第31部分(第2/8 頁)

lf。　〃Shall　I　take　a　chance　on　the　other？〃

It　was　six　o'clock　when　the　card　of　Monsieur　Hercule　Poirot　was　brought　up　to　Mirelle。

She　stared　at　it　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　nodded。　When　Poirot　entered；　he　found　her　walking　up　and　down　the　room　feverishly。　She　turned　on　him　furiously。

〃Well？〃　she　cried。　〃Well？　What　is　it　now？　Have　you　not　tortured　me　enough；　all　of　you？　Have　you　not　made　me　betray　my　poor　Dereek？　What　more　do　you　want？〃

〃Just　one　little　question；　Mademoiselle。　After　the　train　left　Lyons；　when　you　entered　Mrs　Kettering's　partment　…〃

〃What　is　that？〃

Poirot　looked　at　her　with　an　air　of　mild　reproach　and　began　again。

〃I　say　when　you　entered　Mrs　Kettering's　partment　…〃

〃I　never　did。〃

〃And　found　her　…〃

〃I　never　did。〃

〃Ah；　sacré！〃

He　turned　on　her　in　a　rage　and　shouted　at　her；　so　that　she　cowered　back　before　him。

〃Will　you　lie　to　me？　I　tell　you　I　know　what　happened　as　well　as　though　I　had　been　there。　You　went　into　her　partment　and　you　found　her　dead。　I　tell　you　I　know　it。　To　lie　to　me　is　dangerous。　Be　careful；　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃

Her　eyes　wavered　beneath　his　gaze　and　fell。

〃I　…　I　didn't　…〃　she　began　uncertainly　and　stopped。

〃There　is　only　one　thing　about　which　I　wonder；〃　said　Poirot。　〃I　wonder；　Mademoiselle；　if　you　found　what　you　were　looking　for　or　whether　…〃

〃Whether　what？〃

〃Or　whether　someone　else　had　been　before　you。〃

〃I　ed　th