Убийство на поле для гольфа
10. Gabriel Stonor
”
Poirotinterjectedaremark:
“M.Stonor,theEnglishchauffeur,Masters,hadhebeenlongwithM.Renauld?”
“Overayear?”
“HaveyouanyideawhetherhehaseverbeeninSouthAmerica?”
“I’mquitesurehehasn’t.BeforecomingtoMr.Renauld,hehadbeenformanyyearswithsomepeopleinGloucestershirewhomIknowwell.”
“Infact,youcananswerforhimasbeingabovesuspicion?”
“Absolutely.”
Poirotseemedsomewhatcrest-fallen.
MeanwhilethemagistratehadsummonedMarchaud.
“MycomplimentstoMadameRenauld,andIshouldbegladtospeaktoherforafewminutes.Beghernottodisturbherself.Iwillwaituponherupstairs.”
Marchaudsalutedanddisappeared.
Wewaitedsomeminutes,andthen,tooursurprise,thedooropened,andMrs.Renauld,deathlypaleinherheavymourning,enteredtheroom.
M.Hautetbroughtforwardachair,utteringvigorousprotestations,andshethankedhimwithasmile.Stonorwasholdingonehandofhersinhiswithaneloquentsympathy.Wordsevidentlyfailedhim.Mrs.RenauldturnedtoM.Hautet.
“Youwishedtoaskmesomething,M.lejuge.”
“Withyourpermission,madame.IunderstandyourhusbandwasaFrenchCanadianbybirth.Canyoutellmeanythingofhisyouth,orupbringing?”
Sheshookherhead.
“Myhusbandwasalwaysveryreticentabouthimself,monsieur.HecamefromtheNorthWest,Iknow,butIfancythathehadanunhappychildhood,forhenevercaredtospeakofthattime.Ourlifewaslivedentirelyinthepresentandthefuture.”
“Wasthereanymysteryinhispastlife?”
Mrs.Renauldsmiledalittle,andshookherhead
