Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
See?”
“Well,”saidthetalldetective,“Ishallmakefortheseaports.Tentoone,they’vesmuggledhimonboardaship.”
Jappshookhishead.“Tooobvious.Theorderwentoutatoncetoclosealltheports.”
Thedaywasjustbreakingaswelanded.MajorNormantouchedPoirotonthearm.“There’samilitarycarherewaitingforyou,sir.”
“Thankyou,monsieur.But,forthemoment,IdonotproposetoleaveBoulogne.”
“What?”
“No,wewillenterthishotelhere,bythequay.”
Hesuitedtheactiontotheword,demandedandwasaccordedaprivateroom.Wethreefollowedhim,puzzledanduncomprehending.
Heshotaquickglanceatus.“Itisnotsothatthegooddetectiveshouldact,eh?Iperceiveyourthought.Hemustbefullofenergy.Hemustrushtoandfro.Heshouldprostratehimselfonthedustyroadandseekthemarksoftyresthroughalittleglass.Hemustgatherupthecigarette-end,thefallenmatch?Thatisyouridea,isitnot?”
Hiseyeschallengedus.“ButI—HerculePoirot—tellyouthatitisnotso!Thetruecluesarewithin—here!”Hetappedhisforehead.“Seeyou,IneednothaveleftLondon.Itwouldhavebeensufficientformetositquietlyinmyroomsthere.Allthatmattersisthelittlegreycellswithin.Secretlyandsilentlytheydotheirpart,untilsuddenlyIcallforamap,andIlaymyfingeronaspot—so—andIsay:thePrimeMinisteristhere!Anditisso!Withmethodandlogiconecanaccomplishanything!ThisfranticrushingtoFrancewasamistake—itisplayingachild’sgameofhide-and-seek.
