He opened it in his usual neat, unhurried fashion. The printed words stood out clearly.
他像平时那样灵巧从容地打开电报，印刷的电文字字清晰：
“To London.”
“伦敦。”
“Très bien, Monsieur. How far are you going?”
“好的，先生。您要去哪儿？”
At the Tokatlian, Hercule Poirot asked for a room with bath. Then he stepped over to the concierge’s desk and inquired for letters.
在托卡林，波洛要了一个带浴室的房间，接着走向门房的写字桌，问有没有他的信件。
“First.”
“头等。”
Poirot glanced at the clock again. It was ten minutes to eight. “I have time to dine?”
波洛又看了一眼挂钟，七点五十分。“我来得及吃饭吗？”
“Assuredly, Monsieur. There is no difficulty this time of year. The trains are almost empty. First-class or second?”
“没问题，先生，每年这个时候都不难买票，火车差不多都是空的。头等厢还是二等厢？”
There were three waiting for him and a telegram. His eyebrows rose a little at the sight of the telegram. It was unexpected.
有三封信和一封电报。看见电报时，他微微抬了抬眉毛。这是他没有料到的。
“At nine o’clock, Monsieur.”
“九点，先生。”
“Bien, Monsieur. I will get you a ticket to London and reserve your sleeping car accommodation in the Stamboul-Calais coach.”
“好的，先生。我会给您买一张到伦敦的票，在斯坦布尔－加来车厢为您订个卧铺。”
“Voilà ce qui est embêtant,” murmured Poirot vexedly. He glanced up at the clock. “I shall have to go on tonight,” he said to the concierge. “At what time does the Simplon Orient leave?”
“烦人。”波洛气恼地咕哝着，看了一眼挂钟，“我今晚就得走，”他对门房说，“辛普朗东方快车什么时候开？”
“Can you get me a sleeper?”
“你能帮我买张卧铺票吗？”
“Development you predicted in Kassner Case has come unexpectedly please return immediately.”
“你预测的卡斯纳案件有了突破进展，请速回。”
“Yes. I have just asked them to get me a sleeper. It was my intention to remain here some days, but I have received a telegram recalling me to England on important business.”
“是的，我刚刚让他们买了一张卧铺票，本来打算在这儿待几天。可我又接到一封电报，说有重要的事要我回英国。”
“Splendid! I, too. That is to say, I go as far as Lausanne, where I have affairs. You travel on the Simplon-Orient, I presume?”
“太好了！我也是。我要去洛桑[1]办些事，你是要坐辛普朗东方快车吗？”【注：[1]瑞士西部城市，在日内瓦湖北岸。】
“Tonight.”
“今晚。”
‘M. Bouc.”
“布克先生！”
The little Belgian nodded. He went over and cancelled his room order and crossed the hall to the restaurant.
比利时小个子点点头。他退了房，穿过门厅来到餐厅。
As he was giving his order to the waiter a hand was placed on his shoulder.
点餐时，有一只手搭在了他的肩膀上。
The speaker was a short, stout elderly man, his hair cut en brosse. He was smiling delightedly.
说话的是个矮胖老人，头发像刷子般支棱着，正开心地笑着。
“But assuredly, Monsieur.”
“肯定来得及，先生。”
“You find yourself far from home, mon cher,” said M. Bouc.
“这次算是离家远行了吧，亲爱的？”布克先生说道。
“Ah! And you return home — when?”
“啊，所以你是要回家了？什么时候？”
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.
布克先生是比利时人，国际客车公司的董事，跟这位比利时警方的昨日之星相识多年。
Poirot sprang up.
波洛跳了起来。
“A little affair in Syria.”
“在叙利亚有点小事。”
“Ah! mon vieux, but this is an unexpected pleasure,” said a voice behind him.
“啊，老朋友，这真是个意外的惊喜！”他身后传来一个声音。
‘M. Poirot.”
“波洛先生！”
“Ah!” sighed M. Bouc. “Les affaires — les affaires! But you — you are at the top of the tree nowadays, mon vieux!”
