Пуаро ведёт следствие
VII. Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
”
“Butthatpoorwoman——”
“Ehbien;thatpoorwoman,asyoucallher,willhaveamuchbetternightbelievingthejewelstobesafe.”
“Butthethiefmayescapewiththem!”
“Asusual,myfriend,youspeakwithoutreflection.HowdoyouknowthatthepearlsMrs.Opalsenlockedupsocarefullyto-nightwerenotthefalseones,andthattherealrobberydidnottakeplaceatamuchearlierdate?”
“Oh!”Isaid,bewildered.
“Exactly,”saidPoirot,beaming.“Westartagain.”
Heledthewayoutoftheroom,pausedamomentasthoughconsidering,andthenwalkeddowntotheendofthecorridor,stoppingoutsidethesmalldenwherethechambermaidsandvaletsoftherespectivefloorscongregated.Ourparticularchambermaidappearedtobeholdingasmallcourtthere,andtoberetailingherlateexperiencestoanappreciativeaudience.Shestoppedinthemiddleofasentence.Poirotbowedwithhisusualpoliteness.
“ExcusethatIderangeyou,butIshallbeobligedifyouwillunlockformethedoorofMr.Opalsen’sroom.”
Thewomanrosewillingly,andweaccompaniedherdownthepassageagain.Mr.Opalsen’sroomwasontheothersideofthecorridor,itsdoorfacingthatofhiswife’sroom.Thechambermaidunlockeditwithherpass-key,andweentered.
AsshewasabouttodepartPoirotdetainedher.
“Onemoment;haveyoueverseenamongtheeffectsofMr.Opalsenacardlikethis?”
Heheldoutaplainwhitecard,ratherhighlyglazedanduncommoninappearance.Themaidtookitandscrutinizeditcarefully.
“No,sir,Ican’tsayIhave.
