Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
”
“Whatisagreatdiscovery?”
“Why,thatitwasthecocoaandnotthecoffeethatwaspoisoned.Thatexplainseverything!Ofcourseitdidnottakeeffectuntiltheearlymorning,sincethecocoawasonlydrunkinthemiddleofthenight.”
“Soyouthinkthatthecocoa—markwellwhatIsay,Hastings,thecocoa—containedstrychnine?”
“Ofcourse!Thatsaltonthetray,whatelsecouldithavebeen?”
“Itmighthavebeensalt,”repliedPoirotplacidly.
Ishruggedmyshoulders.Ifhewasgoingtotakethematterthatway,itwasnogoodarguingwithhim.Theideacrossedmymind,notforthefirsttime,thatpooroldPoirotwasgrowingold.PrivatelyIthoughtitluckythathehadassociatedwithhimsomeoneofamorereceptivetypeofmind.
Poirotwassurveyingmewithquietlytwinklingeyes.
“Youarenotpleasedwithme,monami?”
“MydearPoirot,”Isaidcoldly,“itisnotformetodictatetoyou.Youhavearighttoyourownopinion,justasIhavetomine.”
“Amostadmirablesentiment,”remarkedPoirot,risingbrisklytohisfeet.“NowIhavefinishedwiththisroom.Bytheway,whoseisthesmallerdeskinthecorner?”
“Mr.Inglethorp’s.”
“Ah!”Hetriedtherolltoptentatively.“Locked.ButperhapsoneofMrs.Inglethorp’skeyswouldopenit.”Hetriedseveral,twistingandturningthemwithapracticedhand,andfinallyutteringanejaculationofsatisfaction.“Voilà!Itisnotthekey,butitwillopenitatapinch.”Heslidbacktherolltop,andranarapideyeovertheneatlyfiledpapers
