Пуаро ведёт следствие
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
Hestoleitthismorningwiththeassistanceofatouchofgreasepaintatthecornerofeacheye!Ah,Imustseehimonthefilm,heisindeedanartist,celui-là!
“Butwhyshouldhestealhisowndiamond?”Iasked,puzzled.
“Formanyreasons.Tobeginwith,LadyYardlywasgettingrestive.”
“LadyYardly?”
“YoucomprehendshewasleftmuchaloneinCalifornia.Herhusbandwasamusinghimselfelsewhere.Mr.Rolfwashandsome,hehadanairabouthimofromance.Butaufond,heisverybusiness-like,cemonsieur!HemadelovetoLadyYardly,andthenheblackmailedher.Itaxedtheladywiththetruththeothernight,andsheadmittedit.Shesworethatshehadonlybeenindiscreet,andIbelieveher.But,undoubtedly,Rolfhadlettersofhersthatcouldbetwistedtobearadifferentinterpretation.Terrifiedbythethreatofadivorce,andtheprospectofbeingseparatedfromherchildren,sheagreedtoallhewished.Shehadnomoneyofherown,andshewasforcedtopermithimtosubstituteapastereplicafortherealstone.Thecoincidenceofthedateoftheappearanceof‘theWesternStar’struckmeatonce.Allgoeswell.LordYardlypreparestorangehimself—tosettledown.Andthencomesthemenaceofthepossiblesaleofthediamond.Thesubstitutionwillbediscovered.WithoutdoubtshewritesofffranticallytoGregoryRolfwhohasjustarrivedinEngland.Hesoothesherbypromisingtoarrangeall—andpreparesforadoublerobbery.
