Убийство на поле для гольфа
20. An Amazing Statement
Afteramomentortwo,Isaidratherdoubtfully:
“Astothefirstpoints,thequestionseemstobewhetherweadoptthetheoryofblackmail,orofaninfatuationforthiswoman.”
“Blackmail,decidedly.YouheardwhatStonorsaidastohischaracterandhabits.”
“Mrs.Renaulddidnotconfirmhisview,”Iargued.
“WehavealreadyseenthatMadameRenauld’stestimonycannotberelieduponinanyway.WemusttrusttoStonoronthatpoint.”
“Still,ifRenauldhadanaffairwithawomancalledBella,thereseemsnoinherentimprobabilityinhishavinganotherwithMadameDaubreuil.”
“Nonewhatever,Igrantyou,Hastings.Butdidhe?”
“Theletter,Poirot.Youforgettheletter.”
“No,Idonotforget.ButwhatmakesyouthinkthatletterwaswrittentoM.Renauld?”
“Whyitwasfoundinhispocketand—and—”
“Andthatisall!”cutinPoirot.“Therewasnomentionofanynametoshowtowhomtheletterwasaddressed.Weassumeditwastothedeadmanbecauseitwasinthepocketofhisovercoat.Now,monami,somethingaboutthatovercoatstruckmeasunusual.Imeasuredit,andmadetheremarkthatheworehisovercoatverylong.Thatremarkshouldhavegivenyoutothink.”
“Ithoughtyouwerejustsayingitforthesakeofsayingsomething,”Iconfessed.
“Ah,quelleidée!LateryouobservedmemeasuringtheovercoatofM.JackRenauld.Ehbien,M.JackRenauldwearshisovercoatveryshort.Putthosetwofactstogetherwithathird,namelythatM.
