Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter VII. Poirot Pays His Debts
Bah!Donotaskmetobelievethatanymancouldbesoidiotic!Onlyalunatic,whowishedtocommitsuicidebycausinghimselftobehanged,wouldactso!”
“Still—Idonotsee——”Ibegan.
“NeitherdoIsee.Itellyou,monami,itpuzzlesme.Me—HerculePoirot!”
“Butifyoubelievehiminnocent,howdoyouexplainhisbuyingthestrychnine?”
“Verysimply.Hedidnotbuyit.”
“ButMacerecognizedhim!”
“Ibegyourpardon,hesawamanwithablackbeardlikeMr.Inglethorp’s,andwearingglasseslikeMr.Inglethorp,anddressedinMr.Inglethorp’srathernoticeableclothes.Hecouldnotrecognizeamanwhomhehadprobablyonlyseeninthedistance,since,youremember,hehimselfhadonlybeeninthevillageafortnight,andMrs.InglethorpdealtprincipallywithCoot’sinTadminster.”
“Thenyouthink——”
“Monami,doyourememberthetwopointsIlaidstressupon?Leavethefirstoneforthemoment,whatwasthesecond?”
“TheimportantfactthatAlfredInglethorpwearspeculiarclothes,hasablackbeard,andusesglasses,”Iquoted.
“Exactly.NowsupposeanyonewishedtopasshimselfoffasJohnorLawrenceCavendish.Woulditbeeasy?”
“No,”Isaidthoughtfully.“Ofcourseanactor——”
ButPoirotcutmeshortruthlessly.
“Andwhywoulditnotbeeasy?Iwilltellyou,myfriend:Becausetheyarebothclean-shavenmen.Tomakeupsuccessfullyasoneofthesetwoinbroaddaylight,itwouldneedanactorofgenius,andacertaininitialfacialresemblance.
