Пуаро ведёт следствие
VII. Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Quickasaflashthechambermaidwhipsopenthedrawer,takesoutthejewel-case,and,slippingbackthebolt,passesitthroughthedoor.Thevaletopensitathisleisurewiththeduplicatekeywithwhichhehasprovidedhimself,extractsthenecklace,andwaitshistime.Célestineleavestheroomagain,and—pst!—inaflashthecaseispassedbackagainandreplacedinthedrawer.
“Madamearrives,thetheftisdiscovered.Thechambermaiddemandstobesearched,withagooddealofrighteousindignation,andleavestheroomwithoutastainonhercharacter.TheimitationnecklacewithwhichtheyhaveprovidedthemselveshasbeenconcealedintheFrenchgirl’sbedthatmorningbythechambermaid—amasterstroke,ça!”
“ButwhatdidyougotoLondonfor?”
“Yourememberthecard?”
“Certainly.Itpuzzledme—andpuzzlesmestill.Ithought——”
Ihesitateddelicately,glancingatMr.Opalsen.
Poirotlaughedheartily.
“Uneblague!Forthebenefitofthevalet.Thecardwasonewithaspeciallypreparedsurface—forfinger-prints.IwentstraighttoScotlandYard,askedforouroldfriendInspectorJapp,andlaidthefactsbeforehim.AsIhadsuspected,thefinger-printsprovedtobethoseoftwowell-knownjewelthieveswhohavebeen‘wanted’forsometime.Jappcamedownwithme,thethieveswerearrested,andthenecklacewasdiscoveredinthevalet’spossession.Acleverpair,buttheyfailedinmethod.HaveInottoldyou,Hastings,atleastthirty-sixtimes,thatwithoutmethod——”
“Atleastthirty-sixthousandtimes!”Iinterrupted
