第24部分(第1/7 頁)

u　happened　to　mention　that　you　had　once　mistaken　the　te　for　your　son…in…law。　That　told　me　that　they　were　of　the　same　height　and　build；　and　alike　in　colouring。　It　put　some　curious　ideas　in　my　head。　The　maid　had　only　been　with　your　daughter　a　short　time。　It　was　unlikely　that　she　would　know　Mr　Kettering　well　by　sight；　since　he　had　not　been　living　in　Curzon　Street；　also　the　man　was　careful　to　keep　his　face　turned　away。〃

〃You　believe　he　…　murdered　her；〃　said　Van　Aldin　hoarsely。

Poirot　raised　a　hand　quickly。

〃No；　no；　I　did　not　say　that　…　but　it　is　a　possibility　…　a　very　strong　possibility。　He　was　in　a　tight　corner；　a　very　tight　corner；　threatened　with　ruin。　This　was　the　one　way　out。〃

〃But　why　take　the　jewels？〃

〃To　make　the　crime　appear　an　ordinary　one　mitted　by　train　robbers。　Otherwise　suspicion　might　have　fallen　on　him　straight　away。〃

〃If　that　is　so；　what　has　he　done　with　the　rubies？〃

〃That　remains　to　be　seen。　There　are　several　possibilities。　There　is　a　man　in　Nice　who　may　be　able　to　help；　the　man　I　pointed　out　at　the　tennis。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet　and　Van　Aldin　rose　also　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　little　man's　shoulder。

His　voice　when　he　spoke　was　harsh　with　emotion。

〃Find　Ruth's　murderer　for　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　is　all　I　ask。〃

Poirot　drew　himself　up。

〃Leave　it　in　the　hands　of　Hercule　Poirot；〃　he　said　superbly；　〃have　no　fears。　I　will　discover　the　truth。〃

He　brushed　a　speck　of　fluff　from　his　hat；　smiled　reassuringly　at　the　millionaire；　and　left　the　room。　Nevertheless；　as　he　went　down　the　stairs　some　of　the　confidence　faded　from　his　face。

〃It　is　all　very　well；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃but　there　are　difficulties。　Yes；　there　are　great　difficulties。〃　As　he　was　passing　out　of　the　hot