Убийство на поле для гольфа
7. The Mysterious Madame Daubreuil
Giraudhasshownclearlythathepreferstoconductthecaseinhisownway,”saidM.Hautetdryly.OnecouldseeeasilyenoughthatGiraud’scavaliertreatmentoftheexaminingmagistratehadnotprejudicedthelatterinhisfavour.Wesaidnomore,butfellintoline.Poirotwalkedwiththeexaminingmagistrate,andthecommissaryandIfollowedafewpacesbehind.
“ThereisnodoubtthatFrançoise’sstoryissubstantiallycorrect,”heremarkedtomeinaconfidentialtone.“Ihavebeentelephoningheadquarters.Itseemsthatthreetimesinthelastsixweeks—thatistosaysincethearrivalofM.RenauldatMerlinville—MadameDaubreuilhaspaidalargesuminnotesintoherbankingaccount.Altogetherthesumtotalstwohundredthousandfrancs!”
“Dearme,”Isaid,considering,“thatmustbesomethinglikefourthousandpounds!”
“Precisely.Yes,therecanbenodoubtthathewasabsolutelyinfatuated.Butitremainstobeseenwhetherheconfidedhissecrettoher.Theexaminingmagistrateishopeful,butIhardlysharehisviews.”
Duringthisconversationwewerewalkingdownthelanetowardstheforkintheroadwhereourcarhadhaltedearlierintheafternoon,andinanothermomentIrealizedthattheVillaMarguerite,thehomeofthemysteriousMadameDaubreuil,wasthesmallhousefromwhichthebeautifulgirlhademerged.
“Shehaslivedhereformanyyears,”saidthecommissary,noddinghisheadtowardsthehouse.“Veryquietly,veryunobtrusively.SheseemstohavenofriendsorrelationsotherthantheacquaintancesshehasmadeinMerlinville.
