Пуаро ведёт следствие
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
‘hasiss.twodaughters,born1908,1910....Clubs...residences.’...Voilà,thatdoesnottellusmuch.Butto-morrowmorningweseethismilord!”
“What?”
“Yes.Itelegraphedtohim.”
“Ithoughtyouhadwashedyourhandsofthecase?”
“IamnotactingforMissMarvellsincesherefusestobeguidedbymyadvice.WhatIdonowisformyownsatisfaction—thesatisfactionofHerculePoirot!Decidedly,Imusthaveafingerinthispie.”
“AndyoucalmlywireLordYardlytodashuptotownjusttosuityourconvenience.Hewon’tbepleased.”
“Aucontraire,ifIpreserveforhimhisfamilydiamond,heoughttobeverygrateful.”
“Thenyoureallythinkthereisachanceofitbeingstolen?”Iaskedeagerly.
“Almostacertainty,”repliedPoirotplacidly.“Everythingpointsthatway.”
“Buthow——”
Poirotstoppedmyeagerquestionswithanairygestureofthehand.
“Notnow,Iprayyou.Letusnotconfusethemind.Andobservethat‘Peerage’—howyouhavereplacedhim!Seeyounotthatthetallestbooksgointhetopshelf,thenexttallestintherowbeneath,andsoon.Thuswehaveorder,method,which,asIhaveoftentoldyou,Hastings——”
“Exactly,”Isaidhastily,andputtheoffendingvolumeinitsproperplace.
•••••••
LordYardlyturnedouttobeacheery,loud-voicedsportsmanwitharatherredface,butwithagood-humouredbonhomieabouthimthatwasdistinctlyattractiveandmadeupforanylackofmentality.
“Extraordinarybusinessthis,MonsieurPoirot.Can’tmakeheadortailofit.
