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6/7頁)

They　both　gazed　down　together。　A　slim；　elegant　figure　was　progressing　along　at　a　leisurely　pace。　He　wore　an　opera　hat　and　a　cloak。　As　he　passed　a　street　lamp；　the　light　illuminated　a　thatch　of　thick　white　hair。

Chapter　2

M。　LE　MARQUIS

The　man　with　the　white　hair　continued　on　his　course　unhurried；　and　seemingly　indifferent　to　his　surroundings。　He　took　a　side　turning　to　the　right　and　another　one　to　the　left。　Now　and　then　he　hummed　a　little　air　to　himself。

Suddenly　he　stopped　dead　and　listened　intently。　He　had　heard　a　certain　sound。　It　might　have　been　the　bursting　of　a　tyre　or　it　might　have　been　…　a　shot。　A　curious　smile　played　round　his　lips　for　a　minute。　Then　he　resumed　his　leisurely　walk。

On　turning　a　corner　he　came　upon　a　scene　of　some　activity。　A　representative　of　the　law　was　making　notes　in　a　pocket…book；　and　one　or　two　late　passers…by　had　collected　on　the　spot。　To　one　of　these　the　man　with　the　white　hair　made　a　polite　request　for　information。

〃Something　has　been　happening；　yes？〃

〃Mais　oui；　Monsieur。　Two　apaches　set　upon　an　elderly　American　gentleman。〃

〃They　did　him　no　injury？〃

〃No；　indeed。〃　The　man　laughed。　〃The　American；　he　had　a　revolver　in　his　pocket；　and　before　they　could　attack　him；　he　fired　shots　so　closely　round　them　that　they　took　alarm　and　fled。　The　police；　as　usual；　arrived　too　late。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　inquirer。

He　displayed　no　emotion　of　any　kind。　Placidly　and　unconcernedly　he　resumed　his　nocturnal　strolling。　Presently　he　crossed　the　Seine　and　came　into　the　richer　areas　of　the　city。　It　was　some　twenty　minutes　later　that　he　came　to　a　stop　before　a　certain　house　in　a　quiet　but　aristocratic　thoroughfare。

The　shop；　for　shop　it　was；　was　a　restrained　and　unpretentious　one。　D。　P