“唉，”布克先生叹了口气，“重要的事，重要的事！如今你在你们那行算是登峰造极了，老朋友！”
Bouc laughed.
布克先生大笑。
Hercule Poirot addressed himself to the task of keeping his moustaches out of the soup.
赫尔克里·波洛小心翼翼地不让自己那撮胡子沾到汤汁。
“Some little success I have had, perhaps.” Hercule Poirot tried to look modest but failed signally.
“可能是有那么点微不足道的小成就。”赫尔克里·波洛极力让自己显得很谦虚，但显然失败了。
“We will meet later,” he said.
“待会儿见。”他说。
These two sat at a table not far away. The younger was a likeable-looking man of thirty, clearly an American. It was, however, not he but his companion who had attracted the little detective’s attention.
这两个人坐在离他不远的桌子旁，年轻一点儿的三十岁上下，长相讨喜，明显是个美国人。然而让这个小个子侦探感兴趣的却是他的同伴。
That difficult task accomplished, he glanced round him whilst waiting for the next course. There were only about half a dozen people in the restaurant, and of those half-dozen there were only two that interested Hercule Poirot.
完成这个艰巨的任务之后，波洛环视四周，等着他的下一道菜。餐厅里只有六个人，其中两个人引起了赫尔克里·波洛的注意。
He was a man of between sixty and seventy. From a little distance he had the bland aspect of a philanthropist. 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. Only the eyes belied this assumption. They were small, deep set and crafty. Not only that. 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, and unnatural tensity in the glance.
这个男人有六七十岁，从远处看，俨然一副慈善家的和善面孔，有点秃顶，圆圆的额头，微笑起来露出一排洁白的假牙——这些都展示了他随和的性格。只是那双小眼睛露了馅儿——眼窝深陷，眼神十分狡诈。还不止这些。他跟他年轻的同伴说话时，扫了一眼房间，瞪了波洛片刻，就在这一瞬间，脸上流露出一种奇怪的恶毒神情，透着不自然的紧张。
Then he rose.
随后，他站起身。
“To tell you the truth, my friend, I did not care for him. He produced on me an unpleasant impression. And you?”
“实话说，我的朋友，我没怎么留意他。他给我的印象不太好。你觉得呢？”
“They are Americans,” said M. Bouc.
“他们是美国人。”布克先生说。
When Poirot rejoined his friend in the lounge, the other two men were just leaving the hotel. Their luggage was being brought down. The younger was supervising the process. Presently he opened the glass door and said: “Quite ready now, Mr. Ratchett.”
波洛在休息室遇见他的朋友时，之前那两个人正准备离开旅馆。他们的行李被送到了楼下，年轻的那位在打理这些事，没多久，他打开玻璃门，说道：“都准备妥当了，雷切特先生。”
The elder man grunted an assent and passed out.
那老人咕哝了一声表示知道了，接着便走了出去。
“When he passed me in the restaurant,” he said at last, “I had a curious impression. It was as though a wild animal — an animal savage, but savage! you understand — had passed me by.”
“在餐厅他从我身边经过时，”他终于开口了，“我有种奇怪的感觉。就好像是一只野兽，一只凶残的野兽，从我身边窜了过去。凶残的，你明白吗？”
“Pay the bill, Hector,” he said.
“结账去，赫克托。”他说。
“Assuredly they are Americans. I meant what did you think of their personalities?”
“的确是美国人。我是说，对他们的性格你怎么看？”
“And the other?”
“另一个呢？”
“The young man seemed quite agreeable.”
“那个年轻人挺有礼貌的。”
“Eh bien,” said Poirot. “What do you think of those two?”
“那么，”波洛说，“你怎么看这两个人？”
Hercule Poirot was a moment before replying.
赫尔克里·波洛停了一会儿，才回答了这个问题。
His voice was slightly husky in tone. It had a queer, soft, dangerous quality.
他的声音有些沙哑，柔软中含有古怪和危险的意味。
“And yet he looked altogether of the most respectable.”
