Убийство на поле для гольфа
13. The Girl with the Anxious Eyes
Istrolledaimlesslyalongthesandstowardsthefurtherendofthetown.Itoccurredtomethat,afterall,itwouldonlybedecentfeelingonmyparttoinquireafterthegirl.Anditwouldsavetroubleintheend.Thematterwouldthenbefinishedwith.Therewouldbenoneedformetotroubleaboutheranyfurther.But,ifIdidnotgoatall,shemightquitepossiblycomeandlookmeupattheVilla.Andthatwouldbeannoyingineveryway.Decidedlyitwouldbebettertopayashortcall,inthecourseofwhichIcouldmakeitquiteclearthatIcoulddonothingfurtherforherinmycapacityofshowman.
AccordinglyIleftthebeach,andwalkedinland.IsoonfoundtheHôtelduPhare,averyunpretentiousbuilding.Itwasannoyingintheextremenottoknowthelady’snameand,tosavemydignity,Idecidedtostrollinsideandlookaround.ProbablyIshouldfindherinthelounge.Merlinvillewasasmallplace,youleftyourhoteltogotothebeach,andyouleftthebeachtoreturntothehotel.Therewerenootherattractions.TherewasaCasinobeingbuilt,butitwasnotyetcompleted.
Ihadwalkedthelengthofthebeachwithoutseeingher,thereforeshemustbeinthehotel.Iwentin.Severalpeopleweresittinginthetinylounge,butmyquarrywasnotamongstthem.Ilookedintosomeotherrooms,buttherewasnosignofher.Iwaitedforsometime,tillmyimpatiencegotthebetterofme.Itooktheconciergeaside,andslippedfivefrancsintohishand.
“Iwishtoseealadywhoisstayinghere.AyoungEnglishlady,smallanddark.Iamnotsureofhername.
