藍色特快上的秘密-藍色列車之謎-藍色列車(英文版)

第33部分 (第6/7頁)

　out　the　truth。　Find　Ruth's　murderer　…　that　was　all　I　thought　about。〃

〃You　wouldn't　have　liked　your　son…in…law　to　go　scot　free？〃

Van　Aldin　sighed。

〃I　would　have　preferred　to　take　the　law　into　my　own　hands。〃

〃I　don't　think　that　would　have　been　a　very　wise　proceeding；　sir。〃

〃All　the　same　…　are　you　sure　the　fellow　wants　to　see　me？〃

〃Yes；　Mr　Van　Aldin。　He　is　very　urgent　about　it。〃

〃Then　I　suppose　he　will　have　to。　He　can　e　along　this　morning　if　he　likes。〃

It　was　a　very　fresh　and　debonair　Poirot　who　was　ushered　in。　He　did　not　seem　to　see　any　lack　of　cordiality　in　the　millionaire's　manner；　and　chatted　pleasantly　about　various　trifles。　He　was　in　London；　he　explained；　to　see　his　doctor。　He　mentioned　the　name　of　an　eminent　surgeon。

〃No；　no；　pas　la　guerre　…　a　memory　of　my　days　in　the　police　force；　a　bullet　of　a　rascally　Apache。〃

He　touched　his　left　shoulder　and　winced　realistically。

〃I　always　consider　you　a　lucky　man；　Monsieur　Van　Aldin；　you　are　not　like　our　popular　idea　of　American　millionaires；　martyrs　to　the　dyspepsia。〃

〃I　am　pretty　tough；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃I　lead　a　very　simple　life；　you　know；　plain　fare　and　not　too　much　of　it。〃

〃You　have　seen　something　of　Miss　Grey；　have　you　not？〃　inquired　Poirot；　innocently　turning　to　the　secretary。

〃I　…　yes；　once　or　twice；〃　said　Knighton。

He　blushed　slightly　and　Van　Aldin　exclaimed　in　surprise：

〃Funny　you　never　mentioned　to　me　that　you　had　seen　her；　Knighton？〃

〃I　didn't　think　you　would　be　interested；　sir。〃

〃I　like　that　girl　very　much；〃　said　Van　Aldin。

〃It　is　a　thousand　pities　that　she　should　have　buried　herself　once　more　in　St　Mary　Mead；〃　said　Poirot。

〃It　is　very　fine　of　her；〃　said　Knighton　hotly。　〃There