Убийство на поле для гольфа
6. The Scene of the Crime
Icaninvestigatethismatterofthefootprintslater,”saidPoirotcheerfully.
Insteadoffollowingthedrivedowntothegate,M.Bexturnedupapaththatbranchedoffatrightangles.Itled,upaslightincline,roundtotherightofthehouse,andwasborderedoneithersidebyakindofshrubbery.Suddenlyitemergedintoalittleclearingfromwhichoneobtainedaviewofthesea.Aseathadbeenplacedhere,andnotfarfromitwasaratherramshackleshed.Afewstepsfurtheron,aneatlineofsmallbushesmarkedtheboundaryoftheVillagrounds.M.Bexpushedhiswaythroughtheseandwefoundourselvesonawidestretchofopendowns.Ilookedround,andsawsomethingthatfilledmewithastonishment.
“Why,thisisagolfcourse,”Icried.
Bexnodded.
“Thelimitsarenotcompletedyet,”heexplained.“Itishopedtobeabletoopenthemsometimenextmonth.Itwassomeofthemenworkingonthemwhodiscoveredthebodyearlythismorning.”
Igaveagasp.Alittletomyleft,whereforthemomentIhadoverlookedit,wasalongnarrowpit,andbyit,facedownwards,wasthebodyofaman!Foramoment,myheartgaveaterribleleap,andIhadawildfancythatthetragedyhadbeenduplicated.Butthecommissarydispelledmyillusionbymovingforwardwithasharpexclamationofannoyance:
“Whathavemypolicebeenabout?Theyhadstrictorderstoallownooneneartheplacewithoutpropercredentials!”
Themanonthegroundturnedhisheadoverhisshoulder.
“ButIhavepropercredentials,”heremarked,androseslowlytohisfeet.
“MydearM.Giraud,”criedthecommissary.
