第34部分(第2/8 頁)

　Poirot。

There　was　a　hint　of　reproach　in　his　tone　which　was　not　lost　upon　the　other。

〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；〃　he　said。　〃When　do　you　wish　to　start；　Monsieur　Poirot？〃

〃You　are　very　busy　at　present；　sir；〃　murmured　Knighton。

But　the　millionaire　had　now　made　up　his　mind；　and　he　waved　the　other's　objections　aside。

〃I　guess　this　business　es　first；〃　he　said。　〃All　right；　Monsieur　Poirot；　tomorrow。　What　train？〃

〃We　will　go；　I　think；　by　the　Blue　Train；〃　said　Poirot；　and　he　smiled。

Chapter　34

THE　BLUE　TRAIN　AGAIN

'The　millionaire's　train；'　as　it　is　sometimes　called；　swung　round　a　curve　of　line　at　what　seemed　a　dangerous　speed。　Van　Aldin；　Knighton　and　Poirot　sat　together　in　silence。

Knighton　and　Van　Aldin　had　two　partments　connecting　with　each　other；　as　Ruth　Kettering　and　her　maid　had　had　on　the　fateful　journey。　Poirot's　own　partment　was　further　along　the　coach。

The　journey　was　a　painful　one　for　Van　Aldin；　recalling　as　it　did　the　most　agonizing　memories。　Poirot　and　Knighton　conversed　occasionally　in　low　tones　without　disturbing　him。

When；　however；　the　train　had　pleted　its　slow　journey　round　the　ceinture　and　reached　the　Gare　de　Lyon；　Poirot　became　suddenly　galvanized　into　activity。　Van　Aldin　realized　that　part　of　his　object　in　travelling　by　the　train　had　been　to　attempt　to　reconstruct　the　crime。　Poirot　himself　acted　every　part。　He　was　in　turn　the　maid；　hurriedly　shut　into　her　own　partment；　Mrs　Kettering；　reco