博炮作文网

第26部分（第2页）

He　paused。

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine　gently。

〃Ruth　was　lying　on　the　bunk　asleep　…　her　face　was　turned　away　from　me　…　I　could　only　see　the　back　of　her　head。　I　could　have　waked　her　up；　of　course。　But　suddenly　I　felt　a　reaction。　What；　after　all；　was　there　to　say　that　we　hadnt　both　of　us　said　a　hundred　times　before？　She　looked　so　peaceful　lying　there。　I　left　the　partment　as　quietly　as　I　could。〃

〃Why　lie　about　it　to　the　police？〃　asked　Katherine。

〃Because　Im　not　a　plete　fool。　Ive　realized　from　the　beginning　that；　from　the　point　of　view　of　motive；　Im　the　ideal　murderer。　If　I　once　admitted　that　I　had　been　in　her　partment　just　before　she　was　murdered；　Id　do　for　myself　once　and　for　all。〃

〃I　see。〃

Did　she　see？　She　could　not　have　told　herself。　She　was　feeling　the　magic　attraction　of　Dereks　personality；　but　there　was　something　in　her　that　resisted；　that　held　back。。。

〃Katherine　…〃

〃Yes？〃

〃You　know　that　I　care　for　you。　Do　…　do　you　care　for　me？〃

〃I　…　I　dont　know。〃

Weakness　there。　Either　she　knew　or　she　did　not　know。

If　…　if　only　…

She　cast　a　look　round　desperately　as　though　seeking　something　that　would　help　her。　A　soft　colour　rose　in　her　cheeks　as　a　tall　fair　man　with　a　limp　came　hurrying　along　the　path　towards　them　…　Major　Knighton。

There　was　relief　and　an　unexpected　warmth　in　her　voice　as　she　greeted　him。

Derek　stood　up　scowling；　his　face　black　as　a　thundercloud。

〃Lady　Tamplin　having　a　flutter？〃　he　said　easily。　〃I　must　join　her　and　give　her　the　benefit　of　my　system。〃

He　swung　round　on　his　heel　and　left　them　together。　Katherine　sat　down　again。　Her　heart　was　beating　rapidly　and　unevenly；　but　as　she　sat　there　talking　monplaces　to　the　quiet；　rather　shy　man　beside　her；　her　self…mand　came　back。

Then　she　realized　with　a　shock　that　Knighton　also　was　laying　bare　his　heart；　much　as　Derek　had　done；　but　in　a　very　different　manner。

He　was　shy　and　stammering。　The　words　came　haltingly　。

〃From　the　first　moment　I　saw　you　…　I　…　I　ought　not　to　have　spoken　so　soon　…　but　Mr　Van　Aldin　may　leave　here　any　day；　and　I　might　not　have　another　chance。　I　know　you　cant　care　for　me　so　soon　…　that　is　impossible。　I　dare　say　it　is　presumption　anyway　on　my　part。　I　have　private　means；　but　not　very　much　…　no；　please　dont　answer　now。　I　know　what　your　answer　would　be。　But　in　case　I　went　away　suddenly　I　just　wanted　you　to　know　…　that　I　care。〃

She　was　shaken　…　touched。　His　manner　was　so　gentle　and　appealing。

〃Theres　one　thing　more。　I　just　wanted　to　say　that　if　…　if　you　are　ever　in　trouble；　anything　that　I　can　do　…〃

He　took　her　hand　in　his；　held　it　tightly　for　a　minute；　then　dropped　it　and　walked　rapidly　away　towards　the　Casino　without　looking　back。

Katherine　sat　perfectly　still；　looking　after　him。　Derek　Kettering　…　Richard　Knighton　…　two　men　so　different　…　so　very　different。　There　was　something　kind　about　Knighton；　kind　and　trustworthy。　As　to　Derek　…　Then　suddenly　Katherine　had　a　very　curious　sensation。　She　felt　that　she　was　no　longer　sitting　alone　on　the　seat　in　the　Casino　gardens；　but　that　someone　was　standing　beside　her；　and　that　that　someone　was　the　dead　woman；　Ruth　Kettering。　She　had　a　further　impression　that　Ruth　wanted　…　badly　…　to　tell　her　something。　The　impression　was　so　curious；　so　vivid；　that　it　could　not　be　driven　away。　She　felt　absolutely　certain　that　the　spirit　of　Ruth　Kettering　was　trying　to　convey　something　of　vital　importance　to　her。　The　impression　faded。　Katherine　got　up；　trembling　a　little。　What　was　it　that　Ruth　Kettering　had　wanted　so　badly　to　say？

Chapter　27

INTERVIEW　WITH　MIRELLE

When　Knighton　left　Katherine　he　went　in　search　of　Hercule　Poirot；　whom　he　found　in　the　Rooms；　jauntily　placing　the　minimum　stake　on　the　even　numbers。　As　Knighton　joined　him；　the　number　thirty…three　turned　up；　and　Poirots　stake　was　swept　away。