Убийство на поле для гольфа

           Itwasquiteaprettylittleturn.Theydancedneatly,anddidsomecleverlittleacrobaticfeats.Thewordsoftheirsongswerecrispandcatchy.Whenthecurtainfell,therewasafullmeedofapplause.EvidentlytheDulcibellaKidswereasuccess.

           SuddenlyIfeltthatIcouldremainnolonger.Imustgetoutintotheair.IsuggestedleavingtoPoirot.

           “Gobyallmeans,monami.Iamusemyself,andwillstaytotheend.Iwillrejoinyoulater.”

           Itwasonlyafewstepsfromthetheatretothehotel.Iwentuptothesitting-room,orderedawhiskyandsoda,andsatdrinkingit,staringmeditativelyintotheemptygrate.Iheardthedooropen,andturnedmyhead,thinkingitwasPoirot.ThenIjumpedtomyfeet.ItwasCinderellawhostoodinthedoorway.Shespokehaltingly,herbreathcominginlittlegasps.

           “Isawyouinfront.Youandyourfriend.Whenyougotuptogo,Iwaswaitingoutsideandfollowedyou.Whyareyouhere—inCoventry?Whatwereyoudoingthereto-night?Isthemanwhowaswithyouthe—thedetective?”

           Shestoodthere,thecloakshehadwrappedroundherstagedressslippingfromhershoulders.Isawthewhitenessofhercheeksundertherouge,andheardtheterrorinhervoice.AndinthatmomentIunderstoodeverything—understoodwhyPoirotwasseekingher,andwhatshefeared,andunderstoodatlastmyownheart. …

           “Yes,”Isaidgently.

           “Ishelookingfor—me?”shehalfwhispered.

           Then,asIdidnotanswerforamoment,sheslippeddownbythebigchair,andburstintoviolent,bitterweeping.