Пуаро ведёт следствие
II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
Toshoothimselfinthewayindicated,hewouldprobablyhavehadtopullthetriggerwithhistoe—oratleastsoIimagine.NowifMaltravershadbeenfoundwithonebootoff,weshouldalmostcertainlyhaveheardofitfromsomeone.Anodddetaillikethatwouldhavebeenremembered.
“No,asIsay,Iinclinedtotheviewthatitwasacaseofmurder,notsuicide,butIrealizedthatIhadnotashadowofproofinsupportofmytheory.Hencetheelaboratelittlecomedyyousawplayedto-night.”
“EvennowIdon’tquiteseeallthedetailsofthecrime?”Isaid.
“Letusstartfromthebeginning.Hereisashrewdandschemingwomanwho,knowingofherhusband’sfinancialdébâcleandtiredoftheelderlymateshehasonlymarriedforhismoney,induceshimtoinsurehislifeforalargesum,andthenseeksforthemeanstoaccomplishherpurpose.Anaccidentgivesherthat—theyoungsoldier’sstrangestory.Thenextafternoonwhenmonsieurlecapitaine,asshethinks,isonthehighseas,sheandherhusbandarestrollingroundthegrounds.‘Whatacuriousstorythatwaslastnight!’sheobserves.‘Couldamanshoothimselfinsuchaway?Doshowmeifitispossible!’Thepoorfool—heshowsher.Heplacestheendoftherifleinhismouth.Shestoopsdown,andputsherfingeronthetrigger,laughingupathim.‘Andnow,sir,’shesayssaucily,‘supposingIpullthetrigger?’
“Andthen—andthen,Hastings—shepullsit!”
