Пуаро ведёт следствие
III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
”
IassuredherthatIwaswellawarethatinthestruggleforhouse-roomthebasersideofhumannaturefrequentlytriumphedoverthehigher,andthatthewell-knownruleofdogeatdogalwaysapplied.
“Sowewentupand,wouldyoubelieveit,theflatwasn’tletatall.Wewereshownoveritbythemaid,andthenwesawthemistress,andthethingwassettledthenandthere.Immediatepossessionandfiftypoundsforthefurniture.Wesignedtheagreementnextday,andwearetomoveinto-morrow!”Mrs.Robinsonpausedtriumphantly.
“AndwhataboutMrs.Ferguson?”askedParker.“Let’shaveyourdeductions,Hastings.”
“‘Obvious,mydearWatson,’”Iquotedlightly.“Shewenttothewrongflat.”
“Oh,CaptainHastings,howcleverofyou!”criedMrs.Robinsonadmiringly.
IratherwishedPoirothadbeenthere.SometimesIhavethefeelingthatheratherunderestimatesmycapabilities.
•••••••
Thewholethingwasratheramusing,andIpropoundedthethingasamockproblemtoPoirotonthefollowingmorning.Heseemedinterested,andquestionedmerathernarrowlyastotherentsofflatsinvariouslocalities.
“Acuriousstory,”hesaidthoughtfully.“Excuseme,Hastings,Imusttakeashortstroll.”
Whenhereturned,aboutanhourlater,hiseyesweregleamingwithapeculiarexcitement.Helaidhisstickonthetable,andbrushedthenapofhishatwithhisusualtendercarebeforehespoke.
“Itisaswell,monami,thatwehavenoaffairsofmomentonhand.Wecandevoteourselveswhollytothepresentinvestigation.
