Убийство на поле для гольфа
20. An Amazing Statement
SheproducedherclaimuponJack,probablyshowedlettersthathehadwrittenher,andtheoldermantriedtobuyheroffbywritingacheque.Thissheindignantlytoreup.Thetermsofherletterarethoseofawomangenuinelyinlove,andshewouldprobablydeeplyresentbeingofferedmoney.Intheendhegotridofher,andherethewordsthatheusedaresignificant.”
“‘Yes,yes,butforGod’ssakegonow,’ ”Irepeated.“Theyseemtomealittlevehement,perhaps,thatisall.”
“Thatisenough.Hewasdesperatelyanxiousforthegirltogo.Why?Notonlybecausetheinterviewwasunpleasant.No,itwasthetimethatwasslippingby,andforsomereasontimewasprecious.”
“Whyshoulditbe?”Iasked,bewildered.
“Thatiswhatweaskourselves.Whyshoulditbe?Butlaterwehavetheincidentofthewristwatch—whichagainshowsusthattimeplaysaveryimportantpartinthecrime.Wearenowfastapproachingtheactualdrama.Itishalf-pasttenwhenBellaDuveenleaves,andbytheevidenceofthewristwatchweknowthatthecrimewascommitted,oratanyratethatitwasstaged,beforetwelveo’clock.Wehavereviewedalltheeventsanteriortothemurder,thereremainsonlyoneunplaced.Bythedoctor’sevidence,thetramp,whenfound,hadbeendeadatleastforty-eighthours—withapossiblemarginoftwenty-fourhoursmore.Now,withnootherfactstohelpmethanthosewehavediscussed,IplacethedeathashavingoccurredonthemorningofJune7th.”
Istaredathim,stupefied.
