Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Hestoppedatalocalcottagehospital,whereitwasdressedandboundup—hedidnot,ofcourse,revealhisidentity.Hethendrove,asperschedule,straighttoCharingCross,whereaspecialtrainforDoverwasawaitinghim,and,afterabriefaccountofwhathadhappenedhadbeengiventotheanxiouspolicebyCaptainDaniels,hedulydepartedforFrance.AtDover,hewentonboardthewaitingdestroyer.AtBoulogne,asyouknow,theboguscarwaswaitingforhim,carryingtheUnionJack,andcorrectineverydetail.”
“Thatisallyouhavetotellme?”
“Yes.”
“Thereisnoothercircumstancethatyouhaveomitted,milord?”
“Well,thereisoneratherpeculiarthing.”
“Yes?”
“ThePrimeMinister’scardidnotreturnhomeafterleavingthePrimeMinisteratCharingCross.ThepolicewereanxioustointerviewO’Murphy,soasearchwasinstitutedatonce.ThecarwasdiscoveredstandingoutsideacertainunsavourylittlerestaurantinSoho,whichiswellknownasameeting-placeofGermanagents.”
“Andthechauffeur?”
“Thechauffeurwasnowheretobefound.He,too,haddisappeared.”
“So,”saidPoirotthoughtfully,“therearetwodisappearances:thePrimeMinisterinFrance,andO’MurphyinLondon.”
HelookedkeenlyatLordEstair,whomadeagestureofdespair.
“Icanonlytellyou,MonsieurPoirot,that,ifanyonehadsuggestedtomeyesterdaythatO’Murphywasatraitor,Ishouldhavelaughedinhisface.”
“Andto-day?”
“To-dayIdonotknowwhattothink.”
Poirotnoddedgravely.Helookedathisturnipofawatchagain.
