Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Thewoman,andoneofthemen,weretakentothesecondcar.TheothermanwasplacedinourcarbyPoirothimself.
“Imustgowiththeothers,myfriend.Buthavegreatcareofthisgentleman.Youdonotknowhim,no?Ehbien,letmepresenttoyou,MonsieurO’Murphy!”
O’Murphy!Igapedathimopen-mouthedaswestartedagain.Hewasnothandcuffed,butIdidnotfancyhewouldtrytoescape.Hesattherestaringinfrontofhimasthoughdazed.Anyway,NormanandIwouldbemorethanamatchforhim.
Tomysurprise,westillkeptanortherlyroute.WewerenotreturningtoLondon,then!Iwasmuchpuzzled.Suddenly,asthecarsloweddown,IrecognizedthatwewereclosetoHendonAerodrome.ImmediatelyIgraspedPoirot’sidea.HeproposedtoreachFrancebyaeroplane.
Itwasasportingidea,but,onthefaceofit,impracticable.Atelegramwouldbefarquicker.Timewaseverything.HemustleavethepersonalgloryofrescuingthePrimeMinistertoothers.
Aswedrewup,MajorNormanjumpedout,andaplain-clothesmantookhisplace.HeconferredwithPoirotforafewminutes,andthenwentoffbriskly.
I,too,jumpedout,andcaughtPoirotbythearm.
“Icongratulateyou,oldfellow!Theyhavetoldyouthehiding-place?But,lookhere,youmustwiretoFranceatonce.You’llbetoolateifyougoyourself.”
Poirotlookedatmecuriouslyforaminuteortwo.
“Unfortunately,myfriend,therearesomethingsthatcannotbesentbytelegram.”
•••••••
AtthatmomentMajorNormanreturned,accompaniedbyayoungofficerintheuniformoftheFlyingCorps.
