Пуаро ведёт следствие
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
“‘One:AlltheevidencepointstoLowenhavingbeenthemanwhoforcedthesafe.
“‘Two:HehadagrudgeagainstDavenheim.
“‘Three:Heliedinhisfirststatementthathehadneverleftthestudy.
“‘Four:IfyouacceptBillyKellett’sstoryastrue,Lowenisunmistakablyimplicated.’”
Ipaused.“Well?”Iasked,forIfeltthatIhadputmyfingeronallthevitalfacts.
Poirotlookedatmepityingly,shakinghisheadverygently.“Monpauvreami!Butitisthatyouhavenotthegift!Theimportantdetail,youappreciatehimnever!Also,yourreasoningisfalse.”
“How?”
“Letmetakeyourfourpoints.
“One:Mr.Lowencouldnotpossiblyknowthathewouldhavethechancetoopenthesafe.Hecameforabusinessinterview.HecouldnotknowbeforehandthatMr.Davenheimwouldbeabsentpostingaletter,andthathewouldconsequentlybealoneinthestudy!”
“Hemighthaveseizedhisopportunity,”Isuggested.
“Andthetools?Citygentlemendonotcarryroundhousebreaker’stoolsontheoffchance!Andonecouldnotcutintothatsafewithapenknife,bienentendu!”
“Well,whataboutNumberTwo?”
“YousayLowenhadagrudgeagainstMr.Davenheim.Whatyoumeanisthathehadonceortwicegotthebetterofhim.Andpresumablythosetransactionswereenteredintowiththeviewofbenefitinghimself.Inanycaseyoudonotasarulebearagrudgeagainstamanyouhavegotthebetterof—itismorelikelytobetheotherwayabout.WhatevergrudgetheremighthavebeenwouldhavebeenonMr.Davenheim’sside.
