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第19部分（第2页）

〃That　is　well　then；〃　murmured　the　te。

When　Hippolyte　had　withdrawn；　the　te　sipped　his　black　coffee　with　a　reflective　air。　Occasionally　he　frowned；　once　he　shook　his　head　slightly；　twice　he　nodded　it　…　into　the　midst　of　these　cogitations　came　Hippolyte　once　more。

〃A　lady；　Monsieur。〃

〃A　lady？〃

The　te　was　surprised。　Not　that　a　visit　from　a　lady　was　an　unusual　thing　at　the　Villa　Marina；　but　at　this　particular　moment　the　te　could　not　think　who　the　lady　was　likely　to　be。

〃She　is；　I　think；　a　lady　not　known　to　Monsieur；〃　murmured　the　valet　helpfully。

The　te　was　more　and　more　intrigued。

〃Show　her　out　here；　Hippolyte；〃　he　manded。

A　moment　later　a　marvellous　vision　in　orange　and　black　stepped　out　on　the　terrace；　acpanied　by　a　strong　perfume　of　exotic　blossoms。

〃Monsieur　le　te　de　la　Roche？〃

〃At　your　service；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　te；　bowing。

〃My　name　is　Mirelle。　You　may　have　heard　of　me。〃

〃Ah；　indeed；　Mademoiselle；　but　who　has　not　been　enchanted　by　the　dancing　of　Mademoiselle　Mirelle？　Exquisite！〃

The　dancer　acknowledged　this　pliment　with　a　brief　mechanical　smile。

〃My　descent　upon　you　is　unceremonious；〃　she　began。

〃But　seat　yourself；　I　beg　of　you；　Mademoiselle；〃　cried　the　te；　bringing　forward　a　chair。

Behind　the　gallantry　of　his　manner　he　was　observing　her　narrowly。　There　were　very　few　things　that　the　te　did　not　know　about　women。　True；　his　experience　had　not　lain　much　in　ladies　of　Mirelles　class；　who　were　themselves　predatory。　He　and　the　dancer　were；　in　a　sense；　birds　of　a　feather。　His　arts；　the　te　knew；　would　be　thrown　away　on　Mirelle。　She　was　a　Parisienne；　and　a　shrewd　one。　Nevertheless；　there　was　one　thing　that　the　te　could　recognize　infallibly　when　he　saw　it。　He　knew　at　once　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　a　very　angry　woman；　and　an　angry　woman；　as　the　te　was　well　aware；　always　says　more　than　is　prudent；　and　is　occasionally　a　source　of　profit　to　a　level…headed　gentleman　who　keeps　cool。

〃It　is　most　amiable　of　you；　Mademoiselle；　to　honour　my　poor　abode　thus。〃

〃We　have　mutual　friends　in　Paris；〃　said　Mirelle。　〃I　have　heard　of　you　from　them；　but　I　e　to　see　you　today　for　another　reason。　I　have　heard　of　you　since　I　came　to　Nice　…　in　a　different　way；　you　understand。〃

〃Ah？〃　said　the　te　softly。

〃I　will　be　brutal；〃　continued　the　dancer；　〃nevertheless；　believe　that　I　have　your　welfare　at　heart。　They　are　saying　in　Nice；　Monsieur　le　te；　that　you　are　the　murderer　of　the　English　lady；　Madame　Kettering。〃

〃I　…　the　murderer　of　Madame　Kettering？　Pah！　But　how　absurd！〃

He　spoke　more　languidly　than　indignantly；　knowing　that　he　would　thus　provoke　her　further。

〃But　yes；〃　she　insisted；　〃it　is　as　I　tell　you。〃

〃It　amuses　people　to　talk；〃　murmured　the　te　indifferently。　〃It　would　be　beneath　me　to　take　such　wild　accusations　seriously。〃

〃You　do　not　understand。〃　Mirelle　bent　forward；　her　dark　eyes　flashing。　〃It　is　not　the　idle　talk　of　those　in　the　streets。　It　is　the　police。〃

〃The　police　…　ah？〃

The　te　sat　up；　alert　once　more。

Mirelle　nodded　her　head　vigorously　several　times。

〃Yes；　yes。　You　prehend　me　…　I　have　friends　everywhere。　The　Prefect　himself　…〃

She　left　the　sentence　unfinished；　with　an　eloquent　shrug　of　the　shoulders。

〃Who　is　not　indiscreet　where　a　beautiful　woman　is　concerned？〃　murmured　the　Count　politely。

〃The　police　believe　that　you　killed　Mrs　Kettering。　But　they　are　wrong。〃