'But above everything - no publicity1,' said Mr Marcus Hardman for perhaps the fourteenth time.
The word publicity occurred throughout his conversation with the regularity2 of a leitmotif. MrHardman was a small man, delicately plump, with exquisitely3 manicured hands and a plaintivetenor voice. In his way, he was somewhat of a celebrity4 and the fashionable life was hisprofession. He was rich, but not remarkably5 so, and he spent his money zealously6 in the pursuit ofsocial pleasure. His hobby was collecting. He had the collector's soul.
Old lace, old fans, antique jewellery - nothing crude or modem7 for Marcus Hardman.
Poirot and I, obeying an urgent summons, had arrived to find the little man writhing8 in an agony ofindecision. Under the circumstances, to call in the police was abhorrent9 to him. On the other hand,not to call them in was to acquiesce10 in the loss of some of the gems11 of his collection. He hit uponPoirot as a compromise.
'My rubies12, Monsieur Poirot, and the emerald necklace - said to have belonged to Catherine de'
Medici. Oh, the emerald necklace?
'If you will recount to me the circumstances of their dis-appearance?' suggested Poirot gently.
'I am endeavouring to do so. Yesterday afternoon I had a little tea party - quite an informal affair,some half a dozen people or so. I have given one or two of them during the season, and thoughperhaps I should not say so, they have been quite a success. Some good music - Nacora, thepianist, and Katherine Bird, the Austral- ian contralto - in the big studio. Well, early in theafternoon, I was showing my guests my collection of medieval jewels. I keep them in the smallwall safe over there. It is arranged like a cabinet inside, with coloured velvet13 background, todisplay the stone.
Afterwards we inspected the fans - in that case on the wall. Then we all went to the studio formusic. It was not until after everyone had gone that I discovered the safe rifledl I must have failedto shut it properly, and someone had seized the opportunity to denude14 it of its contents. The rubies,Monsieur Poirot, the emerald necklace - the collection of a lifetimel What would I not give torecover them! But there must be no publicity! You fully15 understand that, do you not, MonsieurPoirot? My own guests, my personal friends! It would be a horrible scandall'
'Who was the last person to leave this room when you went to the studio?'
'Mr Johnston. You may know him? The South African million-aire.
He has just rented the Abbotburys' house in Park Lane. He lingered behind a few moments, Iremember. But surely, oh, surely it could not be he!'
'Did any of your guests return to this room during the afternoon on any pretext16?'
'I was prepared for that question, Monsieur Poirot. Three of them did so. Countess ?era Rossakoff,Mr Bernard Parker, and Lady Runcorn.'
'Let us hear about them.'
'The Countess Rossakoff is a very charming Russian lady, a member of the old rgime. She hasrecently come to this country.
She had bade me goodbye, and I was therefore somewhat surprised to find her in this roomapparently gazing in rapture17 at my cabinet of fans. You know, Monsieur Poirot, the more I thinkof it, the more suspicious it seems to me. Don't you agree?'
'Extremely suspicious; but let us hear about the others.'
'Well, Parker simply came here to fetch a case of miniatures thatI was anxious to show to Lady Runcorn.'
'And Lady Runcorn herself?'
'As I dare say you know, Lady Runcorn is a middle- aged18 woman of considerable force ofcharacter who devotes most of her time to various charitable committees. She simply returned tofetch a handbag she had laid down somewhere.'
'Bien, monsieur. So we have four possible suspects. The Russian countess, the English grandedame, the South African millionaire, and Mr Bernard Parker. Who is Mr Parker, by the way?' Thequestion appeared to embarrass Mr Hardman considerably19.
'He is - er - he is a young fellow. Well, in fact, a young fellow I know.' 'I had already deduced asmuch,' replied Poirot gravely. 'What does he do, this Mr Parker?' 'He is a young man about town -not, perhaps, quite in the swim, if I may so express myself.' 'How did he come to be a friend ofyours, may I ask?' 'Well - er - on one or two occasions he has - performed certain littlecommissions for me.' 'Continue, monsieur,' said Poirot.
Hardman looked piteously at him. Evidently the last thing he wanted to do was to continue. But asPoirot maintained an inexorable silence, he capitulated.
