Убийство на поле для гольфа
2. An Appeal for Help
”
“Howdoeshethankyou?”Iaskedcuriously,forIknewmyJapp.
“HeiskindenoughtosaythatIamawonderfulsportformyage,andthathewasgladtohavehadthechanceoflettingmeinonthecase.”
ThiswassotypicalofJapp,thatIcouldnotforbearachuckle.Poirotcontinuedtoreadhiscorrespondenceplacidly.
“AsuggestionthatIshouldgivealecturetoourlocalboyscouts.TheCountessofForfanockwillbeobligedifIwillcallandseeher.Anotherlap-dogwithoutdoubt!Andnowforthelast.Ah—”
Ilookedup,quicktonoticethechangeoftone.Poirotwasreadingattentively.Inaminutehetossedthesheetovertome.
“Thisisoutoftheordinary,monami.Readforyourself.”
Theletterwaswrittenonaforeigntypeofpaper,inaboldcharacteristichand:
“VillaGeneviève
Merlinville-sur-Mer
France
“DearSir,
“Iaminneedoftheservicesofadetectiveand,forreasonswhichIwillgiveyoulater,donotwishtocallintheofficialpolice.Ihaveheardofyoufromseveralquarters,andallreportsgotoshowthatyouarenotonlyamanofdecidedability,butonewhoalsoknowshowtobediscreet.Idonotwishtotrustdetailstothepost,but,onaccountofasecretIpossess,Igoindailyfearofmylife.Iamconvincedthatthedangerisimminent,andthereforeIbegthatyouwilllosenotimeincrossingtoFrance.IwillsendacartomeetyouatCalais,ifyouwillwiremewhenyouarearriving.Ishallbeobligedifyouwilldropallcasesyouhaveonhand,anddevoteyourselfsolelytomyinterests.Iampreparedtopayanycompensationnecessary.
