Убийство на поле для гольфа
18. Giraud Acts
Hewasalternatelywhiningandthreatening.Igatheredhewasaskingformoney,butatthatmomentmamancalledmefromthehouse,andIhadtogo.Thatisall,only—Iamalmostsurethatthetrampandthedeadmanintheshedareoneandthesame.”
Poirotutteredanexclamation.
“Butwhydidyounotsaysoatthetime,mademoiselle?”
“Becauseatfirstitonlystruckmethatthefacewasvaguelyfamiliarinsomeway.Themanwasdifferentlydressed,andapparentlybelongedtoasuperiorstationinlife.Buttellme,MonsieurPoirot,isitnotpossiblethatthistrampmighthaveattackedandkilledM.Renauld,andtakenhisclothesandmoney?”
“Itisanidea,mademoiselle,”saidPoirotslowly.“Itleavesalotunexplained,butitiscertainlyanidea.Iwillthinkofit.”
Avoicecalledfromthehouse.
“Maman,”whisperedMarthe,“Imustgo.”Andsheslippedawaythroughthetrees.
“Come,”saidPoirot,andtakingmyarm,turnedinthedirectionoftheVilla.
“Whatdoyoureallythink?”Iasked,insomecuriosity.“Wasthatstorytrue,ordidthegirlmakeitupinordertodivertsuspicionfromherlover?”
“Itisacurioustale,”saidPoirot,“butIbelieveittobetheabsolutetruth.Unwittingly,MademoiselleMarthetoldusthetruthonanotherpoint—andincidentallygaveJackRenauldthelie.DidyounoticehishesitationwhenIaskedhimifhesawMartheDaubreuilonthenightofthecrime?Hepausedandthensaid‘Yes.’Isuspectedthathewaslying.ItwasnecessaryformetoseeMademoiselleMarthebeforehecouldputheronherguard.
