第11部分(第6/7 頁)

at　we　know　from　her　passport　and　from　the　labels　on　her　luggage。　If　we　…〃

There　was　a　knock　on　the　partment　door。　M。　Caux　frowned。　He　opened　it　about　six　inches。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　said　peremptorily。　〃I　cannot　be　disturbed。〃

The　egg…shaped　head　of　Katherine's　dinner　acquaintance　showed　itself　in　the　aperture。　On　his　face　was　a　beaming　smile。

〃My　name；〃　he　said；　〃is　Hercule　Poirot。〃

〃Not；〃　the　missary　stammered；　〃not　the　Hercule　Poirot？〃

〃The　same；〃　said　Mr　Poirot。　〃I　remember　meeting　you　once；　M。　Caux；　at　the　S？reté　in　Paris；　though　doubtless　you　have　forgotten　me？〃

〃Not　at　all；　Monsieur；　not　at　all；〃　declared　the　missary　heartily。　〃But　enter；　I　pray　of　you。　You　know　of　this　…〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Hercule　Poirot。　〃I　came　to　see　if　I　might　be　of　any　assistance？〃

〃We　should　be　flattered；〃　replied　the　missary　promptly。　〃Let　me　present　you；　Mr　Poirot；　to　…〃　he　consulted　the　passport　he　still　held　in　his　hand　…　〃to　Madame　…　er　…　Mademoiselle　Grey。〃

Poirot　smiled　across　at　Katherine。

〃It　is　strange；　is　it　not；〃　he　murmured；　〃that　my　words　should　have　e　true　so　quickly？〃

〃Mademoiselle；　alas！　can　tell　us　very　little；〃　said　the　missary。

〃I　have　been　explaining；〃　said　Katherine；　〃that　this　poor　lady　was　a　plete　stranger　to　me。〃

Poirot　nodded。

〃But　she　talked　to　you；　did　she　not？〃　he　said　gently。　〃You　formed　an　impression　…　is　it　not　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine　thoughtfully。　〃I　suppose　I　did。　And　that　impression　was　…〃

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle　…〃　the　missary　jerked　himself　forward　…　〃let　us　by　all　means　have　your　impressions。〃

Katherine　sat　turning　the　whole　thing　over　in　her　mind。　She　felt　in　a　way　as　if　she　were　betraying　a　confidence；　but　with　that　ugly　w