藍色特快上的秘密-藍色列車之謎-藍色列車(英文版)

第16部分 (第2/7頁)

at　Madame　would　have　kept　that　letter？〃

〃Yes　…　yes；〃　said　the　Examining　Magistrate　doubtfully；　〃there　is　something　in　what　you　say。　But　at　such　times；　you　understand；　a　man　is　not　master　of　himself。　He　does　not　reason　calmly。　Mon　Dieu！〃　he　added；　with　feeling；　〃if　our　criminals　kept　their　heads　and　acted　with　intelligence；　how　should　we　capture　them？〃

Poirot　smiled　to　himself。

〃It　seems　to　me　a　clear　case；〃　said　the　other；　〃but　a　difficult　one　to　prove。　He　is　a　slippery　customer；　and　unless　the　maid　can　identify　him　…〃

〃Which　is　most　unlikely；〃　said　Poirot。

〃True；　true。〃　The　Examining　Magistrate　rubbed　his　chin。　〃It　is　going　to　be　difficult。〃

〃If　he　did　indeed　mit　the　crime　…〃　began　Poirot。　M。　Caux　interrupted。

〃If　…　you　say　if？〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur　le　Juge；　I　say　if。〃

The　other　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃You　are　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃we　go　too　fast。　It　is　possible　that　the　te　may　have　an　alibi。　Then　we　should　look　foolish。〃

〃Ah；　？a　par　exemple；〃　replied　Poirot；　〃that　is　of　no　importance　whatever。　Naturally；　if　he　mitted　the　crime　he　will　have　an　alibi。　A　man　with　the　te's　experience　does　not　neglect　to　take　precautions。　No；　I　said　if　for　a　very　different　reason。〃

〃And　what　was　that？〃

Poirot　wagged　an　emphatic　forefinger。

〃The　psychology。〃

〃Eh？〃　said　the　missary。

〃The　psychology　is　at　fault。　The　te　is　a　scoundrel　…　yes。　The　te　is　a　swindler　…　yes。　The　te　preys　upon　women　…　yes。　He　proposes　to　steal　Madame's　jewels　…　again　yes。　Is　he　the　kind　of　man　to　mit　murder？　I　say　no！　A　man　of　the　type　of　the　te　is　always　a　coward；　he　takes　no　risks。　He　plays　the　safe；　the　mean；　what　the　English　call　the　lowdown　game；　but　murder；　a　hundred　times　no！〃　He　shook　his　head　in　a　dissatisf