Пуаро ведёт следствие
X. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
“Thisistheservicelift,”heexplained.“Itrunstothekitchensatthetopofthebuilding.Youorderthroughthistelephone,andthedishesaresentdowninthelift,onecourseatatime.Thedirtyplatesanddishesaresentupinthesamemanner.Nodomesticworries,youunderstand,andatthesametimeyouavoidthewearyingpublicityofalwaysdininginarestaurant.”
Poirotnodded.
“Thentheplatesanddishesthatwereusedto-nightareonhighinthekitchen.YoupermitthatImountthere?”
“Oh,certainly,ifyoulike!Roberts,theliftman,willtakeyouupandintroduceyou;butI’mafraidyouwon’tfindanythingthat’sofanyuse.They’rehandlinghundredsofplatesanddishes,andthey’llbealllumpedtogether.”
Poirotremainedfirm,however,andtogetherwevisitedthekitchensandquestionedthemanwhohadtakentheorderfromFlatii.
“Theorderwasgivenfromtheàlacartemenu—forthree,”heexplained.“Soupjulienne,filetdesolenormande,tournedosofbeef,andaricesoufflé.Whattime?Justabouteighto’clock,Ishouldsay.No,I’mafraidtheplatesanddisheshavebeenallwashedupbynow.Unfortunate.Youwerethinkingoffinger-prints,Isuppose?”
“Notexactly,”saidPoirot,withanenigmaticalsmile.“IammoreinterestedinCountFoscatini’sappetite.Didhepartakeofeverydish?”
“Yes;butofcourseIcan’tsayhowmuchofeachheate.Theplateswereallsoiled,andthedishesempty—thatistosay,withtheexceptionofthericesoufflé.Therewasafairamountofthatleft.
