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！


〃What？〃　he　cried。　

Poirot　swung　round　to　him。　

〃Ah！　…　before　I　forget　it。〃　He　whipped　something　from　a　pocket　and　held　it　out。　

〃Permit　me　to　offer　you　a　cigarette　…　out　of　your　own　cigarette…case。　It　was　careless　of　you　to　drop　it　when　you　boarded　the　train　on　the　ceinture　at　Paris。〃　

Knighton　stood　staring　at　him　as　though　stupefied。　Then　he　made　a　movement；　but　Poirot　flung　up　his　hand　in　a　warning　gesture。　

〃No；　don't　move；〃　he　said　in　a　silky　voice；　〃the　door　into　the　next　partment　is　open；　and　you　are　being　covered　from　there　this　minute。　I　unbolted　the　door　into　the　corridor　when　we　left　Paris；　and　our　friends　the　police　were　told　to　take　their　places　there。　As　I　expect　you　know；　the　French　police　want　you　rather　urgently；　Major　Knighton　…　or　shall　we　say　…　Monsieur　le　Marquis？〃

Chapter　35　

EXPLANATIONS

〃Explanations？〃　

Poirot　smiled。　He　was　sitting　opposite　the　millionaire　at　a　luncheon　table　in　the　latter's　private　suite　at　the　Negresco。　Facing　him　was　a　relieved　but　very　puzzled　man。　Poirot　leant　back　in　his　chair；　lit　one　of　his　tiny　cigarettes；　and　stared　reflectively　at　the　ceiling。　

〃Yes；　I　will　give　you　explanations。　It　began　with　the　one　point　that　puzzled　me。　You　know　what　that　point　was？　The　disfigured　face。　It　is　not　an　unmon　thing　to　find　when　investigating　a　crime　and　it　rouses　an　immediate　question；　the　question　of　identity。　That　naturally　was　the　first　thing　that　occurred　to　me。　Was　the　dead　woman　really　Mrs　Kettering？　But　that　line　led　me　nowhere；　for　Miss　Grey's　evidence　was　positive　and　very　reliable；　so　I　put　that　idea　aside。　The　dead　woman　was　Ruth　Kettering。〃　

〃When　did　you　first　begin　to　suspect　the　maid？〃　

〃Not　for　some　time；　but　one　peculiar　little　point　drew　my　attention　to　her。　The　cigarette…case　found　in　the　railway　carriage　and　which　she　told　us　was　one　which　Mrs　Kettering　had　given　to　her　husband。　Now　that　was；　on　the　face　of　it；　most　improbable；　seeing　the　terms　that　they　were　on。　It　awakened　a　doubt　in　my　mind　as　to　the　general　veracity　of　Ada　Mason's　statements。　There　was　the　rather　suspicious　fact　to　be　taken　into　consideration；　that　she　had　only　been　with　her　mistress　for　two　months。　Certainly　it　did　not　seem　as　if　she　could　have　had　anything　to　do　with　the　crime　since　she　had　been　left　behind　in　Paris　and　Mrs　Kettering　had　been　seen　alive　by　several　people　afterwards；　but　…〃　

Poirot　leant　forward。　He　raised　an　emphatic　forefinger　and　wagged　it　with　intense　emphasis　at　Van　Aldin。　

〃But　I　am　a　good　detective。　I　suspect。　There　is　nobody　and　nothing　that　I　do　not　suspect。　I　believe　nothing　that　I　am　told。　I　say　to　myself：　how　do　we　know　that　Ada　Mason　was　left　behind　in　Paris？　And　at　first　the　anspletely　satisfactory。　There　was　the　evidence　of　your　secretary；　Major　Knighton；　a　plete　outsider　whose　testimony　might　be　supposed　to　be　entirely　impartial；　and　there　was　the　dead　woman's　own　words　to　the　conductor　on　the　train。　But　I　put　the　latter　point　aside　for　the　moment；　because　a　very　curious　idea　…　an　idea　perhaps　fantastic　and　impossible　…　was　growing　up　in　my　mind。　If　by　any　outside　chance　it　happened　to　be　true；　that　particular　piece　of　testimony　was　worthless。　

