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第27部分（第1页）

〃Eh　bien？〃

〃The　difficulty　was　that　she　insisted　on　seeing　Mr　Van　Aldin　himself。　I　softened　his　message　as　much　as　I　possibly　could。　In　fact　…　to　be　candid　…　I　gave　it　in　a　very　different　form。　I　said　that　Mr　Van　Aldin　was　too　busy　to　see　her　at　present；　but　that　she　might　make　any　munication　she　wished　to　me。　That；　however；　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　do；　and　she　left　without　saying　anything　further。　But　I　have　a　strong　impression；　M。　Poirot　that　that　woman　knows　something。〃

〃This　is　serious；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃You　know　where　she　is　staying？〃

〃Yes。〃　Knighton　mentioned　the　name　of　the　hotel。

〃Good；〃　said　Poirot；　〃we　will　go　there　immediately。〃

The　secretary　looked　doubtful。

〃And　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃　he　queried　doubtfully。

〃M。　Van　Aldin　is　an　obstinate　man；〃　said　Poirot　drily。　〃I　do　not　argue　with　obstinate　men。　I　act　in　spite　of　them。　We　will　go　and　see　the　lady　immediately。　I　will　tell　her　that　you　are　empowered　by　M。　Van　Aldin　to　act　for　him；　and　you　will　guard　yourself　well　from　contradicting　me。〃

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　Knightons　cards；　with　〃From　Mr　Van　Aldin〃　pencilled　upon　them。

Word　came　down　that　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　would　receive　them。

When　they　were　ushered　into　the　dancers　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　Mirelles　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　ma　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　moments　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？〃

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