Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter VII. Poirot Pays His Debts
ButinthecaseofAlfredInglethorp,allthatischanged.Hisclothes,hisbeard,theglasseswhichhidehiseyes—thosearethesalientpointsabouthispersonalappearance.Now,whatisthefirstinstinctofthecriminal?Todivertsuspicionfromhimself,isitnotso?Andhowcanhebestdothat?Bythrowingitonsomeoneelse.Inthisinstance,therewasamanreadytohishand.EverybodywaspredisposedtobelieveinMr.Inglethorp’sguilt.Itwasaforegoneconclusionthathewouldbesuspected;but,tomakeitasurethingtheremustbetangibleproof—suchastheactualbuyingofthepoison,andthat,withamanofthepeculiarappearanceofMr.Inglethorp,wasnotdifficult.Remember,thisyoungMacehadneveractuallyspokentoMr.Inglethorp.Howshouldhedoubtthatthemaninhisclothes,withhisbeardandhisglasses,wasnotAlfredInglethorp?”
“Itmaybeso,”Isaid,fascinatedbyPoirot’seloquence.“But,ifthatwasthecase,whydoeshenotsaywherehewasatsixo’clockonMondayevening?”
“Ah,whyindeed?”saidPoirot,calmingdown.“Ifhewerearrested,heprobablywouldspeak,butIdonotwantittocometothat.Imustmakehimseethegravityofhisposition.Thereis,ofcourse,somethingdiscreditablebehindhissilence.Ifhedidnotmurderhiswife,heis,nevertheless,ascoundrel,andhassomethingofhisowntoconceal,quiteapartfromthemurder.”
“Whatcanitbe?”Imused,wonovertoPoirot’sviewsforthemoment,althoughstillretainingafaintconvictionthattheobviousdeductionwasthecorrectone.
