Убийство на поле для гольфа
21. Hercule Poirot on the Case!
JackRenauldfallsinlovewiththebeautifulgirlheseesalmostdaily,andwishestomarryher.Thatrouseshisfather.Atallcosts,hewillpreventhissonmarryingthedaughterofthisevilwoman.JackRenauldknowsnothingofhisfather’spast,butMadameRenauldknowseverything.Sheisawomanofgreatforceofcharacter,andpassionatelydevotedtoherhusband.Theytakecounseltogether.Renauldseesonlyonewayofescape—death.Hemustappeartodie,inrealityescapingtoanothercountrywherehewillstartagainunderanassumedname,andwhereMadameRenauld,havingplayedthewidow’spartforawhile,canjoinhim.Itisessentialthatsheshouldhavecontrolofthemoney,sohealtershiswill.Howtheymeanttomanagethebodybusinessoriginally,Idonotknow—possiblyanartstudent’sskeleton—andafireorsomethingofthekind,butlongbeforetheirplanshavematuredaneventoccurswhichplaysintotheirhands.Aroughtramp,violentandabusive,findshiswayintothegarden.Thereisastruggle,M.Renauldseekstoejecthim,andsuddenlythetramp,anepileptic,fallsdowninafit.Heisdead.M.Renauldcallshiswife.Togethertheydraghimintotheshed—asweknow,theeventhadoccurredjustoutside—andtheyrealizethemarvellousopportunitythathasbeenvouchsafedthem.ThemanbearsnoresemblancetoM.Renauld,butheismiddle-aged,ofausualFrenchtype.Thatissufficient.
“Iratherfancythattheysatonthebenchupthere,outofearshotfromthehouse,discussingmatters.Theirplanwasquicklymade.