第12部分(第2/8 頁)

。　Katherine　flinched　a　little　and　dug　her　nails　into　her　palms。　A　heavy　blow　had　disfigured　the　features　almost　beyond　recognition。　Poirot　gave　a　sharp　exclamation。

〃When　was　that　done；　I　wonder？〃　he　demanded。　〃Before　death　or　after？〃

〃The　doctor　says　after；〃　said　M。　Caux。

〃Strange；〃　said　Poirot；　drawing　his　brows　together。

He　turned　to　Katherine。　〃Be　brave；　Mademoiselle；　look　at　her　well。　Are　you　sure　that　this　is　the　woman　you　talked　to　in　the　train　yesterday？〃

Katherine　had　good　nerves。　She　steeled　herself　to　look　long　and　earnestly　at　the　recumbent　figure。　Then　she　leaned　forward　and　took　up　the　dead　woman's　hand。

〃I　am　quite　sure；〃　she　replied　at　length。　〃The　face　is　too　disfigured　to　recognize；　but　the　build　and　carriage　and　hair　are　exact；　and　besides　I　noticed　this　…〃　she　pointed　to　a　tiny　mole　on　the　dead　woman's　wrist　…　〃while　I　was　talking　to　her。〃

〃Bon；〃　approved　Poirot。　〃You　are　an　excellent　witness；　Mademoiselle。　There　is　then　no　question　as　to　the　identity；　but　it　is　strange；　all　the　same。〃　He　frowned　down　on　the　dead　woman　in　perplexity。

M。　Caux　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃The　murderer　was　carried　away　by　rage；　doubtless；〃　he　suggested。

〃If　she　had　been　struck　down；　it　would　have　been　prehensible；〃　mused　Poirot；　〃but　the　man　who　strangled　her　slipped　up　behind　and　caught　her　unawares。　A　little　choke　…　a　little　gurgle　…　that　is　all　that　would　be　heard；　and　then　afterwards　…　that　smashing　blow　on