Убийство на поле для гольфа
3. At the Villa Geneviève
“Theladywasspeakingtoofastformetocatchwhatshesaid,butIheardMonsieur’slastwordsasheopenedthedoorforher.”Shepaused,andthenrepeatedcarefullyandlaboriously:
“‘Yeas—yeas—buttforGaud’ssaikegonauw!’ ”
“Yes,yes,butforGod’ssakegonow!”repeatedthemagistrate.
HedismissedDeniseand,afteramomentortwoforconsideration,recalledFrançoise.ToherhepropoundedthequestionastowhethershehadnotmadeamistakeinfixingthenightofMadameDaubreuil’svisit.Françoise,however,provedunexpectedlyobstinate.ItwaslastnightthatMadameDaubreuilhadcome.Withoutadoubtitwasshe.Denisewishedtomakeherselfinteresting,voilàtout!Soshehadcookedupthisfinetaleaboutastrangelady.AiringherknowledgeofEnglishtoo!ProbablyMonsieurhadneverspokenthatsentenceinEnglishatall,andevenifhehad,itprovednothing,forMadameDaubreuilspokeEnglishperfectly,andgenerallyusedthatlanguagewhentalkingtoM.andMadameRenauld.“Yousee,M.Jack,thesonofMonsieur,wasusuallyhere,andhespoketheFrenchverybadly.”
Themagistratedidnotinsist.Insteadheinquiredaboutthechauffeur,andlearnedthatonlyyesterday,M.Renauldhaddeclaredthathewasnotlikelytousethecar,andthatMastersmightjustaswelltakeaholiday.
AperplexedfrownwasbeginningtogatherbetweenPoirot’seyes.
“Whatisit?”Iwhispered.
Heshookhisheadimpatiently,andaskedaquestion:
“Pardon,M.Bex,butwithoutdoubtM
