Убийство на поле для гольфа
23. Difficulties Ahead
“Iamright,amInot?Andasyouarequitecapableoftryingtofollowme,disguisedwithsomeabsurditysuchasafalsebeard—whicheveryonewouldperceive,bienentendu—Imuchpreferthatweshouldvoyagetogether.Itwouldannoymegreatlythatanyoneshouldmockthemselvesatyou.”
“Verywell,then.Butit’sonlyfairtowarnyou—”
“Iknow—Iknowall.Youaremyenemy!Bemyenemythen.Itdoesnotworrymeatall.”
“Solongasit’sallfairandabove-board,Idon’tmind.”
“YouhavetothefulltheEnglishpassionfor‘fair-play!’Nowyourscruplesaresatisfied,letusdepartimmediately.Thereisnotimetobelost.OurstayinEnglandhasbeenshortbutsufficient.Iknow—whatIwantedtoknow.”
Thetonewaslight,butIreadaveiledmenaceintothewords.
“Still—”Ibegan,andstopped.
“Still—asyousay!Withoutdoubtyouaresatisfiedwiththepartyouareplaying.Me,IpreoccupymyselfwithJackRenauld.”
JackRenauld!Thewordsgavemeastart.Ihadcompletelyforgottenthataspectofthecase.JackRenauld,inprison,withtheshadowoftheguillotineloomingoverhim!IsawthepartIwasplayinginamoresinisterlight.IcouldsaveBella—yes,butindoingsoIrantheriskofsendinganinnocentmantohisdeath.
Ipushedthethoughtfrommewithhorror.Itcouldnotbe.Hewouldbeacquitted.Certainlyhewouldbeacquitted!Butthecoldfearcameback.Supposehewerenot?Whatthen?CouldIhaveitonmyconscience—horriblethought!Woulditcometothatintheend?Adecision.
