Chapter 12
　　In another minute the girl had reached them.
　　Dr Gerard performed the introduction.
　　‘Miss Boynton, this is M. Hercule Poirot.’
　　‘Oh.’ She looked at him uncertainly. Her fingers joined together, twined themselves uneasily inand out. The enchanted¹ nymph had come back from the country of enchantment². She was now just anordinary awkward girl, slightly nervous and ill at ease.
　　Poirot said: ‘It is a piece of good fortune meeting you here, mademoiselle. I tried to see you inthe hotel.’
　　‘Did you?’
　　Her smile was vacant. Her fingers began plucking at the belt of her dress. He said gently:
　　‘Will you walk with me a little way?’
　　She moved docilely³ enough, obedient to his whim⁴.
　　Presently she said, rather unexpectedly, in a queer, hurried voice:
　　‘You are—you are a detective, aren’t you?’
　　‘Yes, mademoiselle.’
　　‘A very well-known detective?’
　　‘The best detective in the world,’ said Poirot, stating it as a simple truth, no more, no less.
　　Ginevra Boynton breathed very softly:
　　‘You have come here to protect me?’
　　Poirot stroked his moustaches thoughtfully. He said:
　　‘Are you, then, in danger, mademoiselle?’
　　‘Yes, yes.’ She looked round with a quick, suspicious glance. ‘I told Dr Gerard about it inJerusalem. He was very clever. He gave no sign at the time. But he followed me—to that terribleplace with the red rocks.’ She shivered. ‘They meant to kill me there. I have to be continually on myguard.’
　　Poirot nodded gently and indulgently.
　　Ginevra Boynton said: ‘He is kind—and good. He is in love with me!’
　　‘Yes?’
　　‘Oh, yes. He says my name in his sleep…’ Her voice softened—again a kind of trembling,unearthly beauty hovered⁵ there. ‘I saw him—lying there turning and tossing—and saying my name…I stole away quietly.’ She paused. ‘I thought, perhaps, he had sent for you? I have a terrible lot ofenemies, you know. They are all round me. Sometimes they are disguised.’

分享到：