第36部分(第2/6 页)

on's　hearing　the　day　before　yesterday。　The　natural　thing　would　have　been　for　Knighton　to　mention　that　he　had　been　attended　by　him　during　the　war；　but　he　said　nothing　…　and　that　little　point；　if　nothing　else；　gave　me　the　last　final　assurance　that　my　theory　of　the　crime　was　correct。　Miss　Grey；　too；　provided　me　with　a　cutting；　showing　that　there　had　been　a　robbery　at　Lady　Tamplin's　hospital　during　the　time　that　Knighton　had　been　there。　She　realized　that　I　was　on　the　same　track　as　herself　when　I　wrote　to　her　from　the　Ritz　in　Paris。

〃I　had　some　trouble　in　my　inquiries　there；　but　I　got　what　I　wanted　…　evidence　that　Ada　Mason　arrived　on　the　morning　after　the　crime　and　not　on　the　evening　of　the　day　before。〃

There　was　a　long　silence；　then　the　millionaire　stretched　out　a　hand　to　Poirot　across　the　table。

〃I　guess　you　know　what　this　means　to　me；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃I　am　sending　you　round　a　cheque　in　the　morning；　but　no　cheque　in　the　world　will　express　what　I　feel　about　what　you　have　done　for　me。　You　are　the　goods；　Monsieur　Poirot。　Every　time；　you　are　the　goods。〃

Poirot　rose　to　his　feet；　his　chest　swelled。

〃I　am　only　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　modestly；　〃yet；　as　you　say；　in　my　own　way　I　am　a　big　man；　even　as　you　also　are　a　big　man。　I　am　glad　and　happy　to　have　been　of　service　to　you。　Now　I　go　to　repair　the　damages　caused　by　travel。　Alas！　my　excellent　Georges　is　not　with　me。〃

In　the　lounge　of　the　hotel　he　encountered　a　friend　…　the　venerable　Monsieur　Papopolous；　his　daughter　Zia　beside　him。

〃I　thought　you　had　left　Nice；　Monsieur　Poirot；〃　murmured　the　Greek　as　he　took　the　detective's　affectionately　proffered　hand。

〃Business　pelled　me　to　return；　my　dear　Monsieur　Papopolous。〃

〃Business？〃

〃Yes；　business。　A