藍色特快上的秘密-藍色列車之謎-藍色列車(英文版)

第24部分 (第2/7頁)

el　he　came　to　a　sudden　halt。　A　car　had　drawn　up　in　front　of　the　door。　In　it　was　Katherine　Grey；　and　Derek　Kettering　was　standing　beside　it　talking　to　her　earnestly。

A　minute　or　two　later　the　car　drove　off　and　Derek　remained　standing　on　the　pavement　looking　after　it。　The　expression　on　his　face　was　an　odd　one。　He　gave　a　sudden　impatient　gesture　of　the　shoulders；　sighed　deeply；　and　turned　to　find　Hercule　Poirot　standing　at　his　elbow。　In　spite　of　himself　he　started。　The　two　men　looked　at　each　other。　Poirot　steadily　and　unwaveringly　and　Derek　with　a　kind　of　light…hearted　defiance。　There　was　a　sneer　behind　the　easy　mockery　of　his　tone　when　he　spoke；　raising　his　eyebrows　slightly　as　he　did　so。

〃Rather　a　dear；　isn't　she？〃　he　asked　easily。

His　manner　was　perfectly　natural。

〃Yes；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃that　describes　Mademoiselle　Katherine　very　well。　It　is　very　English；　that　phrase　there；　and　Mademoiselle　Katherine；　she　also　is　very　English。〃

Derek　remained　perfectly　still　without　answering。

〃And　yet　she　is　sympathique；　is　it　not　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Derek；　〃there　are　not　many　like　her。〃

He　spoke　softly；　almost　as　though　to　himself。　Poirot　nodded　significantly。　Then　he　leant　towards　the　other　and　spoke　in　a　different　tone；　a　quiet；　grave　tone　that　was　new　to　Derek　Kettering。

〃You　will　pardon　an　old　man；　Monsieur；　if　he　says　to　you　something　that　you　may　consider　impertinent。　There　is　one　of　your　English　proverbs　that　I　would　quote　to　you。　It　says　that　'it　is　well　to　be　off　with　the　old　love；　before　being　on　with　the　new。'〃

Kettering　turned　on　him　angrily。　〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean？〃

〃You　enrage　yourself　at　me；〃　said　Poirot　placidly。　〃I　expected　as　much。　As　to　what　I　mean　…　I　mean；　Monsieur；　that　there