Убийство на поле для гольфа
3. At the Villa Geneviève
“Youhavetheletterhere,monsieur?”
Poirothandedittohim,andthemagistratereadit.
“H’m.Hespeaksofasecret.Whatapityhewasnotmoreexplicit.Wearemuchindebtedtoyou,M.Poirot.Ihopeyouwilldousthehonourofassistingusinourinvestigations.OrareyouobligedtoreturntoLondon?”
“M.lejuge,Iproposetoremain.Ididnotarriveintimetopreventmyclient’sdeath,butIfeelmyselfboundinhonourtodiscovertheassassin.”
Themagistratebowed.
“Thesesentimentsdoyouhonour.Also,withoutdoubt,MadameRenauldwillwishtoretainyourservices.WeareexpectingM.GiraudfromtheSûretéinParisanymoment,andIamsurethatyouandhewillbeabletogiveeachothermutualassistanceinyourinvestigations.Inthemeantime,Ihopethatyouwilldomethehonourtobepresentatmyinterrogations,andIneedhardlysaythatifthereisanyassistanceyourequireitisatyourdisposal.”
“Ithankyou,monsieur.YouwillcomprehendthatatpresentIamcompletelyinthedark.Iknownothingwhatever.”
M.Hautetnoddedtothecommissary,andthelattertookupthetale:
“Thismorning,theoldservantFrançoise,ondescendingtostartherwork,foundthefrontdoorajar.Feelingamomentaryalarmastoburglars,shelookedintothedining-room,butseeingthesilverwassafeshethoughtnomoreaboutit,concludingthathermasterhad,withoutdoubt,risenearly,andgoneforastroll.
