Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
Idon’tknowifitwasaletter,orjustapieceofpaper,butithadwritingonit,andshekeptstaringatit,almostasifshecouldn’tbelievewhatwaswrittenthere.Shewhisperedtoherself,asthoughshehadforgottenIwasthere:‘Thesefewwords—andeverything’schanged.’Andthenshesaystome:‘Nevertrustaman,Dorcas,they’renotworthit!’Ihurriedoff,andgotheragoodstrongcupoftea,andshethankedme,andsaidshe’dfeelbetterwhenshe’ddrunkit.‘Idon’tknowwhattodo,’shesays.‘Scandalbetweenhusbandandwifeisadreadfulthing,Dorcas.I’dratherhushitupifIcould.’Mrs.Cavendishcameinjustthen,soshedidn’tsayanymore.”
“Shestillhadtheletter,orwhateveritwas,inherhand?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Whatwouldshebelikelytodowithitafterwards?”
“Well,Idon’tknow,sir,Iexpectshewouldlockitupinthatpurplecaseofhers.”
“Isthatwheresheusuallykeptimportantpapers?”
“Yes,sir.Shebroughtitdownwithhereverymorning,andtookitupeverynight.”
“Whendidshelosethekeyofit?”
“Shemissedityesterdayatlunch-time,sir,andtoldmetolookcarefullyforit.Shewasverymuchputoutaboutit.”
“Butshehadaduplicatekey?”
“Oh,yes,sir.”
Dorcaswaslookingverycuriouslyathimand,totellthetruth,sowasI.Whatwasallthisaboutalostkey?Poirotsmiled.
“Nevermind,Dorcas,itismybusinesstoknowthings.
