Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter VI. The Inquest
“Sacré!”hemurmured.“Doesthisimbecileofamanwanttobearrested?”
Inglethorpwasindeedcreatingabadimpression.Hisfutiledenialswouldnothaveconvincedachild.TheCoroner,however,passedbrisklytothenextpoint,andPoirotdrewadeepbreathofrelief.
“YouhadadiscussionwithyourwifeonTuesdayafternoon?”
“Pardonme,”interruptedAlfredInglethorp,“youhavebeenmisinformed.Ihadnoquarrelwithmydearwife.Thewholestoryisabsolutelyuntrue.Iwasabsentfromthehousetheentireafternoon.”
“Haveyouanyonewhocantestifytothat?”
“Youhavemyword,”saidInglethorphaughtily.
TheCoronerdidnottroubletoreply.
“TherearetwowitnesseswhowillsweartohavingheardyourdisagreementwithMrs.Inglethorp.”
“Thosewitnessesweremistaken.”
Iwaspuzzled.ThemanspokewithsuchquietassurancethatIwasstaggered.IlookedatPoirot.TherewasanexpressionofexultationonhisfacewhichIcouldnotunderstand.WasheatlastconvincedofAlfredInglethorp’sguilt?
“Mr.Inglethorp,”saidtheCoroner,“youhaveheardyourwife’sdyingwordsrepeatedhere.Canyouexplaintheminanyway?”
“CertainlyIcan.”
“Youcan?”
“Itseemstomeverysimple.Theroomwasdimlylighted.Dr.Bauersteinismuchofmyheightandbuild,and,likeme,wearsabeard.Inthedimlight,andsufferingasshewas,mypoorwifemistookhimforme.”
“Ah!”murmuredPoirottohimself.“Butitisanidea,that!”
“Youthinkitistrue?”Iwhispered.
“Idonotsaythat
