藍色特快上的秘密-藍色列車之謎-藍色列車(英文版)

第1部分 (第2/7頁)

e。　His　father　had　been　a　Polish　Jew；　a　journeyman　tailor。　It　was　business　such　as　his　father　would　have　loved　that　took　him　abroad　tonight。

He　came　to　the　Seine；　crossed　it；　and　entered　one　of　the　less　reputable　quarters　of　Paris。　Here　he　stopped　before　a　tall；　dilapidated　house　and　made　his　way　up　to　an　apartment　on　the　fourth　floor。　He　had　barely　time　to　knock　before　the　door　was　opened　by　a　woman　who　had　evidently　been　awaiting　his　arrival。　She　gave　him　no　greeting；　but　helped　him　off　with　his　overcoat　and　then　led　the　way　into　the　tawdrily　furnished　sitting…room。

The　electric　light　was　shaded　with　dirty　pink　festoons；　and　it　softened；　but　could　not　disguise　the　girl's　face　with　its　mask　of　crude　paint。　Could　not　disguise；　either；　the　broad　Mongolian　cast　of　her　countenance。

There　was　no　doubt　of　Olga　Demiroff's　profession；　nor　of　her　nationality。

〃All　is　well；　little　one？〃

〃All　is　well；　Boris　Ivanovitch。〃

He　nodded　murmuring：　〃I　do　not　think　I　have　been　followed。〃

But　there　was　anxiety　in　his　tone。　He　went　to　the　window；　drawing　the　curtains　aside　slightly；　and　peering　carefully　out。　He　started　away　violently。

〃There　are　two　men　…　on　the　opposite　pavement。　It　looks　to　me　…〃　He　broke　off　and　began　gnawing　at　his　nails　…　a　habit　he　had　when　anxious。

The　Russian　girl　was　shaking　her　head　with　a　slow；　reassuring　action。

〃They　were　here　before　you　came。〃

〃All　the　same；　it　looks　to　me　as　though　they　were　watching　this　house。〃

〃Possibly；〃　she　admitted　indifferently。

〃But　then　…〃

〃What　of　it？　Even　if　they　know　…　it　will　not　be　you　they　will　follow　from　here。〃　A　thin；　cruel　smile　came　to　his　lips。

〃No；〃　he　admitted；　〃that　is　true。〃

He　mused　for　a　minute　or　two　and