Убийство на поле для гольфа
8. An Unexpected Meeting
IexplainedtoCinderellajusthowthediscoveryhadbeenmade,andshelistenedattentively,sometimesputtinganintelligentquestion.ThenweturnedourstepsinthedirectionoftheVilla.Iproceededrathercautiously,for,truthtotell,Iwasnotatallanxioustomeetanyone.Itookthegirlthroughtheshrubberyroundtothebackofthehousewherethesmallshedwas.Irecollectedthatyesterdayevening,afterrelockingthedoor,M.BexhadleftthekeywiththesergentdevilleMarchaud,“incaseM.Giraudshouldrequireitwhileweareupstairs.”IthoughtitquitelikelythattheSûretédetective,afterusingit,hadreturnedittoMarchaudagain.Leavingthegirloutofsightintheshrubbery,Ienteredthehouse.Marchaudwasondutyoutsidethedoorofthesalon.Fromwithincamethemurmurofvoices.
“MonsieurdesiresHautet?Heiswithin.HeisagaininterrogatingFrançoise.”
“No,”Isaidhastily,“Idon’twanthim.ButIshouldverymuchlikethekeyoftheshedoutsideifitisnotagainstregulations.”
“Butcertainly,monsieur.”Heproducedit.“Hereitis.M.lejugegaveordersthatallfacilitiesweretobeplacedatyourdisposal.Youwillreturnittomewhenyouhavefinishedoutthere,thatisall.”
“Ofcourse.”
IfeltathrillofsatisfactionasIrealizedthatinMarchaud’seyes,atleast,IrankedequallyinimportancewithPoirot.Thegirlwaswaitingforme.Shegaveanexclamationofdelightasshesawthekeyinmyhand.
“You’vegotitthen?”
“Ofcourse,”Isaidcoolly.“Allthesame,youknow,whatI’mdoingishighlyirregular.
