第33部分(第1/7 頁)

〃I　am　older。〃

〃Yes；　you　are　older。　And　by　that　I　do　not　mean　that　the　wrinkles　and　the　crows'　feet　are　ing。　When　I　first　saw　you；　Mademoiselle；　you　were　a　looker…on　at　life。　You　had　the　quiet；　amused　look　of　one　who　sits　back　in　the　stalls　and　watches　the　play。〃

〃And　now？〃

〃Now；　you　no　longer　watch。　It　is　an　absurd　thing；　perhaps；　that　I　say　here；　but　you　have　the　wary　look　of　a　fighter　who　is　playing　a　difficult　game。〃

〃My　old　lady　is　difficult　sometimes；〃　said　Katherine；　with　a　smile；　〃but　I　can　assure　you　that　I　don't　engage　in　deadly　contests　with　her。　You　must　go　down　and　see　her　some　day；　Monsieur　Poirot。　I　think　you　are　one　of　the　people　who　would　appreciate　her　pluck　and　her　spirit。〃

There　was　a　silence　while　the　waiter　deftly　served　them　with　chicken　en　casserole。　When　he　had　departed；　Poirot　said：

〃You　have　heard　me　speak　of　my　friend　Hastings？　…　he　who　said　that　I　was　a　human　oyster。　Eh　bien；　Mademoiselle；　I　have　met　my　match　in　you。　You；　far　more　than　I；　play　a　lone　hand。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Katherine　lightly。

〃Never　does　Hercule　Poirot　talk　nonsense。　It　is　as　I　say。〃

Again　there　was　a　silence。　Poirot　broke　it　by　inquiring：

〃Have　you　seen　any　of　our　Riviera　friends　since　you　have　been　back；　Mademoiselle？〃

〃I　have　seen　something　of　Major　Knighton。〃

〃A…ha！　Is　that　so？〃

Something　in　Poirot's　twinkling　eyes　made　Katherine　lower　hers。

〃So　Mr　Van　Aldin　remains　in　London？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　must　try　to　see　him　tomorrow　or　the　next　day。〃

〃You　have　news　for　him？〃

〃What　makes　you　think　that？〃

〃I　…　wondered；　that　is　all。〃

Poirot　looked　across　at　her　with　twinkling　eyes。

〃And　now；　Mademoiselle；　there　is　much　that　you　wish　to　ask　me