Убийство на поле для гольфа
21. Hercule Poirot on the Case!
Ayounghand,likeGiraud,whodoesnotplaceanyrelianceonthepsychology,isalmostcertaintofail.”
“You’remarvellous,Poirot,”Isaid,withadmiration.“Absolutelymarvellous.Nooneonearthbutyoucouldhavedoneit!”
Ithinkmypraisepleasedhim.Foronceinhislife,helookedalmostembarrassed.
“Ah,thenyounolongerdespisepooroldPapaPoirot?Youshiftyourallegiancebackfromthehumanfoxhound?”
HistermforGiraudneverfailedtomakemesmile.
“Rather.You’vescoredoverhimhandsomely.”
“ThatpoorGiraud,”saidPoirot,tryingunsuccessfullytolookmodest.“Withoutdoubtitisnotallstupidity.Hehashadlamauvaisechanceonceortwice.Thatdarkhaircoiledroundthedagger,forinstance.Tosaytheleast,itwasmisleading.”
“Totellyouthetruth,Poirot,”Isaidslowly,“evennowIdon’tquitesee—whosehairwasit?”
“MadameRenauld’sofcourse.Thatiswherelamauvaisechancecamein.Herhair,darkoriginally,isalmostcompletelysilvered.Itmightjustaseasilyhavebeenagreyhair—andthen,bynoconceivableeffortcouldGiraudhavepersuadedhimselfitcamefromtheheadofJackRenauld!Butitisallofapiece.Alwaysthefactsmustbetwistedtofitthetheory!DidnotGiraudfindthetracesoftwopersons,amanandawoman,intheshed?Andhowdoesthatfitinwithhisreconstructionofthecase?Iwilltellyou—itdoesnotfitin,andsoweshallhearnomoreofthem!Iaskyou,isthatamethodicalwayofworking?ThegreatGiraud!ThegreatGiraudisnothingbutatoyballoon—swollenwithitsownimportance.
