第11部分(第5/7 頁)

tell　you　anything　about　her。　We　fell　into　conversation　over　our　meal；　but　she　is　a　plete　stranger　to　me。　I　have　never　seen　her　before。〃

〃And　yet；〃　said　the　missary　sharply；　〃you　returned　to　her　partment　with　her　after　lunch　and　sat　talking　for　some　time？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine；　〃that　is　true。〃

The　missary　seemed　to　expect　her　to　say　something　more。　He　looked　at　her　encouragingly。

〃Yes；　Madame？〃

〃Well；　Monsieur？〃　said　Katherine。

〃You　can；　perhaps；　give　me　some　kind　of　idea　of　that　conversation？〃

〃I　could；〃　said　Katherine；　〃but　at　the　moment　I　see　no　reason　to　do　so。〃

In　somewhat　British　fashion　she　felt　annoyed。

This　foreign　official　seemed　to　her　impertinent。

〃No　reason？〃　cried　the　missary。　〃Oh　yes；　Madame；　I　can　assure　you　that　there　is　a　reason。〃

〃Then　perhaps　you　will　give　it　to　me。〃

The　missary　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully　for　a　minute　or　two　without　speaking。

〃Madame；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃the　reason　is　very　simple。　The　lady　in　question　was　found　dead　in　her　partment　this　morning。〃

〃Dead！〃　gasped　Katherine。　〃What　was　it　…　heart　failure？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　missary　in　a　reflective　voice。　〃No　…　she　was　murdered。〃

〃Murdered！〃　cried　Katherine。

〃So　you　see；　Madame；　why　we　are　anxious　for　any　information　we　can　possibly　get。〃

〃But　surely　her　maid　…〃

〃The　maid　has　disappeared。〃

〃Oh！〃　Katherine　paused　to　assemble　her　thoughts。

〃Since　the　conductor　had　seen　you　talking　with　her　in　her　partment；　he　quite　naturally　reported　the　fact　to　the　police；　and　that　is　why；　Madame；　we　have　detained　you；　in　the　hope　of　gaining　some　information。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　said　Katherine；　〃I　don't　even　know　her　name。〃

〃Her　name　is　Kettering。　Th