第24部分(第3/8 頁)

irot　nodded　significantly。　Then　he　leant　towards　the　other　and　spoke　in　a　different　tone；　a　quiet；　grave　tone　that　was　new　to　Derek　Kettering。

〃You　will　pardon　an　old　man；　Monsieur；　if　he　says　to　you　something　that　you　may　consider　impertinent。　There　is　one　of　your　English　proverbs　that　I　would　quote　to　you。　It　says　that　'it　is　well　to　be　off　with　the　old　love；　before　being　on　with　the　new。'〃

Kettering　turned　on　him　angrily。　〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean？〃

〃You　enrage　yourself　at　me；〃　said　Poirot　placidly。　〃I　expected　as　much。　As　to　what　I　mean　…　I　mean；　Monsieur；　that　there　is　a　second　car　with　a　lady　in　it。　If　you　turn　your　head　you　will　see　her。〃

Derek　spun　around。　His　face　darkened　with　anger。

〃Mirelle；　damn　her！〃　he　muttered。　〃I　will　soon　…〃

Poirot　arrested　the　movement　he　was　about　to　make。

〃Is　it　wise　what　you　are　about　to　do　there？〃　he　asked　warningly。　His　eyes　shone　brightly　with　a　green　light　in　them。　But　Derek　was　past　noticing　the　warning　signs。　In　his　manner　he　was　pletely　off　his　guard。

〃I　have　broken　with　her　utterly；　and　she　knows　it；〃　cried　Derek　angrily。

〃You　have　broken　with　her；　yes；　but　has　she　broken　with　you？〃

Derek　gave　a　sudden　harsh　laugh。

〃She　won't　break　with　two　million　pounds　if　she　can　help　it；〃　he　murmured　brutally；　〃trust　Mirelle　for　that。〃

Poirot　raised　his　eyebrows。

〃You　have　the　outlook　cynical；〃　he　murmured。

〃Have　I？〃　There　was　no　mirth　in　his　s