Убийство на поле для гольфа
17. We Make Further Investigations
“ThenitisasingularmistakethatIhavemadethere—foritissharedbythestationstaff.Theysayyouarrivedbythe11:40train.”
ForamomentJackRenauldhesitated,thenhemadeuphismind.
“AndifIdid?Isupposeyoudonotmeantoaccusemeofparticipatinginmyfather’smurder?”Heaskedthequestionhaughtily,hisheadthrownback.
“Ishouldlikeanexplanationofthereasonthatbroughtyouhere.”
“Thatissimpleenough.Icametoseemyfiancée,MademoiselleDaubreuil.Iwasontheeveofalongvoyage,uncertainastowhenIshouldreturn.IwishedtoseeherbeforeIwent,toassureherofmyunchangingdevotion.”
“Andyoudidseeher?”Poirot’seyesneverlefttheother’sface.
TherewasanappreciablepausebeforeRenauldreplied.Thenhesaid:
“Yes.”
“Andafterwards?”
“IfoundIhadmissedthelasttrain.IwalkedtoSt.BeauvaiswhereIknockedupagarageandgotacartotakemebacktoCherbourg.”
“St.Beauvais?Thatisfifteenkilometres.Alongwalk,M.Renauld.”
“I—Ifeltlikewalking.”
Poirotbowedhisheadasasignthatheacceptedtheexplanation.JackRenauldtookuphishatandcaneanddeparted.InatricePoirotjumpedtohisfeet.
“Quick,Hastings.Wewillgoafterhim.”
Keepingadiscreetdistancebehindourquarry,wefollowedhimthroughthestreetsofMerlinville.ButwhenPoirotsawthathetooktheturningtothestation,hecheckedhimself.
“Alliswell.Hehastakenthebait.HewillgotoAbbalac,andwillinquireforthemythicalvaliseleftbythemythicalforeigners
