Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
“Thathatefulman!WhatanethehasdrawnaroundmypoorJohn!Howhetwistedeverylittlefactuntilhemadeitseemwhatitwasn’t!”
“Well,”Isaidconsolingly,“itwillbetheotherwayaboutto-morrow.”
“Yes,”shesaidmeditatively;thensuddenlydroppedhervoice.“Mr.Hastings,youdonotthink—surelyitcouldnothavebeenLawrence—Oh,no,thatcouldnotbe!”
ButImyselfwaspuzzled,andassoonasIwasalonewithPoirotIaskedhimwhathethoughtSirErnestwasdrivingat.
“Ah!”saidPoirotappreciatively.“Heisacleverman,thatSirErnest.”
“DoyouthinkhebelievesLawrenceguilty?”
“Idonotthinkhebelievesorcaresanything!No,whatheistryingforistocreatesuchconfusioninthemindsofthejurythattheyaredividedintheiropinionastowhichbrotherdidit.HeisendeavouringtomakeoutthatthereisquiteasmuchevidenceagainstLawrenceasagainstJohn—andIamnotatallsurethathewillnotsucceed.”
Detective-inspectorJappwasthefirstwitnesscalledwhenthetrialwasreopened,andgavehisevidencesuccinctlyandbriefly.Afterrelatingtheearlierevents,heproceeded:
“Actingoninformationreceived,SuperintendentSummerhayeandmyselfsearchedtheprisoner’sroom,duringhistemporaryabsencefromthehouse.Inhischestofdrawers,hiddenbeneathsomeunderclothing,wefound:first,apairofgold-rimmedpince-nezsimilartothosewornbyMr.Inglethorp”—thesewereexhibited—“secondly,thisphial.
