THE TOKATLIAN HOTEL 旅馆 （上）

At the Tokatlian, Hercule Poirot asked for a room with bath.

在托卡特利安，赫尔克里·波洛要求一间带浴室的房间。

Then he stepped over to the concierge’s desk and inquired for letters.

然后他走到门房的桌子前，询问有没有信。

There were three waiting for him and a telegram.

有三个人在等他，还有一封电报。

His eyebrows rose a little at the sight of the telegram.

看到电报，他的眉毛微微上扬。

It was unexpected.

这是出乎意料的。

He opened it in his usual neat, unhurried fashion.

他像往常一样整洁、不慌不忙地打开了它。

The printed words stood out clearly.

印刷出来的字很显眼。

Development you predicted in Kassner case has come unexpectedly.

你对卡斯纳一案的预测出乎意料。

Please return immediately.

请立即返回。

“Voilà ce qui est embêtant,” muttered Poirot vexedly. “voiloce qui est embêtant，

”波洛恼怒地嘟囔着。

He glanced up at the clock.

他抬头看了一眼钟。

“I shall have to go on to-night,” he said to the concierge.

“今晚我得走了，”他对看门人说。

“At what time does the Simplon Orient leave?”“At nine o’clock, Monsieur.”“Can you get me a sleeper?” “Assuredly, Monsieur.

“辛普朗东方号什么时候出发?” “九点钟，先生。” “你能给我一个卧铺吗?” “确实,先生。

There is no difficulty this time of year.

一年中的这个时候没有困难。

The trains are almost empty.

火车几乎是空的。

First-class or second?” “First.” “Très bien, Monsieur.

头等舱还是二等舱?” “第一次”。 “您好，先生。”

How far are you going?” “To London.” “Bien, Monsieur.

你要走多远?” “伦敦”。 “很好,先生。

I will get you a ticket to London and reserve your sleeping-car accommodation in the Stamboul-Calais coach.”

Poirot glanced at the clock again.

我给您买一张去伦敦的车票，在斯坦布尔到加莱的车厢里给您预订卧铺。” 波洛又看了一眼钟。

It was ten minutes to eight.

现在是差十分八点。

“I have time to dine?” “But assuredly, Monsieur.” The little Belgian nodded.

“我有时间吃饭吗?” “不过，先生，这是肯定的。” 小比利时人点点头。

He went over and cancelled his room order and crossed the hall to the restaurant.

他走过去取消了房间预订，穿过大厅来到餐厅。

As he was giving his order to the waiter, a hand was placed on his shoulder.

当他向服务员点菜时，一只手搭在他的肩膀上。

“Ah, mon vieux, but this is an unexpected pleasure!” said a voice behind him.

“啊，这真是一种意想不到的乐趣!”他身后一个声音说。

The speaker was a short stout elderly man, his hair cut en brosse.

说话的人是一个矮胖的老人，头发剪得很粗。

He was smiling delightedly.

他高兴地笑着。

Poiret sprang up.

波雷跳了起来。

“M.Bouc!”

“M.Poirot!”

M.Bouc was a Belgian, a director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons Lits, and his acquaintance with the former star of the Belgian police force dated back many years.

鲍克是比利时人，是国际马车公司的董事，他与这位比利时警察部队的前明星的相识可以追溯到许多年前。

“You find yourself far from home, mon cher,” said M.Bouc.

“你觉得自己离家太远了，亲爱的。”

“A little affair in Syria.” “Ah! and you return home—when?” “To-night. “Splendid! I, too.

“在叙利亚有点小事情。” “啊!你什么时候回家?” “今晚。” “精彩!我也。

That is to say, I go as far as Lausanne, where I have affairs.

也就是说，我最远到洛桑，在那里我有外遇。

You travel on the Simplon Orient, I presume?”

“Yes.

我想，您是乘辛普朗东方号旅行的吧?” “是的。

I have just asked them to get me a sleeper.

