15. THE TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE
15. 恐ろしい惨事
It was after the tragic death of Miss Flossie Monro that I began to be aware of a change in Poirot. Up to now, his invincible confidence in himself had stood the test. But it seemed as though, at last, the long strain was beginning to tell. His manner was grave and brooding, and his nerves were on edge. In these days he was as jumpy as a cat.
フォッシー・モンロー嬢の非業の死以来、ポアロに変化が現れた。これまで彼の自信が揺らぐことはなかった。しかし、長い緊張の日々が影響を与えたようだ。いつも深刻そうに沈んでいて、神経は張り詰めて、猫のように過敏だった。
He avoided all discussion of the Big Four as far as possible, and seemed to throw himself into his ordinary work with almost his old ardour. Nevertheless, I knew that he was secretly active in the big matter.
ビッグ４について話すのを極力避け、普段の仕事に熱心に取り組んでいた。それでも、彼は秘密裏に大きな何かをしていると私にはわかった。
Extraordinary-looking Slavs were constantly calling to see him, and though he vouchsafed no explanation as to these mysterious activities, I realised that he was building some new defence or weapon of opposition with the help of these somewhat repulsive-looking foreigners.
よく風変わりなスラブ人が彼を訪ねてきた。この謎の行動について何の説明もなかったが、私は彼がこの不気味な外国人の助けを借りて、何か新しい防御か武器を用意しているのだと思った。
Once, purely by chance, I happened to see the entries in his pass-book—he had asked me to verify some small item—and I noticed the paying out of a huge sum—a huge sum even for Poirot who was coining money nowadays—to some Russian with apparently every letter of the alphabet in his name.
ある時、まったくの偶然から（彼に些細な事柄を確認するよう頼まれたのだ）彼の通帳を見て、大きな額の支出があるのに気づいた。最近収入を得ているポアロにしても、大きな金額だった。振込先はロシア人で、POIROTという名前の全ての文字が見られた。
But he gave no clue as to the line on which he proposed to operate. Only over and over again he gave utterance to one phrase. "It is the greatest mistake to underestimate your adversary. Remember that, mon ami." And I realised that that was the pitfall he was striving at all costs to avoid.
しかし何をしようとしているのかに関しては何の情報もくれなかった。ただ、何度も何度も、「敵を甘くみるのは大きな間違いです、覚えておくんですよ、きみ。」とだけ言う。私は、彼が全てを投じて危険なことにかけているのだと気づいた。
So matters went on until the end of March, and then one morning Poirot made a remark which startled me considerably.
これは３月末まで続いたが、ある朝ポアロが言ったことに私はかなり驚いた。
"This morning, my friend, I should recommend the best suit. We go to call upon the Home Secretary."
"Indeed? That is very exciting. He has called you in to take up a case?"
「今日はね、きみ、一番いいスーツを着るといいよ。私たちは内務大臣を訪ねるんだからね。」
「本当に？ それはすごいな。彼は何か依頼したいって？」
"Not exactly. The interview is of my seeking. You may remember my saying that I once did him some small service? He is inclined to be foolishly enthusiastic over my capabilities in consequence, and I am about to trade on this attitude of his. As you know, the French Premier, M. Desjardeaux is over in London, and at my request the Home Secretary had arranged for him to be present at our little conference this morning."
「そうではないが。私から依頼したのだ。私が彼のために仕事をしたと話したのを覚えているだろう？ その結果彼は私の能力を大いに気に入ってね、そこを活用しようというのだよ。フランスの首相デジャドゥ氏がロンドンに来ているのは知っているね。内務大臣に、彼も私たちの会合に来るよう手配してもらったんですよ。」
The Right Honourable Sydney Crowther, His Majesty's Secretary of State for Home Affairs, was a well-known and popular figure. A man of some fifty years of age, with a quizzical expression and shrewd gray eyes, he received us with that delightful bonhomie of manner which was well known to be one of his principal assets.
シドニー・クラウサー閣下のもと、内務大臣はよく知られた人気者だ。50代で、好奇心溢れる顔で鋭いグレイの目の彼は、彼の特徴である気さくで明るい態度で迎えてくれた。
Standing with his back to the fireplace was a tall thin man with a pointed black beard and a sensitive face.
暖炉の前には、繊細そうな顔に髭を先の尖った形に整えた、背の高い痩せた男が立っていた。
"M. Desjardeaux," said Crowther. "Allow me to introduce to you M. Hercule Poirot of whom you may, perhaps, already have heard."
「デジャドウさん」クラウサーが言った。「ご紹介いたします。お聞き及びかもしれませんが、エルキュール・ポアロさんです。」
The Frenchman bowed and shook hands.
"I have indeed heard of M. Hercule Poirot," he said pleasantly. "Who has not?"
フランス人はお辞儀をし、握手をした。
「確かにエルキュール・ポアロさんのことは聞いたことがありますよ。」彼は楽しげにいた。「誰でもでしょう？」
"You are too amiable, monsieur," said Poirot, bowing, but his face flushed with pleasure.
"Any word for an old friend?" asked a quiet voice, and a man came forward from a corner by a tall bookcase.
「どうもご親切に」お辞儀をしながらポアロは言ったが、彼は喜びで赤らんでいた。
「古い友人に挨拶は？」静かな声がし、隅の高い本棚のそばから男が歩み寄ってきた。
