Убийство на поле для гольфа
28. Journey’s End
Theideaofsuicideisatanend,butifshecansilenceMadameRenauldwithherstronghands,makeagetawaywithherlittlesilkladderwhilstwearestillbatteringontheinsideofthefurtherdoor,andbebackattheVillaMargueritebeforewereturnthere,itwillbehardtoproveanythingagainsther.Butshewascheckmated—notbyHerculePoirot—butbylapetiteacrobatewithherwristsofsteel.”
Imusedoverthewholestory.
“WhendidyoufirstbegintosuspectMartheDaubreuil,Poirot?Whenshetoldusshehadoverheardthequarrelinthegarden?”
Poirotsmiled.
“Myfriend,doyourememberwhenwedroveintoMerlinvillethatfirstday?Andthebeautifulgirlwesawstandingatthegate?YouaskedmeifIhadnotnoticedayounggoddess,andIrepliedtoyouthatIhadseenonlyagirlwithanxiouseyes.ThatishowIhavethoughtofMartheDaubreuilfromthebeginning.Thegirlwiththeanxiouseyes!Whywassheanxious?NotonJackRenauld’sbehalf,forshedidnotknowthenthathehadbeeninMerlinvillethepreviousevening.”
“Bytheway,”Iexclaimed,“howisJackRenauld?”
“Muchbetter.HeisstillattheVillaMarguerite.ButMadameDaubreuilhasdisappeared.Thepolicearelookingforher.”
“Wassheinwithherdaughter,doyouthink?”
“Weshallneverknow.Madameisaladywhocankeephersecrets.AndIdoubtverymuchifthepolicewilleverfindher.”
“HasJackRenauldbeen—told?”
“Notyet.”
“Itwillbeaterribleshocktohim.”
“Naturally.Andyet,doyouknow,Hastings,Idoubtifhisheartwaseverseriouslyengaged.
