃　and　he　laughed　as　he　pushed　back　his　chair　and　rose　to　leave　the　room。　

Chapter　13　

VAN　ALDIN　GETS　A　TELEGRAM

On　the　afternoon　of　the　15th　February　a　thick　yellow　fog　had　settled　down　on　London。　

Rufus　Van　Aldin　was　in　his　suite　at　the　Savoy　and　was　making　the　most　of　the　atmospheric　conditions　by　working　double　time。　Knighton　was　overjoyed。　He　had　found　it　difficult　of　late　to　get　his　employer　to　concentrate　on　the　matters　in　hand。　When　he　had　ventured　to　urge　certain　courses；　Van　Aldin　had　put　him　off　with　a　curt　word。　But　now　Van　Aldin　seemed　to　be　throwing　himself　i