Пуаро ведёт следствие
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
Hisarrangementscompleted,hemakesanappointmentwithMr.Lowen(whohasbeenimprudentenoughinthepasttocrossthegreatmanonceortwice),drillsaholeinthesafe,leavesordersthattheguestistobeshownintothestudy,andwalksoutofthehouse—where?”Poirotstopped,andstretchedouthishandforanotherboiledegg.Hefrowned.“Itisreallyinsupportable,”hemurmured,“thateveryhenlaysaneggofadifferentsize!Whatsymmetrycantherebeonthebreakfasttable?Atleasttheyshouldsortthemindozensattheshop!”
“Nevermindtheeggs,”saidJappimpatiently.“Let’emlay’emsquareiftheylike.TelluswhereourcustomerwenttowhenheleftTheCedars—thatis,ifyouknow!”
“Ehbien,hewenttohishiding-place.Ah,thisMonsieurDavenheim,theremaybesomemalformationinhisgreycells,buttheyareofthefirstquality!”
“Doyouknowwhereheishiding?”
“Certainly!Itismostingenious.”
“FortheLord’ssake,tellus,then!”
Poirotgentlycollectedeveryfragmentofshellfromhisplate,placedthemintheegg-cup,andreversedtheemptyegg-shellontopofthem.Thislittleoperationconcluded,hesmiledontheneateffect,andthenbeamedaffectionatelyonusboth.
“Come,myfriends,youaremenofintelligence.AskyourselvesthequestionwhichIaskedmyself.‘IfIwerethisman,whereshouldIhide?’Hastings,whatdoyousay?”
“Well,”Isaid,“I’mratherinclinedtothinkI’dnotdoaboltatall.I’dstayinLondon—intheheartofthings,travelbytubesandbuses;tentooneI’dneverberecognized.
