Пуаро ведёт следствие
III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
Hestoodasidefromthedoor.“Goodevening,madame.IwilldetainyourfriendfromNewYorkwhilstyoumakeyourgetaway.”
“Whattafool!”roaredthebigItalian,andraisingtherevolverhefiredpoint-blankatthewoman’sretreatingfigurejustasIflungmyselfuponhim.
ButtheweaponmerelyclickedharmlesslyandPoirot’svoiceroseinmildreproof.
“Neverwillyoutrustyouroldfriend,Hastings.IdonotcareformyfriendstocarryloadedpistolsaboutwiththemandneverwouldIpermitamereacquaintancetodoso.No,no,monami.”ThistotheItalianwhoswearinghoarsely.Poirotcontinuedtoaddresshiminatoneofmildreproof:“Seenow,whatIhavedoneforyou.Ihavesavedyoufrombeinghanged.Anddonotthinkthatourbeautifulladywillescape.No,no,thehouseiswatched,backandfront.Straightintothearmsofthepolicetheywillgo.Isnotthatabeautifulandconsolingthought?Yes,youmayleavetheroomnow.Butbecareful—beverycareful.I——Ah,heisgone!AndmyfriendHastingslooksatmewitheyesofreproach.Butitwasallsosimple!Itwasclear,fromthefirst,thatoutofseveralhundred,probably,applicantsforNo.4,MontaguMansionsonlytheRobinsonswereconsideredsuitable.Why?Whatwastherethatsingledthemoutfromtherest—atpracticallyaglance.Theirappearance?Possibly,butitwasnotsounusual.Theirname,then!”
“Butthere’snothingunusualaboutthenameofRobinson,”Icried.“It’squiteacommonname.”
“Ah!Sapristi,butexactly!Thatwasthepoint.
