Убийство на поле для гольфа
17. We Make Further Investigations
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“Butwhataboutthecrimepassionnel?Canyourulethatout?IfMadameDaubreuilwasRenauld’smistress,ifshefoundthathisaffectionwascooling,orifherjealousywasarousedinanyway,mightshenothavestruckhimdowninamomentofanger?”
Poirotshookhishead.
“If—Isayif,younote—MadameDaubreuilwasRenauld’smistress,hehadnothadtimetotireofher.Andinanycaseyoumistakehercharacter.Sheisawomanwhocansimulategreatemotionalstress.Sheisamagnificentactress.But,lookedatdispassionately,herlifedisprovesherappearance.Throughout,ifweexamineit,shehadbeencold-bloodedandcalculatinginhermotivesandactions.Itwasnottolinkherlifewiththatofheryoungloverthatsheconnivedatherhusband’smurder.TherichAmerican,forwhomsheprobablydidnotcareabutton,washerobjective.Ifshecommittedacrime,shewouldalwaysdosoforgain.Heretherewasnogain.Besides,howdoyouaccountforthediggingofthegrave?Thatwasaman’swork.”
“Shemighthavehadanaccomplice,”Isuggested,unwillingtorelinquishmybelief.
“Ipasstoanotherobjection.Youhavespokenofthesimilaritybetweenthetwocrimes.Whereindoesthatlie,myfriend?”
Istaredathiminastonishment.
“Why,Poirot,itwasyouwhoremarkedonthat!Thestoryofthemaskedmen,the‘secret,’thepapers!”
Poirotsmiledalittle.
“Donotbesoindignant,Ibegofyou.Irepudiatenothing.Thesimilarityofthetwostorieslinksthetwocasestogetherinevitably.Butreflectnowonsomethingverycurious.
