Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Toallourexpostulations,Poirotturnedadeafear,andreiteratedagainandagainthattostartatthebeginningwasnotawasteoftime,buttheonlyway.Onthewayover,hehadconferredwithNormaninalowvoice,andthelatterhaddespatchedasheafoftelegramsfromDover.
OwingtothespecialpassesheldbyNorman,wegotthrougheverywhereinrecordtime.InLondon,alargepolicecarwaswaitingforus,withsomeplain-clothesmen,oneofwhomhandedatypewrittensheetofpapertomyfriend.Heansweredmyinquiringglance.
“AlistofthecottagehospitalswithinacertainradiuswestofLondon.IwiredforitfromDover.”
WewerewhirledrapidlythroughtheLondonstreets.WewereontheBathRoad.Onwewent,throughHammersmith,ChiswickandBrentford.Ibegantoseeourobjective.ThroughWindsorandontoAscot.Myheartgavealeap.AscotwaswhereDanielshadanauntliving.Wewereafterhim,then,notO’Murphy.
Wedulystoppedatthegateofatrimvilla.Poirotjumpedoutandrangthebell.Isawaperplexedfrowndimmingtheradianceofhisface.Plainly,hewasnotsatisfied.Thebellwasanswered.Hewasusheredinside.Inafewmomentshereappeared,andclimbedintothecarwithashort,sharpshakeofhishead.Myhopesbegantodiedown.Itwaspastfournow.EvenifhefoundcertainevidenceincriminatingDaniels,whatwouldbethegoodofit,unlesshecouldwringfromsomeonetheexactspotinFrancewheretheywereholdingthePrimeMinister?
OurreturnprogresstowardsLondonwasaninterruptedone.
