第23部分(第1/7 頁)

up。〃

His　eyes　came　gently　round　to　the　girl。　She　had　pushed　her　cup　and　plate　aside；　and　with　both　elbows　on　the　table　and　her　chin　resting　on　her　hands　was　listening　eagerly。　Still　keeping　an　eye　on　her　he　went　on：

〃I　am　in　Paris　at　the　time。　You　send　for　me。　You　place　yourself　in　my　hands。　If　I　restore　to　you　that　…　article；　you　say　I　shall　earn　your　undying　gratitude。　Eh　bien！　I　did　restore　it　to　you。〃

A　long　sigh　came　from　M。　Papopolous。

〃It　was　the　most　unpleasant　moment　of　my　career；〃　he　murmured。

〃Seventeen　years　is　a　long　time；〃　said　Poirot　thoughtfully；　〃but　I　believe　that　I　am　right　in　saying；　Monsieur；　that　your　race　does　not　forget。〃

〃A　Greek？〃　murmured　Papopolous；　with　an　ironical　smile。

〃It　was　not　as　a　Greek　I　meant；〃　said　Poirot。

There　was　a　silence；　and　then　the　old　man　drew　himself　up　proudly。

〃You　are　right；　M。　Poirot；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　am　a　Jew。　And；　as　you　say；　our　race　does　not　forget。〃

〃You　will　aid　me　then？〃

〃As　regards　the　jewels；　Monsieur；　I　can　do　nothing。〃

The　old　man；　as　Poirot　had　done　just　now；　picked　his　words　carefully。

〃I　know　nothing。　I　have　heard　nothing；　but　I　can　perhaps　do　you　a　good　turn　…　that　is　if　you　are　interested　in　racing。〃

〃Under　certain　circumstances　I　might　be；〃　said　Poirot；　eyeing　him　steadily。

〃There　is　a　horse　running　at　Longchamps　that　would；　I　think；　repay　attention。　I　cannot　say　for　certain；　you　understand；　this　news　passed　through　so　many　hands。〃

He　stopped；　fixing　Poirot　with　his　eye；　as　though　to　make　sure　that　the　latter　was　prehending　him。

〃Perfectly；　perfectly；〃　said　Poirot；　nodding。

〃The　name　of　the　horse；〃　said　M。　Papopolous；　leaning　back　and　joining　the　tips　of　his　fingers　to