Убийство на поле для гольфа
2. An Appeal for Help
Ishallprobablyneedyourservicesforaconsiderableperiodoftime,asitmaybenecessaryforyoutogoouttoSantiago,whereIspentseveralyearsofmylife.Ishallbecontentforyoutonameyourownfee.
“Assuringyouoncemorethatthematterisurgent,
“Yoursfaithfully
“P.T.RENAULD.”
Belowthesignaturewasahastilyscrawledline,almostillegible:“ForGod’ssake,come!”
Ihandedtheletterbackwithquickenedpulses.
“Atlast!”Isaid.“Hereissomethingdistinctlyoutoftheordinary.”
“Yes,indeed,”saidPoirotmeditatively.
“Youwillgoofcourse,”Icontinued.
Poirotnodded.Hewasthinkingdeeply.Finallyheseemedtomakeuphismind,andglancedupattheclock.Hisfacewasverygrave.
“Seeyou,myfriend,thereisnotimetolose.TheContinentalexpressleavesVictoriaat11o’clock.Donotagitateyourself.Thereisplentyoftime.Wecanallowtenminutesfordiscussion.Youaccompanyme,n’est-cepas?”
“Well—”
“Youtoldmeyourselfthatyouremployerneededyounotforthenextfewweeks.”
“Oh,that’sallright.ButthisMr.Renauldhintsstronglythathisbusinessisprivate.”
“Ta-ta-ta.IwillmanageM.Renauld.Bytheway,Iseemtoknowthename?”
“There’sawell-knownSouthAmericanmillionairefellow.Hisname’sRenauld.Idon’tknowwhetheritcouldbethesame.”
“Butwithoutdoubt.ThatexplainsthementionofSantiago.SantiagoisinChile,andChileitisinSouthAmerica!Ah,butweprogressfinely.”
“Dearme,Poirot,”Isaid,myexcitementrising,“Ismellsomegoodlyshekelsinthis.
