Убийство на поле для гольфа
24. “Save Him!”
”
Giraudstaredforamoment—thenburstoutlaughing,tappinghisheadsignificantlywiththebriefremark:“Toqué!”
Poirotdrewhimselfup.Adangerouslightshowedinhiseyes.
“M.Giraud,throughoutthecaseyourmannertomehasbeendeliberatelyinsulting!Youneedteachingalesson.Iampreparedtowageryou500francsthatIfindthemurdererofM.Renauldbeforeyoudo.Isitagreed?”
Giraudstaredhelplesslyathim,andmurmuredagain:
“Toqué!”
“Comenow,”urgedPoirot,“isitagreed?”
“Ihavenowishtotakeyourmoneyfromyou.”
“Makeyourmindeasy—youwillnot!”
“Oh,wellthen,Iagree!Youspeakofmymannertoyoubeinginsulting.Ehbien,onceortwice,yourmannerhasannoyedme.”
“Iamenchantedtohearit,”saidPoirot.“Goodmorning,M.Giraud.Come,Hastings.”
Isaidnowordaswewalkedalongthestreet.Myheartwasheavy.Poirothaddisplayedhisintentionsonlytooplainly.IdoubtedmorethanevermypowersofsavingBellafromtheconsequencesofheract.ThisunluckyencounterwithGiraudhadrousedPoirotandputhimonhismettle.
SuddenlyIfeltahandlaidonmyshoulder,andturnedtofaceGabrielStonor.Westoppedandgreetedhim,andheproposedstrollingwithusbacktoourhotel.
“Andwhatareyoudoinghere,M.Stonor?”inquiredPoirot.
“Onemuststandbyone’sfriends,”repliedtheotherdryly.“Especiallywhentheyareunjustlyaccused.”
“ThenyoudonotbelievethatJackRenauldcommittedthecrime?”Iaskedeagerly.
“CertainlyIdon’t.Iknowthelad.
