Убийство на поле для гольфа
4. The Letter Signed “Bella”
Onitwaswrittenininktheword“Duveen.”
“Bien,”saidBex.“Thischequewaspayableto,ordrawnby,onenamedDuveen.”
“Theformer,Ifancy,”saidPoirot,“for,ifIamnotmistaken,thehandwritingisthatofM.Renauld.”
Thatwassoonestablished,bycomparingitwithamemorandumfromthedesk.
“Dearme,”murmuredthecommissary,withacrestfallenair,“IreallycannotimaginehowIcametooverlookthis.”
Poirotlaughed.
“Themoralofthatis,alwayslookunderthemats!MyfriendHastingsherewilltellyouthatanythingintheleastcrookedisatormenttome.AssoonasIsawthatthehearth-rugwasoutofthestraight,Isaidtomyself:‘Tiens!Thelegofthechaircaughtitinbeingpushedback.PossiblytheremaybesomethingbeneathitwhichthegoodFrançoiseoverlooked.’ ”
“Françoise?”
“OrDenise,orLéonie.Whoeverdidthisroom.Sincethereisnodust,theroommusthavebeendonethismorning.Ireconstructtheincidentlikethis.Yesterday,possiblylastnight,M.RenaulddrewachequetotheorderofsomeonenamedDuveen.Afterwardsitwastornup,andscatteredonthefloor.Thismorning—”ButM.Bexwasalreadypullingimpatientlyatthebell.
Françoiseansweredit.Yes,therehadbeenalotofpiecesofpaperonthefloor.Whathadshedonewiththem?Puttheminthekitchenstoveofcourse!Whatelse?
Withagestureofdespair,Bexdismissedher.Then,hisfacelightening,herantothedesk.Inaminutehewashuntingthroughthedeadman’schequebook.Thenherepeatedhisformergesture.Thelastcounterfoilwasblank.
