Убийство на поле для гольфа
3. At the Villa Geneviève
Onhearingthetragicnews,shefellatonceintoanalarmingstateofagitation.Onarrival,Dr.Durandimmediatelyprescribedasedative,andwehavenotyetbeenabletoquestionher.Butwithoutdoubtshewillawakemorecalm,andbeequaltobearingthestrainoftheinterrogation.”
Thecommissarypaused.
“Andtheinmatesofthehouse,monsieur?”
“ThereisoldFrançoise,thehousekeeper,shelivedformanyyearswiththeformerownersoftheVillaGeneviève.Thentherearetwoyounggirls,sisters,DeniseandLéonieOulard.TheirhomeisinMerlinville,andtheycomeofthemostrespectableparents.ThenthereisthechauffeurwhomM.RenauldbroughtoverfromEnglandwithhim,butheisawayonaholiday.FinallythereareMadameRenauldandherson,M.JackRenauld.He,too,isawayfromhomeatpresent.”
Poirotbowedhishead.M.Hautetspoke:
“Marchaud!”
Thesergentdevilleappeared.
“BringinthewomanFrançoise.”
Themansaluted,anddisappeared.Inamomentortwo,hereturned,escortingthefrightenedFrançoise.
“YounameisFrançoiseArrichet?”
“Yes,monsieur.”
“YouhavebeenalongtimeinserviceattheVillaGeneviève?”
“ElevenyearswithMadamelaVicomtesse.ThenwhenshesoldtheVillathisspring,IconsentedtoremainonwiththeEnglishmilor.NeverdidIimagine—”
Themagistratecuthershort.
“Withoutdoubt,withoutdoubt.Now,Françoise,inthismatterofthefrontdoor,whosebusinesswasittofastenitatnight?”
“Mine,monsieur.AlwaysIsawtoitmyself.”
“Andlastnight?”
“Ifasteneditasusual.
