第27部分(第3/7 页)

d　you　so？〃

〃The　police；〃　murmured　Poirot；　〃will　need　proof　of　that　…　er　…　statement。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　saw　him　e　out　of　her　partment　that　night　on　the　train。〃

〃When？〃　asked　Poirot　sharply。

〃Just　before　the　train　reached　Lyons。〃

〃You　will　swear　to　that；　Mademoiselle？〃

It　was　a　different　Poirot　who　spoke　now；　sharp　and　decisive。

〃Yes。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence。　Mirelle　was　panting；　and　her　eyes；　half　defiant；　half　frightened；　went　from　the　face　of　one　man　to　the　other。

〃This　is　a　serious　matter；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　the　detective。　〃You　realize　how　serious？〃

〃Certainly　I　do。〃

〃That　is　well；〃　said　Poirot。　〃Then　you　understand；　Mademoiselle；　that　no　time　must　be　lost。　You　will；　perhaps；　acpany　us　immediately　to　the　office　of　the　Examining　Magistrate。〃

Mirelle　was　taken　aback。　She　hesitated；　but；　as　Poirot　had　foreseen；　she　had　no　loophole　for　escape。

〃Very　well；〃　she　muttered。　〃I　will　fetch　a　coat。〃

Left　alone　together；　Poirot　and　Knighton　exchanged　glances。

〃It　is　necessary　to　act　while　…　how　do　you　say　it？　…　the　iron　is　hot；〃　murmured　Poirot。　〃She　is　temperamental；　in　an　hour's　time；　maybe；　she　will　repent；　and　she　will　wish　to　draw　back。　We　must　prevent　that　at　all　costs。〃

Mirelle　reappeared；　wrapped　in　a　sand…coloured　velvet　wrap　trimmed　with　leopard　skin。　She　looked　not　altogether　unlike　a　leopardess；　tawny　and　dangerous。　Her　eyes　still　flashed　with　anger　and　determination。

They　found　M。　Caux　and　the　Examining　Magistrate　together。　A　few　brief　introductory　words　from　Poirot；　and　Mademoiselle　Mirelle　was　courteously　entreated　to　tell　her　tale。　This　she　did　in　much　the　same　words　as　she　had　done　to　Knighton　and　Poirot；　though　with　far　more　soberness　of　man