Убийство на поле для гольфа
4. The Letter Signed “Bella”
Abusinesslikewritingdesk,withmanypigeonholes,stoodinthewindow.Twolargeleather-coveredarmchairsfacedthefireplace,andbetweenthemwasaroundtablecoveredwiththelatestbooksandmagazines.Bookshelveslinedtwoofthewalls,andattheendoftheroomoppositethewindowtherewasahandsomeoaksideboardwithatantalusontop.Thecurtainsandportièrewereofasoftdullgreen,andthecarpetmatchedthemintone.
Poirotstoodamomenttalkingintheroom,thenhesteppedforward,passedhishandlightlyoverthebacksoftheleatherchairs,pickedupamagazinefromthetable,anddrewafingergingerlyoverthesurfaceoftheoaksideboard.Hisfaceexpressedcompleteapproval.
“Nodust?”Iasked,withasmile.
Hebeamedonme,appreciativeofmyknowledgeofhispeculiarities.
“Notaparticle,monami!Andforonce,perhaps,itisapity.”
Hissharp,birdlikeeyesdartedhereandthere.
“Ah!”heremarkedsuddenly,withanintonationofrelief.“Thehearth-rugiscrooked,”andhebentdowntostraightenit.
Suddenlyheutteredanexclamationandrose.Inhishandheheldasmallfragmentofpaper.
“InFrance,asinEngland,”heremarked,“thedomesticsomittosweepunderthemats!”
Bextookthefragmentfromhim,andIcameclosertoexamineit.
“Yourecognizeit—eh,Hastings?”
Ishookmyhead,puzzled—andyetthatparticularshadeofpinkpaperwasveryfamiliar.
Thecommissary’smentalprocesseswerequickerthanmine.
“Afragmentofacheque,”heexclaimed.
Thepieceofpaperwasroughlyabouttwoinchessquare.
