小说园

第20部分（第1页）

Now　they　were　going　downhill；　twisting　and　curving　unceasingly。　Presently　the　car　slackened　speed；　and　finally　came　to　a　standstill　before　a　Bureau　de　Poste。　The　te　jumped　out；　lifted　the　lid　of　the　tool　chest；　extracted　the　small　brown　paper　parcel　and　hurried　into　the　post　office。　Two　minutes　later　he　was　driving　once　more　in　the　direction　of　Mentone。　When　the　grey　car　arrived　there；　the　te　was　drinking　English　five　oclock　tea　on　the　terrace　of　one　of　the　hotels。

Later；　he　drove　back　to　Monte　Carlo；　dined　there；　and　reached　home　once　more　at　eleven　oclock。　Hippolyte　came　out　to　meet　him　with　a　disturbed　face。

〃Ah！　Monsieur　le　te　has　arrived。　Monsieur　le　te　did　not　telephone　me；　by　any　chance？〃

The　te　shook　his　head。

〃And　yet　at　three　oclock　I　received　a　summons　from　Monsieur　le　te；　to　present　myself　to　him　at　Nice；　at　the　Negresco。〃

〃Really；〃　said　the　te；　〃and　you　went？〃

〃Certainly；　Monsieur；　but　at　the　Negresco　they　knew　nothing　of　Monsieur　le　te　…　he　had　not　been　there。〃

〃Ah〃　said　the　te；　〃doubtless　at　that　hour　Marie　was　out　doing　her　afternoon　marketing？〃

〃That　is　so；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃Ah；　well；〃　said　the　te；　〃it　is　of　no　importance。　A　mistake。〃

He　went　upstairs；　smiling　to　himself。

Once　within　his　own　room；　he　bolted　his　door　and　looked　sharply　round。　Everything　seemed　as　usual。　He　opened　various　drawers　and　cupboards。　Then　he　nodded　to　himself。

Things　had　been　replaced　almost　exactly　as　he　had　left　them；　but　not　quite。　It　was　evident　that　a　very　thorough　search　had　been　made。

He　went　over　to　the　bureau　and　pressed　the　hidden　spring。　The　drawer　flew　open；　but　the　hair　was　no　longer　where　he　had　placed　it。　He　nodded　his　head　several　times。

〃They　are　excellent；　our　French　police；〃　he　murmured　to　himself　…　〃excellent。　Nothing　escapes　them。〃

Chapter　20

KATHERINE　MAKES　A　FRIEND

On　the　following　morning　Katherine　and　Lenox　were　sitting　on　the　terrace　of　the　Villa　Marguerite。　Something　in　the　nature　of　a　friendship　was　springing　up　between　them；　despite　the　difference　in　age。　But　for　Lenox；　Katherine　would　have　found　life　at　the　Villa　Marguerite　quite　intolerable。　The　Kettering　case　was　the　topic　of　the　moment。　Lady　Tamplin　frankly　exploited　her　guests　connection　with　the　affair　for　all　it　was　worth。

The　most　persistent　rebuffs　that　Katherine　could　administer　quite　failed　to　pierce　Lady　Tamplins　self…esteem。　Lenox　adopted　a　detached　attitude；　seemingly　amused　at　her　mothers　manoeuvres；　and　yet　with　a　sympathetic　understanding　of　Katherines　feelings。

The　situation　was　not　helped　by　Chubby；　whose　naive　delight　was　unquenchable；　and　who　introduced　Katherine　to　all　and　sundry　as：

〃This　is　Miss　Grey。　You　know　that　Blue　Train　business？　She　was　in　it　up　to　the　ears！　Had　a　long　talk　with　Ruth　Kettering　a　few　hours　before　the　murder！　Bit　of　luck　for　her；　eh？〃

A　few　remarks　of　this　kind　had　provoked　Katherine　that　morning　to　an　unusually　tart　rejoinder；　and　when　they　were　alone　together　Lenox　observed　in　her　slow　drawl：

〃Not　used　to　exploitation；　are　you？　You　have　a　lot　to　learn；　Katherine。〃

〃I　am　sorry　I　lost　my　temper。　I　dont；　as　a　rule。〃

〃It　is　about　time　you　learnt　to　blow　off　steam。　Chubby　is　only　an　ass；　there　is　no　harm　in　him。　Mother；　of　course；　is　trying；　but　you　can　lose　your　temper　with　her　until　Kingdom　e；　and　it　wont　make　any　impression。　She　will　open　large；　sad　blue　eyes　at　you　and　not　care　a　bit。〃

Katherine　made　no　reply　to　this　filial　observation；　and　Lenox　presently　went　on：

〃I　am　rather　like　Chubby。　I　delight　in　a　good　murder；　and　besides　…　well；　knowing　Derek　makes　a　difference。〃

Katherine　nodded。

〃So　you　lunched　with　him　yesterday；〃　pursued　Lenox　reflectively。　〃Do　you　like　him；　Katherine？〃

Katherine　considered　for　a　minute　or　two。

〃I　dont　know；〃　she　said　very　slowly。