Пуаро ведёт следствие
II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
”
“Psychoanalysis,what?”saidBlack,withvisiblealarm.
“Oh,no,”saidPoirotreassuringly.“Yousee,itislikethis,Igiveyouaword,youanswerwithanother,andsoon.Anyword,thefirstoneyouthinkof.Shallwebegin?”
“Allright,”saidBlackslowly,buthelookeduneasy.
“Notedownthewords,please,Hastings,”saidPoirot.Thenhetookfromhispockethisbigturnip-facedwatchandlaiditonthetablebesidehim.“Wewillcommence.Day.”
Therewasamoment’spause,andthenBlackreplied:
“Night.”
AsPoirotproceeded,hisanswerscamequicker.
“Name,”saidPoirot.
“Place.”
“Bernard.”
“Shaw.”
“Tuesday.”
“Dinner.”
“Journey.”
“Ship.”
“Country.”
“Uganda.”
“Story.”
“Lions.”
“RookRifle.”
“Farm.”
“Shot.”
“Suicide.”
“Elephant.”
“Tusks.”
“Money.”
“Lawyers.”
“Thankyou,CaptainBlack.Perhapsyoucouldsparemeafewminutesinabouthalfanhour’stime?”
“Certainly.”Theyoungsoldierlookedathimcuriouslyandwipedhisbrowashegotup.
“Andnow,Hastings,”saidPoirot,smilingatmeasthedoorclosedbehindhim.“Youseeitall,doyounot?”
“Idon’tknowwhatyoumean.”
“Doesthatlistofwordstellyounothing?”
Iscrutinizedit,butwasforcedtoshakemyhead.
“Iwillassistyou.Tobeginwith,Blackansweredwellwithinthenormaltimelimit,withnopauses,sowecantakeitthathehimselfhasnoguiltyknowledgetoconceal.‘Day’to‘Night’and‘Place’to‘Name’arenormalassociations.