“可他看起来是一副受人尊敬的样子。”
“Well,” said M. Bouc cheerfully. “It may be so. There is much evil in the world.”
“好啦，”布克先生愉快地说，“可能你说得对。这世界上的邪恶太多了。”
“It is extraordinary, Monsieur,” he said to Poirot. “There is not one first-class sleeping berth to be had on the train.”
“太不寻常了，先生，”他对波洛说，“火车上没有头等厢卧铺票了。”
“That respectable American gentleman.”
“就是那位可敬的美国绅士。”
At that moment the door opened and the concierge came towards them. He looked concerned and apologetic.
就在这时，门开了，门房朝他们走来，一脸忧虑和抱歉。
“You are fanciful, mon vieux,” said M. Bouc.
“你的想象力真丰富，我的朋友。”布克先生说道。
“It may be so. But I could not rid myself of the impression that evil had passed me by very close.”
“也许是吧，可我怎么也摆脱不了邪恶跟我擦肩而过的感觉。”
“Précisément! The body — the cage — is everything of the most respectable — but through the bars, the wild animal looks out.”
“没错！他的身体——那笼子——怎么看都那么令人尊敬，可是透过栏杆，那只野兽却在盯着你。”
“Comment?” cried M. Bouc. “At this time of year? Ah, without doubt there is some party of journalists — of politicians –?”
“什么？”布克先生喊出了声，“这时候？肯定是旅游团，还是政客出访什么的——”
“Well, well,” M. Bouc turned to Poirot. “Have no fear, my friend. We will arrange something. There is always one compartment — the No. 16, which is not engaged. The conductor sees to that!” He smiled, then glanced up at the clock. “Come,” he said, “it is time we started.”
“好吧，好吧，”布克先生转身对波洛说，“别担心，我的朋友，我们会安排好的。十六号卧铺房总是空的，那是列车员说了算的！”他笑了笑，看了一眼挂钟，“走吧，”他说，“我们出发。”
“That respectable American gentleman?”
“那位可敬的美国绅士吗？”
“I don’t know, sir,” said the concierge, turning to him respectfully. “But that’s how it is.”
“我不清楚，先生，”门房恭敬地对他转过身，说道，“可的确是这样。”
He called to the porters and they wheeled their load half-way along the carriage on which the tin plates proclaimed its destination:
他叫了搬运工，在半途中接过他们的行李，一路沿着车厢走过去，车身上的贴牌注明了目的地：
M. Bouc made a clicking sound of annoyance.
布克先生生气地感叹了几声。
“No, Monsieur. It is only chance. It just happens that many people have elected to travel tonight.”
“不是的，先生，这纯属巧合。刚好很多人都选择了今晚搭这趟火车。”
ISTANBUL TRIESTE CALAIS
伊斯坦布尔的里雅斯特加莱[2]。【注：[2]意大利东北部边境港口城市。】
“You are full up tonight, I hear?”
“我听说今天的卧铺都满了？”
“Good evening, Monsieur. Your compartment is the No. 1.”
“晚上好，先生，您在一号房间。”
“But yes, Monsieur. As I told you, we are full — full — everywhere.”
“是的，先生，就像我跟您说的那样，车里已经满满的了——到处都是人。”
“It is taken, Monsieur.”
“已经有人了，先生。”
A glance of understanding passed between them, and the conductor smiled. He was a tall, sallow man of middle age.
他们心照不宣地交换了个眼神，列车员笑了。他是个脸色发黄的高个子中年人。
“But what passes itself?” demanded M. Bouc angrily. “There is a conference somewhere? It is a party?”
“怎么回事？”布克先生气呼呼地质问道，“是什么地方开会吗？还是旅游团？”
“What? The No. 16?”
“什么？十六号？”
“All the same, you must find room for this gentleman here. He is a friend of mine. He can have the No. 16.”
“不管怎样你都得帮这位先生找一间卧铺房，他是我的朋友，他可以住在十六号房。”
“It is incredible, Monsieur. All the world elects to travel tonight!”
