博炮作文网

第34部分（第2页）

〃Let　us　get　quit　of　this；〃　said　Van　Aldin　abruptly。　〃I　gather　you　are　in　a　hurry；　Monsieur　Poirot。　For　Gods　sake　pay　the　fares　from　Calais　and　let　us　get　right　on　with　whatever　you　have　got　in　your　mind。〃

But　Poirots　flood　of　language　had　suddenly　stopped　dead；　and　he　had　the　appearance　of　a　man　turned　to　stone。　His　arm　still　outflung　in　an　impassioned　gesture；　remained　there　as　though　stricken　with　paralysis。

〃I　have　been　an　imbecile；〃　he　said　simply。　〃Ma　foi；　I　lose　my　head　nowadays。　Let　us　return　and　continue　our　journey　quietly。　With　reasonable　luck　the　train　will　not　have　gone。〃

They　were　only　just　in　time；　the　train　moving　off　as　Knighton；　the　last　of　the　three；　swung　himself　and　his　suitcase　on　board。

The　conductor　remonstrated　with　them　feelingly；　and　assisted　them　to　carry　their　luggage　back　to　their　partments。　Van　Aldin　said　nothing；　but　he　was　clearly　disgusted　at　Poirots　extraordinary　conduct。

Alone　with　Knighton　for　a　moment　or　two；　he　remarked：

〃This　is　a　wild　goose　chase。　The　man　has　lost　his　grip　on　things。　He　has　got　brains　up　to　a　point；　but　any　man　who　loses　his　head　and　scuttles　round　like　a　frightened　rabbit　is　no　earthly　darned　good。〃

Poirot　came　to　them　in　a　moment　or　two；　full　of　abject　apologies　and　clearly　so　crestfallen　that　harsh　words　would　have　been　superfluous。

Van　Aldin　received　his　apologies　gravely；　but　managed　to　restrain　himself　from　making　acid　ments。

They　had　dinner　on　the　train；　and　afterwards；　somewhat　to　the　surprise　of　the　other　two；　Poirot　suggested　that　they　should　all　three　sit　up　in　Van　Aldins　partment。

The　millionaire　looked　at　him　curiously。

〃Is　there　anything　that　you　are　keeping　back　from　us；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃

〃I？〃　Poirot　opened　his　eyes　in　innocent　surprise。　〃But　what　an　idea。〃

Van　Aldin　did　not　answer；　but　he　was　not　satisfied。　The　conductor　was　told　that　he　need　not　make　up　the　beds。　Any　surprise　he　might　have　felt　was　obliterated　by　the　largeness　of　the　tip　which　Van　Aldin　handed　to　him。　The　three　men　sat　in　silence。　Poirot　fidgeted　and　seemed　restless。　Presently　he　turned　to　the　secretary。

〃Major　Knighton；　is　the　door　of　your　partment　bolted？　The　door　into　the　corridor；　I　mean。〃

〃Yes；　I　bolted　it　myself　just　now。〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃　said　Poirot。

〃I　will　go　and　make　sure；　if　you　like；〃　said　Knighton　smiling。

〃No；　no；　do　not　derange　yourself。　I　will　see　for　myself。〃

He　passed　through　the　connecting　door　and　returned　in　a　second　or　two；　nodding　his　head。

〃Yes；　yes；　it　is　as　you　said。　You　must　pardon　an　old　mans　fussy　ways。〃

He　closed　the　connecting　door　and　resumed　his　place　in　the　right…hand　corner。

The　hours　passed。　The　three　men　dozed　fitfully；　waking　with　unfortable　starts。

Probably　never　before　had　three　people　booked　berths　on　the　most　luxurious　train　available；　then　declined　to　avail　themselves　of　the　acmodation　they　had　paid　for。

Every　now　and　then　Poirot　glanced　at　his　watch；　and　then　nodded　his　head　and　posed　himself　to　slumber　once　more。　On　one　occasion　he　rose　from　his　seat　and　opened　the　connecting　door；　peered　sharply　into　the　adjoining　partment；　and　then　returned　to　his　seat；　shaking　his　head。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　whispered　Knighton。　〃You　are　expecting　something　to　happen；　arent　you？〃

〃I　have　the　nerves；〃　confessed　Poirot。　〃I　am　like　the　cat　upon　the　hot　tiles。　Every　little　noise　it　makes　me　jump。〃

Knighton　yawned。

〃Of　all　the　darned　unfortable　journeys；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　suppose　you　know　what　you　are　playing　at；　Monsieur　Poirot。〃

He　posed　himself　to　sleep　as　best　he　could。　Both　he　and　Van　Aldin　had　succumbed　to　slumber；　when　Poirot；　glancing　for　the　fourteenth　time　at　his　watch；　leant　across　and　tapped　the　millionaire　on　the　shoulder。