博炮作文网

第15部分（第2页）

Mason　turned　to　him。

〃I　think　it　was　you　who　gave　them　to　her；　sir；　not　very　long　ago。〃

〃My　God！〃　cried　Van　Aldin。　〃You　dont　imply　she　had　those　rubies　with　her？　I　told　her　to　leave　them　at　the　Bank。〃

Mason　gave　once　more　the　discreet　cough　which　was　apparently　part　of　her　stock…in…trade　as　a　ladys　maid。　This　time　it　expressed　a　good　deal。　It　expressed　far　more　clearly　than　words　could　have　done；　that　Masons　mistress　had　been　a　lady　who　took　her　own　way。

〃Ruth　must　have　been　mad；〃　muttered　Van　Aldin。　〃What　on　earth　could　have　possessed　her？〃

M。　Carrege　in　turn　gave　vent　to　a　cough；　again　a　cough　of　significance。　It　riveted　Van　Aldins　attention　on　him。

〃For　the　moment；〃　said　M。　Carrege；　addressing　Mason；　〃I　think　that　is　all。　If　you　will　go　into　the　next　room；　Mademoiselle；　they　will　read　over　to　you　the　questions　and　answers；　and　you　will　sign　accordingly。〃

Mason　went　out　escorted　by　the　clerk；　and　Van　Aldin　said　immediately　to　the　Magistrate：

〃Well？〃

M。　Carrege　opened　a　drawer　in　his　desk；　took　out　a　letter；　and　handed　it　across　to　Van　Aldin。

〃This　was　found　in　Madames　handbag。〃

〃Chère　amie〃　（the　letter　ran）；

〃I　will　obey　you；　I　will　be　prudent；　discreet　…　all　those　things　that　a　lover　most　hates。　Paris　would　perhaps　have　been　unwise；　but　the　Isles　dOr　are　far　away　from　the　world；　and　you　may　be　assured　that　nothing　will　leak　out。　It　is　like　you　and　your　divine　sympathy　to　be　so　interested　in　the　work　on　famous　jewels　that　I　am　writing。　It　will；　indeed；　be　an　extraordinary　privilege　to　actually　see　and　handle　these　historic　rubies。　I　am　devoting　a　special　passage　to　Heart　of　Fire。　My　wonderful　one！　Soon　I　will　make　up　to　you　for　all　those　sad　years　of　separation　and　emptiness。

〃Your　ever…adoring；

〃Armand。〃

Chapter　15

THE　TE　DE　LA　ROCHE

Van　Aldin　read　the　letter　through　in　silence。　His　face　turned　a　dull　angry　crimson。　The　men　watching　him　saw　the　veins　start　out　on　his　forehead；　and　his　big　hands　clench　themselves　unconsciously。　He　handed　back　the　letter　without　a　word。　M。　Carrege　was　looking　with　close　attention　at　his　desk；　M。　Cauxs　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　ceiling；　and　M。　Hercule　Poirot　was　tenderly　brushing　a　speck　of　dust　from　his　coat　sleeve。　With　the　greatest　tact　they　none　of　them　looked　at　Van　Aldin。

It　was　M。　Carrege；　mindful　of　his　status　and　his　duties；　who　tackled　the　unpleasant　subject。

〃Perhaps；　Monsieur；〃　he　murmured；　〃you　are　aware　by　whom　…　er　…　this　letter　was　written？〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Van　Aldin　heavily。

〃Ah？〃　said　the　Magistrate　inquiringly。

〃A　scoundrel　who　calls　himself　the　te　de　la　Roche。〃

There　was　a　pause；　then　M。　Poirot　leaned　forward；　straightened　a　ruler　on　the　judges　desk；　and　addressed　the　millionaire　directly。

〃M。　Van　Aldin；　we　are　all　sensible；　deeply　sensible；　of　the　pain　it　must　give　you　to　speak　of　these　matters；　but　believe　me；　Monsieur；　it　is　not　the　time　for　concealments。　If　justice　is　to　be　done；　we　must　know　everything。　If　you　will　reflect　a　little　minute　you　will　realize　the　truth　of　that　clearly　for　yourself。〃

Van　Aldin　was　silent　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　almost　reluctantly　he　nodded　his　head　in　agreement。

〃You　are　quite　right；　M。　Poirot；〃　he　said。　〃Painful　as　it　is；　I　have　no　right　to　keep　anything　back。〃

The　missary　gave　a　sigh　of　relief；　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　adjusted　a　pince…nez　on　his　long　thin　nose。

〃Perhaps　you　will　tell　us　in　your　own　words；　M。　Van　Aldin；〃　he　said；　〃all　that　you　know　of　this　gentleman。〃