第32部分(第3/7 頁)

had　been　so　providentially　preserved　in　the　family。　She　greeted　Knighton　with　dignity　and　an　austere　politeness　which　would　have　damped　many　men。　Knighton；　however；　had　a　charm　of　manner　which　was　not　easily　set　aside；　and　after　about　ten　minutes　Miss　Viner　thawed　perceptibly。　Luncheon　was　a　merry　meal；　and　Ellen；　or　Helen；　in　a　new　pair　of　silk　stockings　devoid　of　ladders　performed　prodigies　of　waiting。　Afterwards；　Katherine　and　Knighton　went　for　a　walk　and　they　came　back　to　have　tea　tête…а…tête；　since　Miss　Viner　had　gone　to　lie　down。

When　the　car　had　finally　driven　off　Katherine　went　slowly　upstairs。　A　voice　called　her　and　she　went　in　to　Miss　Viner's　bedroom。

〃Friend　gone？〃

〃Yes。　Thank　you　so　much　for　letting　me　ask　him　down。〃

〃No　need　to　thank　me。　Do　you　think　I　am　the　sort　of　old　curmudgeon　who　will　never　do　anything　for　anybody？〃

〃I　think　you　are　a　dear；〃　said　Katherine　affectionately。

〃Humph；〃　said　Miss　Viner　mollified。

As　Katherine　was　leaving　the　room　she　called　her　back。

〃Katherine？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　was　wrong　about　that　young　man　of　yours。　A　man　when　he　is　making　up　to　anybody　can　be　cordial　and　gallant　and　full　of　little　attentions　and　altogether　charming。　But　when　a　man　is　really　in　love　he　can't　help　looking　like　a　sheep。　Now；　whenever　that　young　man　looked　at　you　he　looked　like　a　sheep。　I　take　back　all　I　said　this　morning。　It　is　genuine。〃

Chapter　31

MR　AARONS　LUNCHES

〃Ah！〃　said　Mr　Joseph　Aarons　appreciatively。

He　took　a　long　draught　from　his　tankard；　set　it　down　with　a　sigh；　wiped　the　froth　from　his　lips；　and　beamed　across　the　table　at　his　host；　Monsieur　Hercule　Poirot。

〃Give　me；〃　said　Mr　Aarons；　〃a　good　Porterhouse　steak　and　a　tankard　of　something　worth　drink