“太不可思议了，先生，全世界的人都选择在今晚出行！”
At the station M. Bouc was greeted with respectful empressement by the brown-uniformed Wagon Lit conductor.
布克先生在火车站受到了身穿棕色制服的列车员的真挚欢迎。
“Do not distress yourself, my friend,” said Poirot. “I must travel in an ordinary carriage.”
“别烦恼了，我的朋友，”波洛说，“我坐普通车厢就行。”
“No. 7 berth — a second-class. The gentleman has not yet come, and it is four minutes to nine.”
“二等卧铺的七号房。现在差四分钟九点，这位先生还没来。”
“A name of good omen,” said Poirot. “I read my Dickens. M. Harris, he will not arrive.”
“这名字是个好兆头，”波洛说，“根据我的狄更斯小说，这位哈里斯先生不会来了。”
“Là, là, that is awkward,” said M. Bouc.
“哎呀，真不巧。”布克先生说。
“But it is a lady’s berth. There is already a German woman in the compartment — a lady’s maid.”
“但那是个女士卧铺，而且已经有一位德国女士在里面了——一个女仆。”
“At Belgrade,” he said, “there will be the slip coach from Athens. There will also be the Bucharest-Paris coach — but we do not reach Belgrade until tomorrow evening. The problem is for tonight. There is no second-class berth free?”
“在贝尔格莱德[3]，”他说，“会加一节从雅典开过来的车厢，还有一节布加勒斯特[4]到巴黎的车厢。可我们明天晚上才能到贝尔格莱德，今晚是个问题。二等卧铺也没有空位了吗？”【注：[3]塞尔维亚首都。[4]罗马尼亚首都。】
“Well, then –“
“好，那就——”
“It is true,” said the man, “that there is one passenger who has not yet arrived.” He spoke slowly with hesitation.
“其实，”那人说，“还有一位旅客没到。”他面带迟疑，慢吞吞地说。
“There is a second-class berth, Monsieur –“
“二等卧铺有一个，先生——”
“An Englishman,” the conductor consulted his list. “A M. Harris.”
“一个英国人，”列车员查了查他的名单，“姓哈里斯。”
“Who is it?”
“是谁？”
“But speak then?”
“说下去！”
“Not at all. Not at all.” He turned once more to the conductor. “Everyone has arrived?”
“不行，不行，”他再次转向列车员，“旅客都到齐了吗？”
“As Monsieur pleases,” said the conductor. He spoke to Poirot’s porter, directing him where to go.
“全听您的吩咐。”列车员说。接着他给波洛的搬运工指了路。
Poirot passed along the corridor, a somewhat slow progress, as most of the people travelling were standing outside their carriages.
波洛缓缓地沿着过道走过去，大部分旅客在自己房间外面站着。
“Put Monsieur’s luggage in No. 7,” said M. Bouc. “If this M. Harris arrives we will tell him that he is too late — that berths cannot be retained so long — we will arrange the matter one way or another. What do I care for a M. Harris?”
“把这位先生的行李搬到七号房间，”布克先生说，“如果哈里斯先生来了，就跟他说已经晚了，卧铺不能为他留太久，到时我们再设法另行安排。我干吗要在乎这位哈里斯先生呢？”
His polite “Pardons” were uttered with the regularity of clockwork. At last he reached the compartment indicated. Inside it, reaching up to a suitcase, was the tall young American of the Tokatlian.
他像钟表那样有规律且礼貌地说着“对不起”，最后终于走到了指定的房间，里面有人正伸手拿行李，正是在托卡斯旅馆见到的那个年轻的高个子的美国人。
“Excuse me,” he said. “I think you’ve made a mistake.” Then, laboriously in French, “Je crois que vous avez un erreur.”
“对不起，”他说，“我想你弄错了。”接着又用法语费力地重复了一遍。
Then he stood aside the steps to let Poirot enter the train. “Tout à fait au bout, Monsieur,” he called. “The end compartment but one.”
