Пуаро ведёт следствие
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
Ashereadithestiffenedvisibly.
Withanejaculation,hehandedittohiswife.Thenheglancedatmyfriend.
“Justaminute,MonsieurPoirot.Ifeelyououghttoknowaboutthis.It’sfromHoffberg.Hethinkshe’sfoundacustomerforthediamond—anAmerican,sailingfortheStatesto-morrow.They’resendingdownachapto-nighttovetthestone.ByJove,though,ifthisgoesthrough——”Wordsfailedhim.
LadyYardlyhadturnedaway.Shestillheldthetelegraminherhand.
“Iwishyouwouldn’tsellit,George,”shesaid,inalowvoice.“It’sbeeninthefamilysolong.”Shewaited,asthoughforareply,butwhennonecameherfacehardened.Sheshruggedhershoulders.“Imustgoanddress.IsupposeIhadbetterdisplay‘thegoods.’”SheturnedtoPoirotwithaslightgrimace.“It’soneofthemosthideousnecklacesthatwaseverdesigned!Georgehasalwayspromisedtohavethestonesresetforme,butit’sneverbeendone.”Shelefttheroom.
Halfanhourlater,wethreewereassembledinthegreatdrawing-roomawaitingthelady.Itwasalreadyafewminutespastthedinnerhour.
Suddenlytherewasalowrustle,andLadyYardlyappearedframedinthedoorway,aradiantfigureinalongwhiteshimmeringdress.Roundthecolumnofherneckwasarivuletoffire.Shestoodtherewithonehandjusttouchingthenecklace.
“Beholdthesacrifice,”shesaidgaily.Herill-humourseemedtohavevanished.“WaitwhileIturnthebiglightonandyoushallfeastyoureyesontheugliestnecklaceinEngland.”
Theswitcheswerejustoutsidethedoor.