'You see, Monsieur Poirot - it is well known that I am interested in antique jewels. Sometimesthere is a family heirloom to be disposed of- which, mind you, would never be sold in the openmarket or to a dealer20. But a private sale to me is a very different matter. Parker arranges the detailsof such things, he is in touch with both sides, and thus any little embarrassment21 is avoided. Hebrings anything of that kind to my notice. For instance, the Countess Rossakoff has brought somefamily jewels with her from Russia. She is anxious to sell them. Bernard Parker was to havearranged the transaction.' 'I see,' said Poirot thoughtfully. 'And you trust him implicitly22?' 'I havehad no reason to do otherwise.' 'Mr Hardman, of these four people, which do you yourselfsuspect?' 'Oh, Monsieur Poirot, what a questionl They are my friends, as I told you. I suspect noneof them - or all of them, whichever way you like to put it.' 'I do not agree. You suspect one ofthose four. It is not Countess Rossakoff. It is not Mr Parker. Is it Lady Runcorn or Mr Johnston?'
'You drive me into a corner, Monsieur Poirot, you do indeed. I am most anxious to have noscandal. Lady Runcorn belongs to one of the oldest families in England; but it is true, it is motunfortunately true, that her aunt, Lady Caroline, suffered from a most melancholy23 affliction. It wasunderstood, of course, by all her friends, and her maid returned the teaspoons24, or whatever it was,as promptly25 as possible. You see my predicamentl'
'So Lady Runcorn had an aunt who was a kleptomaniac26? Very interesting. You permit that Iexamine the safe?'
Mr Hardman assenting27, Poirot pushed back the door of the safe and examined the interior. Theempty velvet-lined shelves gaped28 at us.
'Even now the door does not shut properly,' murmured Poirot, as he swung it to and fro. 'I wonderwhy? Ah, what have we here?
A glove, caught in the hinge. A man's glove.'
He held it out to Mr Hardman.
'That's not one of my gloves,' the latter declared.
'Ahal Something morel' Poirot bent29 deftly30 and picked up a small object from the floor of the safe.
It was a flat cigarette case made of black moire.
'My cigarette casei' cried Mr Hardman.
'Yours? Surely not, monsieur. Those are not your initials.'
He pointed31 to an entwined monogram32 of two letters executed in platinum33.
Hardman took it in his hand.
'You are right,' he declared. 'It is very like mine, but the initials are different. A 'B' and a 'P'. Goodheavens - Parkerl'
'It would seem so,' said Poirot. 'A somewhat careless young man - especially if the glove is hisalso. That would be a double clue, would it not?'
'Bernard Parker!' murmured Hardman. 'What a reliefl Well, Monsieur Poirot, I leave it to you torecover the jewels. Place the matter in the hands of the police if you think fit - that is, if you arequite sure that it is he who is guilty.'
'See you, my friend,' said Poirot to me, as we left the house together, 'he has one law for the titled,and another law for the plain, this Mr Hardman. Me, I have not yet been ennobled, so I am on theside of the plain. I have sympathy for this young man.
The whole thing was a little curious, was it not? There was Hardman suspecting Lady Runcorn;there was I, suspecting the Countess and Johnston; and all the time, the obscure Mr Parker was ourman.'
'Why did you suspect the other two?'
'ParbleuI It is such a simple thing to be a Russian refugee or a South African millionaire. Anywoman can call herself a Russian countess; anyone can buy a house in Park Lane and call himselfa South African millionaire. Who is going to contradict them? But I observe that we are passingthrough Bury Street. Our careless young friend lives here. Let us, as you say, strike while the ironis in the fire.'
Mr Bernard Parker was at home. We found him reclining on some cushions, clad in an amazingdressing-gown of purple and orange. I have seldom taken a greater dislike to anyone than I did tothis particular young man with his white, effeminate face and affected34 lisping speech.
'Good morning, monsieur,' said Poirot briskly. 'I come from Mr Hardman. Yesterday, at the party,somebody has stolen all his jewels. Permit me to ask you, monsieur - is this your glove?'
Mr Parker's mental processes did not seem very rapid. He stared at the glove, as though gatheringhis wits together.
'Where did you find it?' he asked at last.
'Is it your glove, monsieur?'
Mr Parker appeared to make up his mind.
'No, it isn't,' he declared.
'And this cigarette case, is that yours?'
'Certainly not. I always carry a silver one.'
'Very well, monsieur. I go to put matters in the hands of the police.'
'Oh, I say, I wouldn't do that if I were you,' cried Mr Parker in some concern. 'Beastlyunsympathetic people, the police. Wait a bit. I'll go round and see old Hardman. Look here - oh,stop a minute.'
But Poirot beat a determined35 retreat.
'We have given him something to think about, have we not?' he chuckled36. 'Tomorrow we willobserve what has occurred.'
