Убийство на поле для гольфа
3. At the Villa Geneviève
Herevidencewasmainlyconcernedwiththediscoveryofhermistressgaggedandbound,ofwhichshegaveratheranexaggeratedaccount.She,likeFrançoise,hadheardnothingduringthenight.
Hersister,Denise,succeededher.Sheagreedthathermasterhadchangedgreatlyoflate.
“Everydayhebecamemoreandmoremorose.Heateless.Hewasalwaysdepressed.”ButDenisehadherowntheory.“WithoutdoubtitwastheMafiahehadonhistrack!Twomaskedmen—whoelsecoulditbe?Aterriblesocietythat!”
“Itis,ofcourse,possible,”saidthemagistratesmoothly.“Now,mygirl,wasityouwhoadmittedMadameDaubreuiltothehouselastnight?”
“Notlastnight,monsieur,thenightbefore.”
“ButFrançoisehasjusttoldusthatMadameDaubreuilwasherelastnight?”
“No,monsieur.AladydidcometoseeM.Renauldlastnight,butitwasnotMadameDaubreuil.”
Surprised,themagistrateinsisted,butthegirlheldfirm.SheknewMadameDaubreuilperfectlybysight.Thisladywasdarkalso,butshorter,andmuchyounger.Nothingcouldshakeherstatement.
“Hadyoueverseenthisladybefore?”
“Never,monsieur.”Andthenthegirladdeddiffidently:“ButIthinkshewasEnglish.”
“English?”
“Yes,monsieur.SheaskedforM.RenauldinquitegoodFrench,buttheaccent—onecanalwaystellit,n’est-cepas?BesideswhentheycameoutofthestudytheywerespeakinginEnglish.”
“Didyouhearwhattheysaid?Couldyouunderstandit,Imean?”
“Me,IspeaktheEnglishverywell,”saidDenisewithpride.
