Убийство на поле для гольфа
11. Jack Renauld
“Ah,anargument!Inthecourseofthatargumentdidyouusethisphrase:‘Whenyouaredead,IcandoasIplease?’ ”
“Imayhavedone,”mutteredtheother.“Idon’tknow.”
“Inresponsetothat,didyourfathersay:‘ButIamnotdeadyet!’Towhichyouresponded:‘Iwishyouwere!’ ”
Theboymadenoanswer.Hishandsfiddlednervouslywiththethingsonthetableinfrontofhim.
“Imustrequestananswer,please,M.Renauld,”saidGiraudsharply.
Withanangryexclamation,theboysweptaheavypaper-knifeontothefloor.
“Whatdoesitmatter?Youmightaswellknow.Yes,Ididquarrelwithmyfather.IdaresayIsaidallthosethings—IwassoangryIcannotevenrememberwhatIsaid!Iwasfurious—Icouldalmosthavekilledhimatthatmoment—there,makethemostofthat!”Heleantbackinhischair,flushedanddefiant.
Giraudsmiled,then,movinghischairbackalittle,said:
“Thatisall.Youwould,withoutdoubt,prefertocontinuetheinterrogatory,M.lejuge.”
“Ah,yes,exactly,”saidM.Hautet.“Andwhatwasthesubjectofyourquarrel?”
“Ideclinetostate.”
M.Hautetsatupinhischair.
“M.Renauld,itisnotpermittedtotriflewiththelaw!”hethundered.“Whatwasthesubjectofthequarrel?”
YoungRenauldremainedsilent,hisboyishfacesullenandovercast.Butanothervoicespoke,imperturbableandcalm,thevoiceofHerculePoirot.
“Iwillinformyou,ifyoulike,M.lejuge.”
“Youknow?”
“CertainlyIknow.ThesubjectofthequarrelwasMademoiselleMartheDaubreuil.”
Renauldspranground,startled.