〃I　concentrated　on　the　chief　stumbling…block　to　my　theory。　Major　Knighton's　statement　that　he　saw　Ada　Mason　at　the　Ritz　after　the　Blue　Train　had　left　Paris。　That　seemed　conclusive　enough；　but　yet；　on　examining　the　facts　carefully；　I　noted　two　things。　First；　that　by　a　curious　coincidence　he；　too；　had　been　exactly　two　months　in　your　service。　Secondly；　his　initial　letter　was　the　same　…　'K。'　Supposing　…　just　supposing　…　that　it　was　his　cigarette　case　which　had　been　found　in　the　carriage。　Then；　if　Ada　Mason　and　he　were　working　together；　and　she　recognized　it　when　we　showed　it　to　her；　would　she　not　act　precisely　as　she　had　done？　At　first；　taken　aback；　she　quickly　evolved　a　plausible　theory　that　would　agree　with　Mr　Kettering's　guilt。　Bien　entendu；　that　was　not　the　original　idea。　The　te　de　la　Roche　was　to　be　the　scapegoat；　though　Ada　Mason　would　not　make　her　recognition　of　him　too　certain；　in　case　he　should　be　able　to　prove　an　alibi。　Now；　if　you　will　cast　your　mind　back　to　that　time；　you　will　remember　a　significant　thing　that　happened。　I　suggested　to　Ada　Mason　that　the　man　she　had　seen　was　not　the　te　de　la　Roche；　but　Derek　Kettering。　She　seemed　uncertain　at　the　time；　but　after　I　had　got　back　to　my　hotel　you　rang　me　up　and　told　me　that　she　had　e　to　you　and　said　that；　on　thinking　it　over；　she　was　now　quite　convinced　that　the　man　in　question　was　Mr　Kettering。　I　had　been　expecting　something　of　the　kind。　There　could　be　but　one　explanation　of　this　sudden　certainty　on　her　part。　After　my　leaving　your　hotel；　she　had　had　time　to　consult　with　somebody；　and　had　received　instructions　which　she　acted　upon。　Who　had　given　her　these　instructions？　Major　Knighton。　And　there　was　another　very　small　point；　which　might　mean　nothing　or　might　mean　a　great　deal。　In　casual　conversation　Knighton　had　talked　of　a　jewel　robbery　in　Yorkshire　in　a　house　where　he　was　staying。　Perhaps　a　mere　coincidence　…　perhaps　another　small　link　in　the　chain。〃　

〃But　there　is　one　thing　I　do　not　understand；　Monsieur　Poirot。　I　guess　I　must　be　dense　or　I　would　have　seen　it　before　now。　Who　was　the　man　in　the　train　at　Paris？　Derek　Kettering　or　the　te　de　la　Roche？〃　

〃That　is　the　simplicity　of　the　whole　thing。　There　was　no　man。　Ah　…　mille　tonnerres！　…　do　you　not　see　the　cleverness　of　it　all？　Whose　word　have　we　for　it　that　there　ever　was　a　man　there？　Only　Ada　Mason's。　And　we　believe　in　Ada　Mason　because　of　Knighton's　evidence　that　she　was　left　behind　in　Paris。〃　

〃But　Ruth　herself　told　the　conductor　that　she　had　left　her　maid　behind　there；〃　demurred　Van　Aldin。　

〃Ah！　I　am　ing　to　that。　We　have　Mrs　Kettering's　own　evidence　there；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　we　have　not　really　got　her　evidence；　because；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　a　dead　woman　cannot　give　evidence。　It　is　not　her　evidence；　but　the　evidence　of　the　conductor　of　the　train　…　a　very　different　affair　altogether。〃　

