Убийство на поле для гольфа
12. Poirot Elucidates Certain Points
’AndGiraud,thegreatGiraud,helaughs,hethinkstohimself,‘Oh,thatheisimbecile,thisoldone!’Butweshallsee. …”
Butmymindhadrevertedtothemainfacts.
“Thenallthisstoryofthemaskedmen—?”
“Isfalse.”
“Whatreallyhappened?”
Poirotshruggedhisshoulders.
“Onepersoncouldtellus—MadameRenauld.Butshewillnotspeak.Threatsandentreatieswouldnotmoveher.Aremarkablewomanthat,Hastings.IrecognizedassoonasIsawherthatIhadtodealwithawomanofunusualcharacter.Atfirst,asItoldyou,Iwasinclinedtosuspectherofbeingconcernedinthecrime.AfterwardsIalteredmyopinion.”
“Whatmadeyoudothat?”
“Herspontaneousandgenuinegriefatthesightofherhusband’sbody.Icouldswearthattheagonyinthatcryofherswasgenuine.”
“Yes,”Isaidthoughtfully,“onecannotmistakethesethings.”
“Ibegyourpardon,myfriend—onecanalwaysbemistaken.Regardagreatactress,doesnotheractingofgriefcarryyouawayandimpressyouwithitsreality?No,howeverstrongmyownimpressionandbelief,IneededotherevidencebeforeIallowedmyselftobesatisfied.Thegreatcriminalcanbeagreatactor.Ibasemycertaintyinthiscase,notuponmyownimpression,butupontheundeniablefactthatMrs.Renauldactuallyfainted.Iturneduphereyelidsandfeltherpulse.Therewasnodeception—theswoonwasgenuine.ThereforeIwassatisfiedthatheranguishwasrealandnotassumed.Besides,asmalladditionalpointnotwithoutinterest,itwasunnecessaryforMrs.Renauldtoexhibitunrestrainedgrief.