But we were destined37 to have a reminder38 of the Hardmon case that afternoon. Without the leastwarning the door flew open, and a whirlwind in human form invaded our privacy, bringing withher a swirl39 of sables40 (it was as cold as only an English June day can be) and a hat rampant41 withslaughtered ospreys. Countess Vera Rossakoff was a somewhat disturbing personality.
'You are Monsieur Poirot? What is this that you have done?
You accuse that poor boyl It is infamous42. It is scandalous. I know him. He is a chicken, a lamb -never would he steal. He has done everything for me. Will I stand by and see him martyred andbutchered?'
'Tell me, madame, is this his cigarette case?' Poirot held out the black moir case.
The Countess paused for a moment while she inspected it.
'Yes, it is his. I know it well. What of it? Did you find it in the room? We were all there; hedropped it then, I suppose. Ah, you policemen, you are worse than the Red Guards - '
'And is this his glove?'
'How should I know? One glove is like another. Do not try to stop me - he must be set free. Hischaracter must be cleared. You shall do it. I will sell my jewels and give you much money.'
'Madame - '
'It is agreed, then? No, no, do not argue. The poor boy! He came to me, the tears in his eyes. "Iwill save you," I said. "I will go to this man - this ogre, this monsterl Leave it to Vera." Now it issettled, I go.'
With as little ceremony as she had come, she swept from the room, leaving an overpoweringperfume of an exotic nature behind her.
'What a woman? I exclaimed. 'And what fursl'
'Ah, yes, they were genuine enoughl Could a spurious countess have real furs? My little joke,Hastings... No, she is truly Russian,
I fancy. Well, well, so Master Bernard went bleating43 to her.' 'The cigarette case is his. I wonder ifthe glove is also - '
With a smile Poirot drew from his pocket a second glove and placed it by the fixst. There was nodoubt of their being a pair.
'Where did you get the second one. Poirot?'
'It was thrown down with a stick on the table in the hall in Bury Street. Truly, a very carelessyoung man, Monsieur Parker.
Well, well, rnon ami- we must be thorough. Just for the form of the thing, I will make a little visitto Park Lane.' Needless to say, I accompanied my friend. Johnston was out, but we saw his privatesecretary. It transpired44 that Johnston had only recently arrived from South Africa. He had neverbeen in England before.
'He is interested in precious stones, is he not?' hazarded Poirot.
'Gold mining is nearer the mark,' laughed the secretary.
Poirot came away from the interview thoughtful. Late that evening, to my utter surprise, I foundhim earnestly studying a Russian grammar.
'Good heavens, Poirotl' I cried. 'Are you learning Russian in order to converse45 with the Countessin her own language?' 'She certainly would not listen to my English, my friendl' 'But surely,Poirot, well-born Russians invariably speak French?' 'You are a mine of information, Hastingst Iwill cease puzzling over the intricacies of the Russian alphabet.' He threw the book from him witha dramatic gesture. I was not entirely46 satisfied. There was a twinkle in his eye which I knew of old.
It was an invariable sign that Hercule Poirot was pleased with himself.
'Perhaps,' I said sapiently47, 'you doubt her being really a Russian. You are going to test her?' 'Ah,no, no, she is Russian all right.' 'Well, then ' 'If you really want to distinguish yourself over thiscase, Hastings, I recommend First Steps in Russian as an invaluable48 aid.' Then he laughed andwould say no more. I picked up the book from the floor and dipped into it curiously49, but couldmake neither head nor tail of Poirot's remarks.
The following morning brought us no news of any kind, but that did not seem to worry my littlefriend. At breakfast, he announced his intention of calling upon Mr Hardman early in the day. Wefound the elderly society butterfly at home, and seemingly a little calmer than on the previous day.
'Well, Monsieur Poirot, any news?' he demanded eagerly.
Poirot handed him a slip of paper.
'That is the person who took the jewels, monsieur. Shall I put matters in the hands of the police?
Or would you prefer me to recover the jewels without bringing the police into the matter?'
Mr Hardman was staring at the paper. At last he found his voice.
'Most astonishing. I should infinitely50 prefer to have no scandal in the matter. I give you carteblanche, Monsieur Poirot. I am sure you will be discreet51.'
Our next procedure was to hail a taxi, which Poirot ordered to drive to the Carlton. There heinquired for Countess Rossakoff.
In a few minutes we were ushered52 up into the lady's suite53. She came to meet us with outstretchedhands, arrayed in a marvellous neglig6e of barbaric design.
'Monsieur Poirot? she cried. 'You have succeeded? You have cleared that poor infant?'
