第31部分(第1/7 頁)

〃You　will　be　arrested　and　held　as　acplices　concerned　in　the　murder　of　Mrs　Kettering；　the　English　lady　who　was　killed。〃

〃Murder！〃

The　man's　face　had　gone　chalk　white；　his　knees　knocked　together。　Marie　dropped　the　rolling…pin　and　began　to　weep。

〃But　it　is　impossible　…　impossible。　I　thought　…〃

〃Since　you　stick　to　your　story；　there　is　nothing　to　be　said。　I　think　you　are　both　foolish。〃

He　was　turning　towards　the　door　when　an　agitated　voice　arrested　him。

〃Monsieur；　Monsieur；　just　a　little　moment。　I　…　I　had　no　idea　that　it　was　anything　of　this　kind。　I　…　I　thought　it　was　just　a　matter　concerning　a　lady。　There　have　been　little　awkwardnesses　with　the　police　over　ladies　before。　But　murder　…　that　is　very　different。〃

〃I　have　no　patience　with　you；〃　cried　Poirot。　He　turned　round　on　them　and　angrily　shook　his　fist　in　Hippolyte's　face。　〃Am　I　to　stop　here　all　day；　arguing　with　a　couple　of　imbeciles　thus？　It　is　the　truth　I　want。　If　you　will　not　give　it　to　me；　that　is　your　look　out。　For　the　last　time；　when　did　Monsieur　le　te　arrive　at　the　Villa　Marina　…　Tuesday　morning　or　Wednesday　morning？〃

〃Wednesday；〃　gasped　the　man；　and　behind　him　Marie　nodded　confirmation。

Poirot　regarded　them　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　inclined　his　head　gravely。

〃You　are　wise；　my　children；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Very　nearly　you　were　in　serious　trouble。〃

He　left　the　Villa　Marina；　smiling　to　himself。

〃One　guess　confirmed；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　〃Shall　I　take　a　chance　on　the　other？〃

It　was　six　o'clock　when　the　card　of　Monsieur　Hercule　Poirot　was　brought　up　to　Mirelle。

She　stared　at　it　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　nodded。　When　Poirot　entered；　he　found　her　walking　up　and　down　the　room　feverishly。　She　turned　on　him　furiously