〃So　you　think　the　man　was　lying？〃　

〃No；　no；　not　at　all。　He　spoke　what　he　thought　to　be　the　truth。　But　the　woman　who　told　him　that　she　had　left　her　maid　in　Paris　was　not　Mrs　Kettering。〃　

Van　Aldin　stared　at　him。　

〃Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　Ruth　Kettering　was　dead　before　the　train　arrived　at　the　Gare　de　Lyon。　It　was　Ada　Mason；　dressed　in　her　mistress's　very　distinctive　clothing；　who　purchased　a　dinner　basket　and　who　made　that　very　necessary　statement　to　the　conductor。〃　

〃Impossible！〃　

〃No；　no；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　not　impossible。　Les　femmes；　they　look　so　much　alike　nowadays　that　one　identifies　them　more　by　their　clothing　than　by　their　faces。　Ada　Mason　was　the　same　height　as　your　daughter。　Dressed　in　that　very　sumptuous　fur　coat　and　the　little　red　lacquer　hat　jammed　down　over　her　eyes；　with　just　a　bunch　of　auburn　curls　showing　over　each　ear；　it　was　no　wonder　that　the　conductor　was　deceived。　He　had　not　previously　spoken　to　Mrs　Kettering；　you　remember。　True；　he　had　seen　the　maid　just　for　a　moment　when　she　handed　him　the　tickets；　but　his　impression　had　been　merely　that　of　a　gaunt；　black…clad　female。　If　he　had　been　an　unusually　intelligent　man；　he　might　have　gone　so　far　as　to　say　that　mistress　and　maid　were　not　unlike；　but　it　is　extremely　unlikely　that　he　would　even　think　that。　And　remember；　Ada　Mason；　or　Kitty　Kidd；　was　an　actress；　able　to　change　her　appearance　and　tone　of　voice　at　a　moment's　notice。　No；　no；　there　was　no　danger　of　his　recognizing　the　maid　in　the　mistress's　clothing；　but　there　was　the　danger　that　when　he　came　to　discover　the　body　he　might　realize　it　was　not　the　woman　he　had　talked　to　the　night　before。　And　now　we　see　the　reason　for　the　disfigured　face。　The　chief　danger　that　Ada　Mason　ran　was　that　Katherine　Grey　might　visit　her　partment　after　the　train　left　Paris；　and　she　provided　against　that　difficulty　by　ordering　a　dinner　basket　and　by　locking　herself　in　her　partment。〃　

〃But　who　killed　Ruth　…　and　when？〃　

〃First；　bear　it　in　mind　that　the　crime　was　planned　and　undertaken　by　the　two　of　them　…　Knighton　and　Ada　Mason；　working　together。　Knighton　was　in　Paris　that　day　on　your　business。　He　boarded　the　train　somewhere　on　its　way　round　the　ceinture。　Mrs　Kettering　would　be　surprised；　but　she　would　be　quite　unsuspicious。　Perhaps　he　draws　her　attention　to　something　out　the　window；　and　as　she　turns　to　look　he　slips　the　cord　round　her　neck　…　and　the　whole　thing　is　over　in　a　second　or　two。　The　door　of　the　partment　is　locked；　and　he　and　Ada　Mason　set　to　work。　They　strip　off　the　dead　woman's　outer　clothes。　Mason　and　Knighton　roll　the　body　up　in　a　rug　and　put　it　on　the　seat　in　the　adjoining　partment　amongst　the　bags　and　suitcases。　Knighton　drops　off　the　train；　taking　the　jewel…case　containing　the　rubies　with　him。　Since　the　crime　is　not　supposed　to　have　been　mitted　until　nearly　twelve　hours　later　he　is　perfectly　safe；　and　his　evidence　and　the　supposed　Mrs　Kettering's　words　to　the　conductor　will　provide　a　perfect　alibi　for　his　acplice。　

