Пуаро ведёт следствие
VI. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
Ah,quick,Hastings,holdhim!”
ImisunderstoodPoirot’sanxiety.Eagertosavemyfriend,Iflungmyselfinfrontofhim.Butthedoctor’sswiftmovementhadanothermeaning.Hishandwenttohismouth,asmellofbitteralmondsfilledtheair,andheswayedforwardandfell.
“Anothervictim,”saidPoirotgravely,“butthelast.Perhapsitisthebestway.Hehasthreedeathsonhishead.”
“Dr.Ames?”Icried,stupefied.“ButIthoughtyoubelievedinsomeoccultinfluence?”
“Youmisunderstoodme,Hastings.WhatImeantwasthatIbelieveintheterrificforceofsuperstition.Oncegetitfirmlyestablishedthataseriesofdeathsaresupernatural,andyoumightalmoststabamaninbroaddaylight,anditwouldstillbeputdowntothecurse,sostronglyistheinstinctofthesupernaturalimplantedinthehumanrace.Isuspectedfromthefirstthatamanwastakingadvantageofthatinstinct.Theideacametohim,Iimagine,withthedeathofSirJohnWillard.Afuryofsuperstitionaroseatonce.AsfarasIcouldsee,nobodycouldderiveanyparticularprofitfromSirJohn’sdeath.Mr.Bleibnerwasadifferentcase.Hewasamanofgreatwealth.TheinformationIreceivedfromNewYorkcontainedseveralsuggestivepoints.Tobeginwith,youngBleibnerwasreportedtohavesaidhehadagoodfriendinEgyptfromwhomhecouldborrow.Itwastacitlyunderstoodthathemeanthisuncle,butitseemedtomethatinthatcasehewouldhavesaidsooutright.Thewordssuggestsomebooncompanionofhisown.
