Убийство на поле для гольфа
24. “Save Him!”
Letusinsteadseewhatisinthisletter.”
Andhedrewouttheenvelopefromhisbreastpocket.
Hisfacecontractedasheread,thenhehandedtheoneflimsysheettome.
“Thereareotherwomenintheworldwhosuffer,Hastings.”
Thewritingwasblurredandthenotehadevidentlybeenwritteningreatagitation:
“DearM.Poirot:
“Ifyougetthis,Ibegofyoutocometomyaid.Ihavenoonetoturnto,andatallcostsJackmustbesaved.Iimploreofyouonmykneestohelpus.
“MARTHEDAUBREUIL.”
Ihandeditback,moved.
“Youwillgo?”
“Atonce.Wewillcommandanauto.”
HalfanhourlatersawusattheVillaMarguerite.Marthewasatthedoortomeetus,andledPoirotin,clingingwithbothhandstooneofhis.
“Ah,youhavecome—itisgoodofyou.Ihavebeenindespair,notknowingwhattodo.Theywillnotletmegotoseehiminprisoneven.Isufferhorribly,Iamnearlymad.Isittruewhattheysay,thathedoesnotdenythecrime?Butthatismadness.Itisimpossiblethatheshouldhavedoneit!NeverforoneminutewillIbelieveit.”
“NeitherdoIbelieveit,mademoiselle,”saidPoirotgently.
“Butthenwhydoeshenotspeak?Idonotunderstand.”
“Perhapsbecauseheisscreeningsomeone,”suggestedPoirot,watchingher.
Marthefrowned.
“Screeningsomeone?Doyoumeanhismother?Ah,fromthebeginningIhavesuspectedher.Whoinheritsallthatvastfortune?Shedoes.Itiseasytowearwidow’sweedsandplaythehypocrite.Andtheysaythatwhenhewasarrestedshefelldown—likethat.”Shemadeadramaticgesture.“Andwithoutdoubt,M
