第18部分(第1/7 页)

〃What　happened　to　them？〃

〃I　gave　them　to　the　conductor　on　the　French　train；　sir；　he　said　it　was　usual。　I　hope　I　did　right；　sir？〃

〃Oh；　quite　right；　quite　right。　A　mere　matter　of　detail。〃

Both　M。　Caux　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　looked　at　him　curiously。　Mason　stood　uncertainly　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　the　Magistrate　gave　her　a　brief　nod　of　dismissal；　and　she　went　out。　Poirot　scribbled　something　on　a　scrap　of　paper　and　handed　it　across　to　M。　Carrege。　The　latter　read　it　and　his　brow　cleared。

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　demanded　the　Count　haughtily；　〃am　I　to　be　detained　further？〃

〃Assuredly　not；　assuredly　not；〃　M。　Carrege　hastened　to　say；　with　a　great　deal　of　amiability。　〃Everything　is　now　cleared　up　as　regards　your　own　position　in　this　affair。　Naturally；　in　view　of　Madame's　letter；　we　were　bound　to　question　you。〃

The　Count　rose；　picked　up　his　handsome　stick　from　the　corner；　and；　with　rather　a　curt　bow；　left　the　room。

〃And　that　is　that；〃　said　M。　Carrege。　〃You　。　Poirot　…　much　better　to　let　him　feel　he　is　not　suspected。　Two　of　my　men　will　shadow　him　night　and　day；　and　at　the　same　time　we　will　go　into　the　question　of　the　alibi。　It　seems　to　me　rather　…　er　…　a　fluid　one。〃

〃Possibly；〃　agreed　Poirot　thoughtfully。

〃I　asked　M。　Kettering　to　e　here　this　morning；〃　continued　the　Magistrate；　〃though　really　I　doubt　if　we　have　much　to　ask　him；　but　there　are　one　or　two　suspicious　circumstances　…〃　He　paused；　rubbing　his　nose。

〃Such　as？〃　asked　Poirot。

〃Well　…〃　the　Magistrate　coughed　…　〃this　lady　with　whom　he　is　said　to　be　travelling　…　Mademoiselle　Mirelle。　She　is　staying　at　one　hotel　and　he　at　another。　That　strikes　me　…　er　…　as　rather　odd。〃

〃It　looks；〃　said　M。　Caux；　〃as　though　they　were　being　careful。〃