Убийство на поле для гольфа
7. The Mysterious Madame Daubreuil
“Butwon’thethinkitveryodd?”
“Hewillnotthinkaboutitatall.”
Wecouldsaynomore,fortheoldmanhadjoinedus.
“Youwantmeforsomething,monsieur?”
“Yes.Youhavebeengardenerherealongtime,haven’tyou?”
“Twenty-fouryears,monsieur.”
“Andyournameis—?”
“Auguste,monsieur.”
“Iwasadmiringthesemagnificentgeraniums.Theyaretrulysuperb.Theyhavebeenplantedlong?”
“Sometime,monsieur.Butofcourse,tokeepthebedslookingsmart,onemustkeepbeddingoutafewnewplants,andremovethosethatareover,besideskeepingtheoldbloomswellpickedoff.”
“Youputinsomenewplantsyesterday,didn’tyou?Thoseinthemiddlethere,andintheotherbedalso?”
“Monsieurhasasharpeye.Ittakesalwaysadayorsoforthemto‘pickup.’Yes,Iputtennewplantsineachbedlastnight.AsMonsieurdoubtlessknows,oneshouldnotputinplantswhenthesunishot.”
AugustewascharmedwithPoirot’sinterest,andwasquiteinclinedtobegarrulous.
“Thatisasplendidspecimenthere,”saidPoirot,pointing.“MightIperhapshaveacuttingofit?”
“Butcertainly,monsieur.”Theoldfellowsteppedintothebed,andcarefullytookaslipfromtheplantPoirothadadmired.
Poirotwasprofuseinhisthanks,andAugustedepartedtohisbarrow.
“Yousee?”saidPoirotwithasmile,ashebentoverthebedtoexaminetheindentationofthegardener’shobnailedboot.“Itisquitesimple.”
“Ididnotrealize—”
“Thatthefootwouldbeinsidetheboot?Youdonotuseyourexcellentmentalcapacitiessufficiently.
