Пуаро ведёт следствие
XI. The Case of the Missing Will
Amongstvariousotherminorjobs,theyhadtakenuponeofthebricksoftheold-fashionedfireplace,madeacavitybeneath,andsocutthebrickthatitwasimpossibletoseethejoin.Bypressingonthesecondbrickfromtheend,thewholethingwasraised.Ithadbeenquiteacomplicatedpieceofwork,andtheoldgentlemanhadbeenveryfussyaboutit.OurinformantwasamancalledCoghan,abig,gauntmanwithagrizzledmoustache.Heseemedanintelligentfellow.
WereturnedtoCrabtreeManorinhighspirits,and,lockingthestudydoor,proceededtoputournewlyacquiredknowledgeintoeffect.Itwasimpossibletoseeanysignonthebricks,butwhenwepressedinthemannerindicated,adeepcavitywasatoncedisclosed.
EagerlyPoirotplungedinhishand.Suddenlyhisfacefellfromcomplacentelationtoconsternation.Allheheldwasacharredfragmentofstiffpaper.Butforit,thecavitywasempty.
“Sacré!”criedPoirotangrily.“Someonehasbeenbeforeus.”
Weexaminedthescrapofpaperanxiously.Clearlyitwasafragmentofwhatwesought.AportionofBaker’ssignatureremained,butnoindicationofwhatthetermsofthewillhadbeen.
Poirotsatbackonhisheels.Hisexpressionwouldhavebeencomicalifwehadnotbeensoovercome.
“Iunderstanditnot,”hegrowled.“Whodestroyedthis?Andwhatwastheirobject?”
“TheBakers?”Isuggested.
“Pourquoi?Neitherwillmakesanyprovisionforthem,andtheyaremorelikelytobekeptonwithMissMarshthaniftheplacebecamethepropertyofahospital.
