第12部分(第1/7 页)

〃It　is　horrible。〃

〃Yes；　yes　…〃　he　was　soothing　and　apologetic　…　〃but　you　have　great　courage；　Mademoiselle。　At　once；　as　soon　as　I　saw　you；　I　said　to　myself；　'Mademoiselle　has　great　courage。'　That　is　why　I　am　going　to　ask　you　to　do　something　more　…　something　distressing；　but　I　assure　you　very　necessary。〃

Katherine　looked　at　him　apprehensively。

He　spread　out　his　hands　apologetically。

〃I　am　going　to　ask　you；　Mademoiselle；　to　be　so　good　as　to　acpany　me　to　the　next　partment。〃

〃Must　I？〃　asked　Katherine　in　a　low　voice。

〃Someone　must　identify　her；〃　said　the　missary；　〃and　since　the　maid　has　disappeared　…〃　he　coughed　significantly　…　〃you　appear　to　be　the　person　who　has　seen　most　of　her　since　she　joined　the　train。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Katherine　quietly；　〃if　it　is　necessary　…〃

She　rose。　Poirot　gave　her　a　little　nod　of　approval。

〃Mademoiselle　is　sensible；〃　he　said。　〃May　I　acpany　you；　M。　Caux？〃

〃Enchanted；　my　dear　M。　Poirot。〃

They　went　out　into　the　corridor；　and　M。　Caux　unlocked　the　door　of　the　dead　woman's　partment。　The　blinds　on　the　far　side　had　been　drawn　half…way　up　to　admit　light。　The　dead　woman　lay　on　the　berth　to　their　left；　in　so　natural　a　posture　that　one　could　have　thought　her　asleep。　The　bedclothes　were　drawn　up　over　her；　and　her　head　was　turned　to　the　wall；　so　that　only　the　red　auburn　curls　showed。　Very　gently　M。　Caux　laid　a　hand　on　her　shoulder　and　turned　the　body　back　so　that　the　face　came　into　view。　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。

〃Stra