Пуаро ведёт следствие
XI. The Case of the Missing Will
Weshallhavetogothroughthedocumentsinthedeskwithmeticulouscare.Naturally,Idonotexpecttofindthewillamongstthem;butitislikelythatsomeapparentlyinnocentpapermayconcealthecluetoitshiding-place.Butfirstwemusthavealittleinformation.Ringthebell,Iprayofyou.”
Ididso.Whilewewerewaitingforittobeanswered,Poirotwalkedupanddown,lookingabouthimapprovingly.
“AmanofmethodthisMr.Marsh.Seehowneatlythepacketsofpapersaredocketed;thenthekeytoeachdrawerhasitsivorylabel—sohasthekeyofthechinacabinetonthewall;andseewithwhatprecisionthechinawithinisarranged.Itrejoicestheheart.Nothinghereoffendstheeye——”
Hecametoanabruptpause,ashiseyewascaughtbythekeyofthedeskitself,towhichadirtyenvelopewasaffixed.Poirotfrownedatitandwithdrewitfromthelock.Onitwerescrawledthewords:“KeyofRollTopDesk,”inacrabbedhandwriting,quiteunliketheneatsuperscriptionsontheotherkeys.
“Analiennote,”saidPoirot,frowning.“IcouldswearthatherewehavenolongerthepersonalityofMr.Marsh.Butwhoelsehasbeeninthehouse?OnlyMissMarsh,andshe,ifImistakenot,isalsoayoungladyofmethodandorder.”
Bakercameinanswertothebell.
“Willyoufetchmadameyourwife,andanswerafewquestions?”
Bakerdeparted,andinafewmomentsreturnedwithMrs.Baker,wipingherhandsonherapronandbeamingalloverherface.
InafewclearwordsPoirotsetforththeobjectofhismission.TheBakerswereimmediatelysympathetic.