〃At　the　Gare　de　Lyon　Ada　Mason　gets　a　dinner　basket；　and　shutting　herself　into　the　toilet　partment　she　quickly　changes　into　her　mistress's　clothes；　adjusts　two　false　bunches　of　auburn　curls；　and　generally　makes　up　to　resemble　her　as　closely　as　possible。　When　the　conductor　es　to　make　up　the　bed；　she　tells　him　the　prepared　story　about　having　left　her　maid　behind　in　Paris；　and　whilst　he　is　making　up　the　berth；　she　stands　looking　out　of　the　window；　so　that　her　back　is　towards　the　corridor　and　people　passing　along　there。　That　was　a　wise　precaution；　because；　as　we　know；　Miss　Grey　was　one　of　those　passing；　and　she　among　others；　was　willing　to　swear　that　Mrs　Kettering　was　still　alive　at　that　hour。〃　

〃Go　on；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃Before　getting　to　Lyons；　Ada　Mason　arranged　her　mistress's　body　in　the　bunk；　folded　up　the　dead　woman's　clothes　neatly　on　the　end　of　it；　and　herself　changed　into　a　man's　clothes　and　prepared　to　leave　the　train。　When　Derek　Kettering　entered　his　wife's　partment；　and；　as　he　thought；　saw　her　asleep　in　her　berth；　the　scene　had　been　set；　and　Ada　Mason　was　hidden　in　the　next　partment　waiting　for　the　moment　to　leave　the　train　unobserved。　As　soon　as　the　conductor　had　swung　himself　down　on　to　the　platform　at　Lyons；　she　follows；　slouching　along　as　though　just　taking　a　breath　of　air。　At　a　moment　when　she　is　unobserved；　she　hurriedly　crosses　to　the　other　platform；　and　takes　the　first　train　back　to　Paris　and　the　Ritz　Hotel。　Her　name　has　been　registered　there　as　taking　a　room　the　night　before　by　one　of　Knighton's　female　acplices。　She　has　nothing　to　do　but　wait　there　placidly　for　your　arrival。　The　jewels　are　not；　and　never　have　been；　in　her　possession。　Kettering　had　them。　No　suspicion　attaches　to　him；　and；　as　your　secretary；　he　brings　them　to　Nice　without　the　least　fear　of　discovery。　Their　delivery　there　to　Monsieur　Papopolous　is　already　arranged　for　and　they　are　entrusted　to　Mason　at　the　last　moment　to　hand　over　to　the　Greek。　Altogether　a　very　neatly　planned　coup；　as　one　would　expect　from　a　master　of　the　game　such　as　the　Marquis。〃　

〃And　you　honestly　mean　that　Richard　Knighton　is　a　well…known　criminal；　who　has　been　at　this　business　for　years？〃　

Poirot　nodded。　

〃One　of　the　chief　assets　of　the　gentleman　called　the　Marquis　was　his　plausible；　ingratiating　manner。　You　fell　a　victim　to　his　charm；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　when　you　engaged　him　as　a　secretary　on　such　a　slight　acquaintanceship？〃　

〃I　could　have　sworn　that　he　never　angled　for　the　post；〃　cried　the　millionaire。　

〃It　was　very　astutely　done　…　so　astutely　done　that　it　deceived　a　man　whose　knowledge　of　other　men　is　as　great　as　yours　is。〃　

〃I　looked　up　his　antecedents　too。　The　fellow's　record　was　excellent。〃　

〃Yes；　yes；　that　was　part　of　the　game。　As　Richard　Knighton　his　life　　reproach。　He　was　well…born；　well…connected；　did　honourable　service　in　the　war；　and　seemed　altogether　above　suspicion；　but　when　I　came　to　glean　information　about　the　mysterious　Marquis；　I　found　many　points　of　similarity。　Knighton　spoke　French　like　a　Frenchman；　he　had　been　in　America；　France；　and　England　at　much　the　same　time　as　the　Marquis　was　operating。　The　Marquis　was　last　heard　of　as　engineering　various　jewel　robberies　in　Switzerland；　and　it　was　in　Switzerland　that　you　had　e　across　Major　Knighton；　and　it　was　at　precisely