Убийство на поле для гольфа
24. “Save Him!”
TheseyoungdetectivesoftheschoolofGiraud,theyareallalike—rude,sneeringfellows.Theydonotrealizethatanexaminingmagistrateofmy—er—experienceisboundtohaveacertaindiscernment,acertain—flair.Enfin!thepolitenessoftheoldschoolisinfinitelymoretomytaste.Therefore,mydearfriend,commandmeinanywayyouwill.Weknowathingortwo,youandI—eh?”
Andlaughingheartily,enchantedwithhimselfandwithus,M.Hautetbadeusadieu.IamsorrytohavetorecordthatPoirot’sfirstremarktomeaswetraversedthecorridorwas:
“Afamousoldimbecile,thatone!Ofastupiditytomakepity!”
WewerejustleavingthebuildingwhenwecamefacetofacewithGiraud,lookingmoredandifiedthanever,andthoroughlypleasedwithhimself.
“Aha!M.Poirot,”hecriedairily.“YouhavereturnedfromEnglandthen?”
“Asyousee,”saidPoirot.
“Theendofthecaseisnotfaroffnow,Ifancy.”
“Iagreewithyou,M.Giraud.”
Poirotspokeinasubduedtone.Hiscrest-fallenmannerseemedtodelighttheother.
“Ofallthemilkandwatercriminals!Notanideaofdefendinghimself.Itisextraordinary!”
“Soextraordinarythatitgivesonetothink,doesitnot?”suggestedPoirotmildly.
ButGiraudwasnotevenlistening.Hetwirledhiscaneamicably.
“Well,goodday,M.Poirot.Iamgladyou’resatisfiedofyoungRenauld’sguiltatlast.”
“Pardon!ButIamnotintheleastsatisfied.JackRenauldisinnocent.
