Убийство на поле для гольфа
15. A Photograph
Icannotbewrong!Thefacts,takenmethodicallyandintheirproperorderadmitofonlyoneexplanation.Imustberight!Iamright!”
“Butthen—”
Heinterruptedme.
“Wait,myfriend.Imustberight,thereforethisnewmurderisimpossibleunless—unless—oh,wait,Iimploreyou.Saynoword—”
Hewassilentforamomentortwo,then,resuminghisnormalmanner,hesaidinaquietassuredvoice:“Thevictimisamanofmiddle-age.Hisbodywasfoundinthelockedshednearthesceneofthecrimeandhadbeendeadatleastforty-eighthours.AnditismostprobablethathewasstabbedinasimilarmannertoM.Renauld,thoughnotnecessarilyintheback.”
Itwasmyturntogape—andgapeIdid.InallmyknowledgeofPoirothehadneverdoneanythingsoamazingasthis.And,almostinevitably,adoubtcrossedmymind.
“Poirot,”Icried,“you’repullingmyleg.You’veheardallaboutitalready.”
Heturnedhisearnestgazeuponmereproachfully.
“WouldIdosuchathing?IassureyouthatIhaveheardnothingwhatsoever.Didyounotobservetheshockyournewswastome?”
“Buthowonearthcouldyouknowallthat?”
“Iwasrightthen?ButIknewit.Thelittlegreycells,myfriend,thelittlegreycells!Theytoldme.Thus,andinnootherway,couldtherehavebeenaseconddeath.Nowtellmeall.Ifwegoroundtothelefthere,wecantakeashortcutacrossthegolflinkswhichwillbringustothebackoftheVillaGenevièvemuchmorequickly.”
Aswewalked,takingthewayhehadindicated,IrecountedallIknew.Poirotlistenedattentively.