然后自己则闪到车厢踏板的一边，请波洛上火车。“最里面倒数第二间，先生。”他喊道。
He frowned as Poirot entered.
看见波洛进来，他皱了皱眉。
Poirot replied in English. “You are Mr. Harris?”
波洛用英语回答他：“你是哈里斯先生吗？”
“No, my name is MacQueen. I –“
“不，我叫麦奎因。我——”
But at that moment the voice of the Wagon Lit conductor spoke from over Poirot’s shoulder. An apologetic, rather breathless voice.
但就在这时，列车员的声音从波洛肩头传了过来——带有歉意而且急促的声音。
“There is no other berth on the train, Monsieur. The gentleman has to come in here.”
“火车上没有别的卧铺了，先生，这位先生只能住在这儿了。”
The conductor emerged from the compartment, having swung the suitcases up on to the racks.
列车员把箱子放在行李架上，然后走出了房间。
He was hauling up the corridor window as he spoke and began to lift in Poirot’s luggage.
说这话时，他拉起了过道上的窗户，把波洛的行李拎了进来。
“A phenomenon I have seldom seen,” he said cheerfully. “A Wagon Lit conductor himself puts up the luggage! It is unheard of!”
“我可从没见过列车员亲自摆放行李，”波洛愉快地说，“真是闻所未闻！”
Poirot noticed the apology in his tone with some amusement. Doubtless the man had been promised a good tip if he could keep the compartment for the sole use of the other traveller. However, even the most munificent of tips lose their effect when a director of the company is on board and issues his orders.
波洛对列车员语气中的歉意饶有兴致。这人肯定答应给列车员一笔不菲的小费，好让自己不受其他旅客的打扰，独自享用这个房间。可是，再慷慨的小费也不顶用了，因为公司的董事上了火车并下达了命令。
“Voilà Monsieur,” he said. “All is arranged. Yours is the upper berth, the number 7. We start in one minute.”
“都放好了，先生，”他说，“您住上铺，七号房，火车一分钟后就开动了。”
He hurried off down the corridor. Poirot reentered the compartment.
说完，他便沿着过道匆匆走开。波洛走进房间。
His fellow traveller smiled. He had evidently got over his annoyance — had probably decided that it was no good to take the matter other than philosophically. “The train’s remarkably full,” he said.
这位旅伴笑了笑。显然他已经忘记了刚才的不快——也许他觉得再追究此事也没什么意义了。“这列火车真是座无虚席啊！”他说。
There was a sudden jerk. Both men swung round to the window, looking out at the long, lighted platform as it slid slowly past them.
火车猛然一动，两人被晃到窗口，看到灯火通明的站台缓缓地从他们身边远去。
“You are too amiable –“
“你太客气了——”
“Not exactly. You see –“
“也不全是。你知道——”
“No, no,” protested Poirot. “I would not deprive you –“
“不，不，”波洛谢绝道，“我不能——”
“We’re off,” said MacQueen.
“车开了。”麦奎因说。
“It is for one night only,” explained Poirot. “At Belgrade –“
“只是一个晚上，”波洛解释道，“到贝尔格莱德——”
“That’s all right –“
“没关系——”
“Oh, I see. You’re getting out at Belgrade –“
“哦，我明白了。你在贝尔格莱德下车——”
The Orient Express had started on its three-days’ journey across Europe.
东方快车开始了为期三天的贯穿欧洲之旅。
Outside a voice shouted. “En voiture.”
外面有个声音大喊：“上车！”
“I say, sir,” said the young man suddenly, “if you’d rather have the lower berth — easier, and all that — well, that’s all right by me.”
“我说，先生，”年轻人忽然开口了，“如果你愿意睡下铺——如果方便的话——别客气，我都行。”
But they were not quite off. The whistle blew again.
但火车并没有开动，又传来一声汽笛。
Polite protests on both sides.
两人谦让着。
A whistle blew, there was a long, melancholy cry from the engine. Both men stepped out into the corridor.
随着汽笛一声巨响，火车头也凄凉地长啸一声。两人都从房间来到过道上。
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