Пуаро ведёт следствие
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
Ehbien,madame,youseekmyadvice—Igiveittoyou.Thisbellehistoiremaybeahoax—butitmaynot!ThereforeIcounselyoutoplacethediamondinmykeepinguntilafterFridaynext.Thenwecantakewhatstepsweplease.”
Aslightcloudpassedovertheactress’sface,andsherepliedconstrainedly:
“I’mafraidthat’simpossible.”
“Youhaveitwithyou—hein?”Poirotwaswatchinghernarrowly.
Thegirlhesitatedamoment,thenslippedherhandintothebosomofhergown,drawingoutalongthinchain.Sheleanedforward,unclosingherhand.Inthepalm,astoneofwhitefire,exquisitelysetinplatinum,layandwinkedatussolemnly.
Poirotdrewinhisbreathwithalonghiss.
“Épatant!”hemurmured.“Youpermit,madame?”Hetookthejewelinhisownhandandscrutinizeditkeenly,thenrestoredittoherwithalittlebow.“Amagnificentstone—withoutaflaw.Ah,centtonnerres!andyoucarryitaboutwithyou,commeça!”
“No,no,I’mverycarefulreally,MonsieurPoirot.Asaruleit’slockedupinmyjewel-case,andleftinthehotelsafedeposit.We’restayingattheMagnificent,youknow.Ijustbroughtitalongto-dayforyoutosee.”
“Andyouwillleaveitwithme,n’est-cepas?YouwillbeadvisedbyPapaPoirot?”
“Well,yousee,it’sthisway,MonsieurPoirot.OnFridaywe’regoingdowntoYardlyChasetospendafewdayswithLordandLadyYardly.”
Herwordsawokeavagueechoofremembranceinmymind.
