Пуаро ведёт следствие
X. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
SignorAscaniohadarrivedaloneattheGrosvenorHotelfromtheContinenttwodaysbeforethemurder.Alleffortstotracethesecondmanfailed.
Ascanio,however,wasnotsentfortrial.NolessapersonagethantheItalianAmbassadorhimselfcameforwardandtestifiedatthepolice-courtproceedingsthatAscaniohadbeenwithhimattheEmbassyfromeighttillninethatevening.Theprisonerwasdischarged.Naturally,alotofpeoplethoughtthatthecrimewasapoliticalone,andwasbeingdeliberatelyhushedup.
Poirothadtakenakeeninterestinallthesepoints.Nevertheless,Iwassomewhatsurprisedwhenhesuddenlyinformedmeonemorningthathewasexpectingavisitorateleveno’clock,andthatthatvisitorwasnoneotherthanAscaniohimself.
“Hewishestoconsultyou?”
“Dutout,Hastings.Iwishtoconsulthim.”
“Whatabout?”
“TheRegent’sCourtmurder.”
“Youaregoingtoprovethathedidit?”
“Amancannotbetriedtwiceformurder,Hastings.Endeavourtohavethecommonsense.Ah,thatisourfriend’sring.”
AfewminuteslaterSignorAscaniowasusheredin—asmall,thinmanwithasecretiveandfurtiveglanceinhiseyes.Heremainedstanding,dartingsuspiciousglancesfromonetotheotherofus.
“MonsieurPoirot?”
Mylittlefriendtappedhimselfgentlyonthechest.
“Beseated,signor.Youreceivedmynote.Iamdeterminedtogettothebottomofthismystery.Insomesmallmeasureyoucanaidme.Letuscommence.You—incompanywithafriend—visitedthelateCountFoscatinionthemorningofTuesdaythe9th——”
TheItalianmadeanangrygesture.
