Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Thereisnotmuchagainsthim,exceptthefactthatnothingisknownofhisantecedents,andthathespeakstoomanylanguagesforagoodEnglishman!(Pardonme,monami,but,aslinguists,youaredeplorable!)Nowforhim,wehavethefactthathewasfoundgagged,bound,andchloroformed—whichdoesnotlookasthoughhehadanythingtodowiththematter.”
“Hemighthavegaggedandboundhimself,todivertsuspicion.”
Poirotshookhishead.“TheFrenchpolicewouldmakenomistakeofthatkind.Besides,oncehehadattainedhisobject,andthePrimeMinisterwassafelyabducted,therewouldnotbemuchpointinhisremainingbehind.Hisaccomplicescouldhavegaggedandchloroformedhim,ofcourse,butIfailtoseewhatobjecttheyhopedtoaccomplishbyit.Hecanbeoflittleusetothemnow,for,untilthecircumstancesconcerningthePrimeMinisterhavebeenclearedup,heisboundtobecloselywatched.”
“Perhapshehopedtostartthepoliceonafalsescent?”
“Thenwhydidhenotdoso?Hemerelysaysthatsomethingwaspressedoverhisnoseandmouth,andthatheremembersnothingmore.Thereisnofalsescentthere.Itsoundsremarkablylikethetruth.”
“Well,”Isaid,glancingattheclock,“Isupposewe’dbetterstartforthestation.YoumayfindmorecluesinFrance.”
“Possibly,monami,butIdoubtit.ItisstillincredibletomethatthePrimeMinisterhasnotbeendiscoveredinthatlimitedarea,wherethedifficultyofconcealinghimmustbetremendous.Ifthemilitaryandthepoliceoftwocountrieshavenotfoundhim,howshallI?”
AtCharingCrossweweremetbyMr.
