第21部分(第2/7 頁)

g！〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　in　her　vague　reproachful　voice。

〃What　did　Major　Knighton　ring　up　about？〃　inquired　Katherine。

〃He　asked　if　you　would　like　to　go　to　the　tennis　this　afternoon。　If　so；　he　would　call　for　you　in　a　car。　Mother　and　I　accepted　for　you　with　empressement。　Whilst　you　dally　with　a　millionaire's　secretary；　you　might　give　me　a　chance　with　the　millionaire；　Katherine。　He　is　about　sixty；　I　suppose；　so　that　he　will　be　looking　about　for　a　nice　sweet　young　thing　like　me。〃

〃I　should　like　to　meet　Mr　Van　Aldin；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　earnestly；　〃one　has　heard　so　much　of　him。　Those　fine　rugged　figures　of　the　Western　world　…〃　she　broke　off　…　〃so　fascinating；〃　she　murmured。

〃Major　Knighton　was　very　particular　to　say　it　was　Mr　Van　Aldin's　invitation；〃　said　Lenox。　〃He　said　it　so　often　that　I　began　to　smell　a　rat。　You　and　Knighton　would　make　a　very　nice　pair；　Katherine。　Bless　you；　my　children！〃

Katherine　laughed；　and　went　upstairs　to　change　her　clothes。

Knighton　arrived　soon　after　lunch　and　endured　manfully　Lady　Tamplin's　transports　of　recognition。

When　they　were　driving　together　towards　Cannes　he　remarked　to　Katherine：　〃Lady　Tamplin　has　changed　wonderfully　little。〃

〃In　manner　or　appearance？〃

〃Both。　She　must　be；　I　suppose；　well　over　forty；　but　she　is　a　remarkably　beautiful　woman　still。〃

〃She　is；〃　agreed　Katherine。

〃I　am　very　glad　that　you　could　e　today；〃　went　on　Knighton。　〃M。　Poirot　is　going　to　be　there　also。　What　an　extraordinary　little　man　he　is。　Do　you　know　him　well；　Miss　Grey？〃

Katherine　shook　her　head。　〃I　met　him　on　the　train　on　the　way　here。　I　was　reading　a　detective　novel；　and　I　happened　to　say　something　about　such　things　not　happening　in　real　life　…　of　course；　I　had　no　idea　of　who　he　was。〃