Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
”
“AndwhendidyoutakeitintoMrs.Inglethorp’sroom?”
“WhenIwenttoshutup,sir.Abouteighto’clock.Mrs.InglethorpcameuptobedbeforeI’dfinished.”
“Then,betweenseven-fifteenandeighto’clock,thecocoawasstandingonthetableintheleftwing?”
“Yes,sir.”Anniehadbeengrowingredderandredderintheface,andnowsheblurtedoutunexpectedly:
“Andiftherewassaltinit,sir,itwasn’tme.Inevertookthesaltnearit.”
“Whatmakesyouthinktherewassaltinit?”askedPoirot.
“Seeingitonthetray,sir.”
“Yousawsomesaltonthetray?”
“Yes.Coarsekitchensalt,itlooked.InevernoticeditwhenItookthetrayup,butwhenIcametotakeitintothemistress’sroomIsawitatonce,andIsupposeIoughttohavetakenitdownagain,andaskedcooktomakesomefresh.ButIwasinahurry,becauseDorcaswasout,andIthoughtmaybethecocoaitselfwasallright,andthesalthadonlygoneonthetray.SoIdusteditoffwithmyapron,andtookitin.”
Ihadtheutmostdifficultyincontrollingmyexcitement.Unknowntoherself,Anniehadprovideduswithanimportantpieceofevidence.Howshewouldhavegapedifshehadrealizedthather“coarsekitchensalt”wasstrychnine,oneofthemostdeadlypoisonsknowntomankind.ImarvelledatPoirot’scalm.Hisself-controlwasastonishing.Iawaitedhisnextquestionwithimpatience,butitdisappointedme.
“WhenyouwentintoMrs.
