Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter VIII. Fresh Suspicions
WhyshouldI?”
“Ican’thelpfeeling,”Icontinuedblunderingly;“thatwe’veratherleftheroutofthepossiblesuspects,simplyonthestrengthofherhavingbeenawayfromtheplace.But,afterall,shewasonlyfifteenmilesaway.Acarwoulddoitinhalfanhour.CanwesaypositivelythatshewasawayfromStylesonthenightofthemurder?”
“Yes,myfriend,”saidPoirotunexpectedly,“wecan.Oneofmyfirstactionswastoringupthehospitalwhereshewasworking.”
“Well?”
“Well,IlearntthatMissHowardhadbeenonafternoondutyonTuesday,andthat—aconvoycominginunexpectedly—shehadkindlyofferedtoremainonnightduty,whichofferwasgratefullyaccepted.Thatdisposesofthat.”
“Oh!”Isaid,rathernonplussed.“Really,”Icontinued,“it’sherextraordinaryvehemenceagainstInglethorpthatstartedmeoffsuspectingher.Ican’thelpfeelingshe’ddoanythingagainsthim.AndIhadanideashemightknowsomethingaboutthedestroyingofthewill.Shemighthaveburntthenewone,mistakingitfortheearlieroneinhisfavour.Sheissoterriblybitteragainsthim.”
“Youconsiderhervehemenceunnatural?”
“Y—es.Sheissoveryviolent.Iwonderedreallywhethersheisquitesaneonthatpoint.”
Poirotshookhisheadenergetically.
“No,no,youareonawrongtackthere.Thereisnothingweak-mindedordegenerateaboutMissHoward.Sheisanexcellentspecimenofwell-balancedEnglishbeefandbrawn.Sheissanityitself.”
“YetherhatredofInglethorpseemsalmostamania.
