Убийство на поле для гольфа
28. Journey’s End
”
“Ehbien,whenwelookedup,MadameDaubreuilhadjusthadtimetorunupstairsandtakeherplace.”
“MadameDaubreuil?”
“Yes.Oneisold,andoneisyoung,onedark,andonefair,but,forthepurposeofasilhouetteonablind,theirprofilesaresingularlyalike.EvenIdidnotsuspect—tripleimbecilethatIwas!IthoughtIhadplentyoftimebeforeme—thatshewouldnottrytogainadmissiontotheVillauntilmuchlater.Shehadbrains,thatbeautifulMademoiselleMarthe.”
“AndherobjectwastomurderMrs.Renauld?”
“Yes.Thewholefortunewouldthenpasstoherson.Butitwouldhavebeensuicide,monami!OnthefloorbyMartheDaubreuil’sbody,Ifoundapadandalittlebottleofchloroformandahypodermicsyringecontainingafataldoseofmorphine.Youunderstand?Thechloroformfirst—thenwhenthevictimisunconscioustheprickoftheneedle.Bythemorningthesmellofthechloroformhasquitedisappeared,andthesyringelieswhereithasfallenfromMadameRenauld’shand.Whatwouldhesay,theexcellentM.Hautet?‘Poorwoman!WhatdidItellyou?Theshockofjoy,itwastoomuchontopoftherest!DidInotsaythatIshouldnotbesurprisedifherbrainbecameunhinged.Altogetheramosttragiccase,theRenauldCase!’
“However,Hastings,thingsdidnotgoquiteasMademoiselleMarthehadplanned.Tobeginwith,MadameRenauldwasawakeandwaitingforher.Thereisastruggle.ButMadameRenauldisterriblyweakstill.ThereisalastchanceforMartheDaubreuil.
