But there I felt the need of treading warily4. All very well for my little friend to admit himself momentarily nonplussed5. I had far too much respect for his abilities to conceive of him as being content to remain in that position. I had a very humble6 opinion of my wits when it came to matching them against his. Poirot would not take defeat lying down. Somehow or other, he would endeavour to turn the tables on me, and that in the way, and at the moment, when I least expected it.
We met at breakfast the following morning as though nothing had happened. Poirot’s good temper was imperturbable7, yet I thought I detected a film of reserve in his manner which was new. After breakfast, I announced my intention of going out for a stroll. A malicious8 gleam shot through Poirot’s eyes.
“If it is information you seek, you need not be at the pains of deranging9 yourself. I can tell you all you wish to know. The Dulcibella Sisters have cancelled their contract, and have left Coventry for an unknown destination.”
“Is that really so, Poirot?”
“You can take it from me, Hastings. I made inquiries10 the first thing this morning. After all, what else did you expect?”
True enough, nothing else could be expected under the circumstances. Cinderella had profited by the slight start I had been able to assure her, and would certainly not lose a moment in removing herself from the reach of the pursuer. It was what I had intended and planned. Nevertheless, I was aware of being plunged11 into a network of fresh difficulties.
I had absolutely no means of communicating with the girl, and it was vital that she should know the line of defence that had occurred to me, and which I was prepared to carry out. Of course it was possible that she might try to send word to me in some way or another, but I hardly thought it likely. She would know the risk she ran of a message being intercepted12 by Poirot, thus setting him on her track once more. Clearly her only course was to disappear utterly13 for the time being.
But, in the meantime, what was Poirot doing? I studied him attentively14. He was wearing his most innocent air, and staring meditatively15 into the far distance. He looked altogether too placid16 and supine to give me reassurance17. I had learned, with Poirot, that the less dangerous he looked, the more dangerous he was. His quiescence18 alarmed me. Observing a troubled quality in my glance, he smiled benignantly.
“You are puzzled, Hastings? You ask yourself why I do not launch myself in pursuit?”
“Well—something of the kind.”
“It is what you would do, were you in my place. I understand that. But I am not of those who enjoy rushing up and down a country seeking a needle in a haystack, as you English say. No—let Mademoiselle Bella Duveen go. Without doubt, I shall be able to find her when the time comes. Until then, I am content to wait.”
I stared at him doubtfully. Was he seeking to mislead me? I had an irritating feeling that, even now, he was master of the situation. My sense of superiority was gradually waning19. I had contrived20 the girl’s escape, and evolved a brilliant scheme for saving her from the consequences of her rash act—but I could not rest easy in my mind. Poirot’s perfect calm awakened21 a thousand apprehensions22.
“I suppose, Poirot,” I said rather diffidently, “I mustn’t ask what your plans are? I’ve forfeited23 the right.”
“But not at all. There is no secret about them. We return to France without delay.”
“We?”
“Precisely—‘we!’ You know very well that you cannot afford to let Papa Poirot out of your sight. Eh, is it not so, my friend? But remain in England by all means if you wish—”
I shook my head. He had hit the nail on the head. I could not afford to let him out of my sight. Although I could not expect his confidence after what had happened, I could still check his actions. The only danger to Bella lay with him. Giraud and the French police were indifferent to her existence. At all costs I must keep near Poirot.
Poirot observed me attentively as these reflections passed through my mind, and gave a nod of satisfaction.
“I am right, am I not? And as you are quite capable of trying to follow me, disguised with some absurdity24 such as a false beard—which every one would perceive, bien entendu—I much prefer that we should voyage together. It would annoy me greatly that any one should mock themselves at you.”
“Very well, then. But it’s only fair to warn you—”
“I know—I know all. You are my enemy! Be my enemy then. It does not worry me at all.”
“So long as it’s all fair and above-board, I don’t mind.”
“You have to the full the English passion for ‘fair-play!’ Now your scruples25 are satisfied, let us depart immediately. There is no time to be lost. Our stay in England has been short but sufficient. I know—what I wanted to know.”
The tone was light, but I read a veiled menace into the words.
“Still—” I began, and stopped.
“Still—as you say! Without doubt you are satisfied with the part you are playing. Me, I preoccupy26 myself with Jack27 Renauld.”
Jack Renauld! The words gave me a start. I had completely forgotten that aspect of the case. Jack Renauld, in prison, with the shadow of the guillotine looming28 over him! I saw the part I was playing in a more sinister29 light. I could save Bella—yes, but in doing so I ran the risk of sending an innocent man to his death.
I pushed the thought from me with horror. It could not be. He would be acquitted30. Certainly he would be acquitted! But the cold fear came back. Suppose he were not? What then? Could I have it on my conscience—horrible thought! Would it come to that in the end? A decision. Bella or Jack Renauld? The promptings of my heart were to save the girl I loved at any cost to myself. But, if the cost were to another, the problem was altered.
What would the girl herself say? I remembered that no word of Jack Renauld’s arrest had passed my lips. As yet she was in total ignorance of the fact that her former lover was in prison charged with a hideous31 crime which he had not committed. When she knew, how would she act? Would she permit her life to be saved at the expense of his? Certainly she must do nothing rash. Jack Renauld might, and probably would, be acquitted without any intervention32 on her part. If so, good. But if he was not. … That was the terrible, the unanswerable problem. I fancied that she ran no risk of the extreme penalty. The circumstances of the crime were quite different in her case. She could plead jealousy33 and extreme provocation34, and her youth and beauty would go for much. The fact that by a tragic35 mistake it was old Mr. Renauld, and not his son, who paid the penalty would not alter the motive36 of the crime. But in any case, however lenient37 the sentence of the Court, it must mean a long term of imprisonment38.
No, Bella must be protected. And, at the same time, Jack Renauld must be saved. How this was to be accomplished39 I did not see clearly. But I pinned my faith to Poirot. He knew. Come what might, he would manage to save an innocent man. He must find some pretext40 other than the real one. It might be difficult, but he would manage it somehow. And with Bella unsuspected, and Jack Renauld acquitted, all would end satisfactorily.
So I told myself repeatedly, but at the bottom of my heart there still remained a cold fear.
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1
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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3
perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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4
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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7
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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deranging
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| v.疯狂的，神经错乱的( deranged的过去分词 )；混乱的 | |
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10
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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11
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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12
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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13
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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15
meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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16
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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17
reassurance
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| n.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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18
quiescence
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| n.静止 | |
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19
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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20
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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21
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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22
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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23
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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25
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
preoccupy
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| vt.使全神贯注，使入神 | |
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27
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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28
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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29
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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30
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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31
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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32
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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33
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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34
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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35
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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36
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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37
lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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38
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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39
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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40
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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