Убийство на поле для гольфа
20. An Amazing Statement
Awordfromherandheisindangeroftheguillotine.”
Iwasforced,ratherreluctantly,toadmitthetruthofthis.
“Yourtheory,”Iremarkedacidly,“isdoubtlesscorrectastoallthedetails?”
“Mytheoryisthetruth,”saidPoirotquietly.“Andthetruthisnecessarilycorrect.Inyourtheoryyoumadeafundamentalerror.Youpermittedyourimaginationtoleadyouastraywithmidnightassignationsandpassionatelovescenes.Butininvestigatingcrimewemusttakeourstanduponthecommonplace.ShallIdemonstratemymethodstoyou?”
“Oh,byallmeansletushaveademonstration!”
Poirotsatveryuprightandbegan,wagginghisforefingeremphaticallytoemphasizehispoints.
“IwillstartasyoustartedfromthebasicfactofGeorgesConneau.NowthestorytoldbyMadameBeroldyincourtastothe‘Russians’wasadmittedlyafabrication.Ifshewasinnocentofconnivanceinthecrime,itwasconcoctedbyher,andbyheronlyasshestated.If,ontheotherhand,shewasnotinnocent,itmighthavebeeninventedbyeitherherorGeorgesConneau.
“Nowinthiscaseweareinvestigating,wemeetthesametale.AsIpointedouttoyou,thefactsrenderitveryunlikelythatMadameDaubreuilinspiredit.SoweturntothehypothesisthatthestoryhaditsorigininthebrainofGeorgesConneau.Verygood.GeorgesConneau,therefore,plannedthecrimewithMadameRenauldashisaccomplice.Sheisinthelimelight,andbehindherisashadowyfigurewhosealiasisunknowntous.
