Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Andwehavenoonewhocanbesentinhisplace.HealonecanrepresentEngland.”
Poirot’sfacehadgrownverygrave.“ThenyouregardthekidnappingofthePrimeMinisterasadirectattempttopreventhisbeingpresentattheConference?”
“MostcertainlyIdo.HewasactuallyonhiswaytoFranceatthetime.”
“AndtheConferenceistobeheld?”
“Atnineo’clockto-morrownight.”
Poirotdrewanenormouswatchfromhispocket.
“Itisnowaquartertonine.”
“Twenty-fourhours,”saidMr.Dodgethoughtfully.
“Andaquarter,”amendedPoirot.“Donotforgetthequarter,monsieur—itmaycomeinuseful.Nowforthedetails—theabduction,didittakeplaceinEnglandorinFrance?”
“InFrance.Mr.MacAdamcrossedtoFrancethismorning.Hewastostayto-nightastheguestoftheCommander-in-Chief,proceedingto-morrowtoParis.HewasconveyedacrosstheChannelbydestroyer.AtBoulognehewasmetbyacarfromGeneralHeadquartersandoneoftheCommander-in-Chief’sA.D.C.s.”
“Ehbien?”
“Well,theystartedfromBoulogne—buttheyneverarrived.”
“What?”
“MonsieurPoirot,itwasaboguscarandabogusA.D.C.Therealcarwasfoundinasideroad,withthechauffeurandtheA.D.C.neatlygaggedandbound.”
“Andtheboguscar?”
“Isstillatlarge.”
Poirotmadeagestureofimpatience.“Incredible!Surelyitcannotescapeattentionforlong?”
“Sowethought.Itseemedmerelyaquestionofsearchingthoroughly.ThatpartofFranceisunderMilitaryLaw.Wewereconvincedthatthecarcouldnotgolongunnoticed.
