Пуаро ведёт следствие
II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
Ibeganworkwith‘Bernard’whichmighthavesuggestedthelocaldoctorhadhecomeacrosshimatall.Evidentlyhehadnot.Afterourrecentconversation,hegave‘Dinner’tomy‘Tuesday,’but‘Journey’and‘Country’wereansweredby‘Ship’and‘Uganda,’showingclearlythatitwashisjourneyabroadthatwasimportanttohimandnottheonewhichbroughthimdownhere.‘Story’recallstohimoneofthe‘Lion’storieshetoldatdinner.Iproceedto‘RookRifle’andheansweredwiththetotallyunexpectedword‘Farm.’WhenIsay‘Shot,’heanswersatonce‘Suicide.’Theassociationseemsclear.Amanheknowscommittedsuicidewitharookrifleonafarmsomewhere.Remember,too,thathismindisstillonthestorieshetoldatdinner,andIthinkyouwillagreethatIshallnotbefarfromthetruthifIrecallCaptainBlackandaskhimtorepeattheparticularsuicidestorywhichhetoldatthedinner-tableonTuesdayevening.”
Blackwasstraightforwardenoughoverthematter.
“Yes,IdidtellthemthatstorynowthatIcometothinkofit.Chapshothimselfonafarmoutthere.Diditwitharookriflethroughtheroofofthemouth,bulletlodgedinthebrain.Doctorswerenoendpuzzledoverit—therewasnothingtoshowexceptalittlebloodonthelips.Butwhat——”
“WhathasitgottodowithMr.Maltravers?Youdidnotknow,Isee,thathewasfoundwitharookriflebyhisside.”
“Youmeanmystorysuggestedtohim—oh,butthatisawful!”
“Donotdistressyourself—itwouldhavebeenonewayoranother.
