云中命案 29

II

It was a month later that Jane came to Poirot.

‘I ought to hate you, M. Poirot.’

She looked pale and fine drawn¹ with dark circles round her eyes.

Poirot said gently:

‘Hate me a little if you will. But I think you are one of those who would rather look truth in theface than live in a fool’s paradise; and you might not have lived in it so very long. Getting rid ofwomen is a vice² that grows.’

‘He was so terribly attractive,’ said Jane.

She added:

‘I shall never fall in love again.’

‘Naturally,’ agreed Poirot. ‘That side of life is finished for you.’

Jane nodded.

‘But what I must do is to have work—something interesting that I could lose myself in.’

Poirot tilted³ back his chair and looked at the ceiling.

‘I should advise you to go to Persia with the Duponts. That is interesting work, if you like.’

‘But—but—I thought that was only camouflage⁴ on your part.’

Poirot shook his head.

‘On the contrary—I have become so interested in archaeology⁵ and prehistoric⁶ pottery⁷ that I sentthe cheque for the donation I had promised. I heard this morning that they were expecting you tojoin the expedition. Can you draw at all?’

‘Yes, I was rather good at drawing at school.’

‘Excellent. I think you will enjoy your season.’

‘Do they really want me to come?’

‘They are counting on it.’

‘It would be wonderful,’ said Jane, ‘to get right away—’

A little colour rose in her face.

‘M. Poirot—’ She looked at him suspiciously. ‘You’re not—you’re not—being kind?’

‘Kind?’ said Poirot with a lively horror at the idea. ‘I can assure you, Mademoiselle—thatwhere money is concerned I am strictly⁸ a man of business—’

He seemed so offended that Jane quickly begged his pardon.

‘I think,’ she said, ‘that I’d better go to some museums and look at some prehistoric pottery.’

‘A very good idea.’

At the doorway⁹ Jane paused and then came back.

‘You mayn’t have been kind in that particular way, but you have been kind—to me.’

She dropped a kiss on the top of his head and went out again.

‘?a, c’est très gentil! ’ said Hercule Poirot.

 

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