第27部分(第1/7 頁)

〃Eh　bien？〃

〃The　difficulty　was　that　she　insisted　on　seeing　Mr　Van　Aldin　himself。　I　softened　his　message　as　much　as　I　possibly　could。　In　fact　…　to　be　candid　…　I　gave　it　in　a　very　different　form。　I　said　that　Mr　Van　Aldin　was　too　busy　to　see　her　at　present；　but　that　she　might　make　any　munication　she　wished　to　me。　That；　however；　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　do；　and　she　left　without　saying　anything　further。　But　I　have　a　strong　impression；　M。　Poirot　that　that　woman　knows　something。〃

〃This　is　serious；〃　said　Poirot　quietly。　〃You　know　where　she　is　staying？〃

〃Yes。〃　Knighton　mentioned　the　name　of　the　hotel。

〃Good；〃　said　Poirot；　〃we　will　go　there　immediately。〃

The　secretary　looked　doubtful。

〃And　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃　he　queried　doubtfully。

〃M。　Van　Aldin　is　an　obstinate　man；〃　said　Poirot　drily。　〃I　do　not　argue　with　obstinate　men。　I　act　in　spite　of　them。　We　will　go　and　see　the　lady　immediately。　I　will　tell　her　that　you　are　empowered　by　M。　Van　Aldin　to　act　for　him；　and　you　will　guard　yourself　well　from　contradicting　me。〃

Knighton　still　looked　slightly　doubtful；　but　Poirot　took　no　notice　of　his　hesitation。

At　the　hotel；　they　were　told　that　Mademoiselle　was　in；　and　Poirot　sent　up　both　his　and　Knighton's　cards；　with　〃From　Mr　Van　Aldin〃　pencilled　upon　them。

Word　came　down　that　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　would　receive　them。

When　they　were　ushered　into　the　dancer's　apartments；　Poirot　immediately　took　the　lead。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　murmured；　bowing　very　low；　〃we　are　here　on　behalf　of　M。　Van　Aldin。〃

〃Ah！　And　why　did　he　not　e　himself？〃

〃He　is　indisposed；〃　said　Poirot　mendaciously；　〃the　Riviera　throat；　it　has　him　in　its　grip；　but　me；　I　am　empowered　to　act　for　him；　as　is　Major　Knighton；　his　secretary。　Unless