Убийство на поле для гольфа
25. An Unexpected Dénouement
Hewasvaliantlyshieldingthewomanhehadonceloved—butatwhatacosttohimself!IbegantorealizethemagnitudeofthetaskIhadsolightlysetPoirot.ItwouldnotbeeasytosecuretheacquittalofJackRenauld,byanythingshortofthetruth.
M.Hautetspokeagain,withapeculiarlybitinginflection:
“MadameRenauldtoldusthatthisdaggerwasonherdressingtableonthenightofthecrime.ButMadameRenauldisamother!Itwilldoubtlessastonishyou,Renauld,butIconsiderithighlylikelythatMadameRenauldwasmistaken,andthat,byinadvertenceperhaps,youhadtakenitwithyoutoParis.Doubtlessyouwillcontradictme—”
Isawthelad’shandcuffedhandsclenchthemselves.Theperspirationstoodoutinbeadsuponhisbrow,aswithasupremeeffortheinterruptedM.Hautetinahoarsevoice:
“Ishallnotcontradictyou.Itispossible.”
Itwasastupefyingmoment.MaîtreGrosíerrosetohisfeet,protesting:
“Myclienthasundergoneaconsiderablenervousstrain.IshouldwishitputonrecordthatIdonotconsiderhimanswerableforwhathesays.”
Themagistratequelledhimangrily.Foramomentadoubtseemedtoariseinhisownmind.JackRenauldhadalmostoverdonehispart.Heleanedforward,andgazedattheprisonersearchingly.
“Doyoufullyunderstand,Renauld,thatontheanswersyouhavegivenmeIshallhavenoalternativebuttocommityoufortrial?”
Jack’spalefaceflushed.Helookedsteadilyback.
“M.Hautet,IswearthatIdidnotkillmyfather.”
Butthemagistrate’sbriefmomentofdoubtwasover.Helaughedashort,unpleasantlaugh.
