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4/7頁)

ply。

〃The　American　is　punctual；〃　said　Olga；　with　a　glance　at　the　clock。

She　left　the　room。　In　a　minute　she　returned　ushering　in　a　stranger；　a　big；　broad…shouldered　man　whose　transatlantic　origin　was　evident。　His　keen　glance　went　from　one　to　the　other。

〃M。　Krassnine？〃　he　inquired　politely。

〃I　am　he；〃　said　Boris。　〃I　must　apologize　for　…　for　the　unconventionality　of　this　meeting…place。　But　secrecy　is　urgent。　I　…　I　cannot　afford　to　be　connected　with　this　business　in　any　way。〃

〃Is　that　so？〃　said　the　American　politely。

〃I　have　your　word；　have　I　not；　that　no　details　of　this　transaction　will　be　made　public？　That　is　one　of　the　conditions　of　…　sale。〃

The　American　nodded。

〃That　has　already　been　agreed　upon；〃　he　said　indifferently。　〃Now；　perhaps；　you　will　produce　the　goods。〃

〃You　have　the　money　…　in　notes？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　other。

He　did　not；　however；　make　any　attempt　to　produce　it。　After　a　moment's　hesitation；　Krassnine　gestured　towards　the　small　parcel　on　the　table。

The　American　took　it　up　and　unrolled　the　wrapping　paper。　The　contents　he　took　over　to　a　small　electric　lamp　and　submitted　them　to　a　very　thorough　examination。　Satisfied；　he　drew　from　his　pocket　a　thick　leather　wallet　and　extracted　from　it　a　wad　of　notes。　These　he　handed　to　the　Russian；　who　counted　them　carefully。

〃All　right？〃

〃I　thank　you；　Monsieur。　Everything　is　correct。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　other。　He　slipped　the　brown　paper　parcel　negligently　into　his　pocket。　He　bowed　to　Olga。　〃Good　evening；　Mademoiselle。　Good　evening；　M。　Krassnine。〃

He　went　out；　shutting　the　door　behind　him。　The　eyes　of　the　two　in　the　room　met。　The　man　passed　his　tongue　over　his　dry　lips。

〃I　wonder　…　will　he　ever　get　back　to　his　hotel