'Madame la Comtesse, your friend Mr Parker is perfectly54 safe from arrest.'
'Ah, but you are the clever little manl Superbl And so quickly too.'
'On the other hand, I have promised Mr Hardman that the jewels shall be returned to him today.'
'So?'
'Therefore, madame, I should be extremely obliged if you would place them in my hands withoutdelay. I am sorry to hurry you, but I am keeping a taxi - in case it should be necessary for me to goon to Scotland Yard; and we Belgians, madame, we practise the thrift55.'
The Countess had lighted a cigarette. For some seconds she sat perfectly still, blowing smokerings, and gazing steadily56 at Poirot.
Then she burst into a laugh, and rose. She went across to the bureau, opened a drawer, and tookout a black silk handbag. She toesed it lightly to Poirot. Her tone, when she spoke57, was perfectlylight and unmoved.
'We Russians, on the contrary, practise prodigality,' she said.
'And to do that, unfortunately, one must have money. You need not look inside. They are all there.'
Poirot arose.
'I congratulate you, madame, on your quick intelligence and your promptitude.' 'Ah! But since youwere keeping your taxi waiting, what else could I do?' 'You are too amiable58, madame. You areremaining long in London?' 'I am afraid not - owing to you.' 'Accept my apologies.' 'We shall meetagain elsewhere, perhaps.' 'I hope so.' 'And I - do not? exclaimed the Countess with a laugh. 'It is agreat compliment that I pay you there - there are very few men in the world whom I fear.
Goodbye, Monsieur Poirot.' 'Goodbye, Madame la Comtesse. Ah - pardon me, I forgotl Allow meto return you your cigarette case.' And with a bow he handed to her the little black moir case wehad found in the safe. She accepted it without any change of expression - just a lifted eyebrow59 anda murmured: 'I seel'
'What a woman? cried Poirot enthusiastically as we descended60 the stairs. 'Mon /]hu, quelle femrnelNot a word of argument - of protestation, of bluff61! One quick glance, and she had sized up theposition correctly. I tell you, Hastings, a woman who can accept defeat like that - with a carelesssmile - will go far! She is dangerous, she has the nerves of steel; she - ' He tripped heavily.
'If you can manage to moderate your transports and look where you're going, it might be as well,' Isuggested. 'When did you first suspect the Countess?' 'Mon ami, it was the glove and the cigarettecase - the double clue, shall we say? - that worried me. Bernard Parker might easily have droppedone or the other - but hardly both. Ah, no, that would have been too carelessl In the same way, ifsomeone else had placed them there to incriminate Parker, one would have been sufficient - thecigarette case or the glove - again not both.
I was forced to the conclusion that one of the two things did not belong to Parker. I imagined atfirst that the case was his, and that the glove was not. But when I discovered the fellow to theglove, I saw that it was the other way about. Whose, then, was the cigarette case? Clearly, it couldnot belong to Lady Runcorn.
The initials were wrong. Mr Johnston? Only if he were here under a false name. I interviewed hissecretary, and it was apparent at once that everything was clear and aboveboard. There was noreticence about Mr Johnston's past. The Countess, then? She was supposed to have brought jewelswith her from Russia; she had only to take the stones from their settings, and it was extremelydoubtful if they could ever be identified. What could be easier for her than to pick up one ofParker's gloves from the hall that day and thrust it into the safe? But, bien vfr, she did not intend todrop her own cigarette case.' 'But if the case was hers, why did it have "B.P." on it? The Countess'sinitials are V.R.' Poirot smiled gently upon me.
'Exactly, tnon ami; but in the Russian alphabet, B is V and Pis R.' 'Well, you couldn't expect me toguess that. I don't know Russian.' 'Neither do I, Hastings. That is why I bought my little book andurged it on your attention.' He sighed.
'A remarkable62 woman. I have a feeling, my friend - a very decided63 feeling - I shall meet her again.
Where, I wonder?'
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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exquisitely
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celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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modem
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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abhorrent
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acquiesce
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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velvet
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denude
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fully
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pretext
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rapture
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aged
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considerably
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dealer
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embarrassment
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implicitly
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melancholy
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teaspoons
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promptly
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kleptomaniac
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assenting
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gaped
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bent
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deftly
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pointed
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monogram
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platinum
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affected
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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chuckled
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destined
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reminder
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swirl
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sables
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rampant
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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bleating
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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transpired
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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sapiently
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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55
thrift
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| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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57
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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58
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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59
eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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60
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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61
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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62
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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