我刚刚让他们给我弄了一张卧铺。

It was my intention to remain here some days, but I have.

我本来打算在这里多呆几天，但我还是呆了。

received a telegram recalling me to England on important business.”

“Ah!” sighedM.Bouc.

我收到一封电报，要我回英国处理重要事务。” “啊!叹了口气。

“Les affaires—les affaires! But you, you are at the top of the tree nowadays, mon vieux!”

“Some little success I have had, perhaps.” Hercule Poirot tried to look modest but failed signally.M.Bouc laughed.

“没什么事，没什么事!”可是你呢，你现在站在树顶，mon vieux!” “也许我取得了一点小小的成功。”赫尔克里·波洛试图表现得谦虚，但明显失败了。鲍克笑了。

“We will meet later,” he said.

“我们一会儿见，”他说。

Hercule Poirot addressed himself to the task of keeping his moustaches out of the soup.

赫尔克里·波洛致力于不让他的胡子沾到汤里。

That difficult task accomplished6, he glanced round him whilst waiting for the next course.

完成了这项艰巨的任务后，他在等待下一道菜的时候向四周扫视了一下。

There were only about half a dozen people in the restaurant, and of those half dozen there were only two that interested Hercule Poirot.

餐厅里只有大约六个人，而这六个人中只有两个人引起了赫尔克里·波洛的兴趣。

These two sat at a table not far away.

这两个人坐在不远处的一张桌子旁。

The younger was a likeable-looking young man of thirty, clearly an American.

年轻的是一个30岁的年轻人，看起来很可爱，显然是个美国人。

It was, however, not he but his companion who had attracted the little detective’s attention.

然而，引起小侦探注意的不是他，而是他的同伴。

He was a man perhaps of between sixty and seventy.

他年纪大概在六七十岁之间。

From a little distance he had the bland8 aspect of a philanthropist.

从远处看，他有一种慈善家的和蔼可亲的样子。

His slightly bald head, his domed forehead, the smiling mouth that displayed a very white set of false teeth—all seemed to speak of a benevolent personality.

他微微光秃秃的脑袋，半球形的前额，露出一副雪白假牙的微笑的嘴巴——这一切似乎都说明他是个仁慈的人。

Only the eyes belied11 this assumption.

只有眼睛相信这个假设。

They were small, deep-set and crafty

他们身材矮小，身材魁梧，而且很狡猾。

Not only that.

不仅如此。

As the man, making some remark to his young companion, glanced across the room, his gaze stopped on Poirot for a moment and just for that second there was a strange malevolence, an unnatural tensity in the glance.

那人一边对他的年轻同伴说着什么，一边朝房间那边瞥了一眼，他的目光在波洛身上停了一会儿，就在那一瞬间，他的目光中有一种奇怪的恶意，一种不自然的紧张。

Then he rose.

然后他站了起来。

“Pay the bill, Hector,” he said.

“付账，赫克托，”他说。

His voice was slightly husky in tone.

他的声音有点沙哑。

It had a queer, soft, dangerous quality.

它有一种奇怪的、柔和的、危险的性质。

When Poirot rejoined his friend in the lounge, the other two men were just leaving the hotel.

当波洛在休息室和他的朋友会合时，另外两个人正准备离开旅馆。

Their luggage was being brought down.

他们的行李正被搬下来。

The younger was supervising the process.

弟弟负责监督整个过程。

Presently he opened the glass door and said:

“Quite ready now, Mr. Ratchett.”

The elder man grunted15 an assent16 and passed out.

不一会儿，他打开玻璃门说: “准备好了，拉契特先生。” 老人咕哝了一声同意，就昏过去了。

“Eh bien,” said Poirot.

“嗯，好吧，”波洛说。

“What do you think of those two?”“They are Americans,” said M.Bouc.

“你觉得这两个人怎么样?” “他们是美国人。”

“Assuredly they are Americans.

“他们当然是美国人。

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