Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Butwhowasit—DanielsorO’Murphy?Itmusthavebeenoneofthetwo,orwhydidthecarleavethemainroad?WecannotsupposethatthePrimeMinisterconnivedathisownassassination!DidO’Murphytakethatturningofhisownaccord,orwasitDanielswhotoldhimtodoso?”
“SurelyitmusthavebeenO’Murphy’sdoing.”
“Yes,becauseifitwasDaniels’thePrimeMinisterwouldhaveheardtheorder,andwouldhaveaskedthereason.Buttherearealtogethertoomany‘whys’inthisaffair,andtheycontradicteachother.IfO’Murphyisanhonestman,whydidheleavethemainroad?Butifhewasadishonestman,whydidhestartthecaragainwhenonlytwoshotshadbeenfired—thereby,inallprobability,savingthePrimeMinister’slife?And,again,ifhewashonest,whydidhe,immediatelyonleavingCharingCross,drivetoawell-knownrendezvousofGermanspies?”
“Itlooksbad,”Isaid.
“Letuslookatthecasewithmethod.Whathaveweforandagainstthesetwomen?TakeO’Murphyfirst.Against:thathisconductinleavingthemainroadwassuspicious;thatheisanIrishmanfromCountyClare;thathehasdisappearedinahighlysuggestivemanner.For:thathispromptnessinrestartingthecarsavedthePremier’slife;thatheisaScotlandYardman,and,obviously,fromthepostallottedtohim,atrusteddetective.NowforDaniels.
