Убийство на поле для гольфа
11. Jack Renauld
Themagistrateleanedforward.
“Isthisso,monsieur.”
JackRenauldbowedhishead.
“Yes,”headmitted.“IloveMademoiselleDaubreuil,andIwishtomarryher.WhenIinformedmyfatherofthefact,heflewatonceintoaviolentrage.NaturallyIcouldnotstandhearingthegirlIlovedinsulted,andI,too,lostmytemper.”
M.HautetlookedacrossatMrs.Renauld.
“Youwereawareofthis—attachment,madame.”
“Ifearedit,”sherepliedsimply.
“Mother,”criedtheboy.“Youtoo!Martheisasgoodassheisbeautiful.Whatcanyouhaveagainsther?”
“IhavenothingagainstMademoiselleDaubreuilinanyway.ButIshouldpreferyoutomarryanEnglishwoman,orifaFrenchwomannotonewhohasamotherofdoubtfulantecedents!”
Herrancouragainsttheolderwomanshowedplainlyinhervoice,andIcouldwellunderstandthatitmusthavebeenabitterblowtoherwhenheronlysonshowedsignsoffallinginlovewiththedaughterofherrival.
Mrs.Renauldcontinued,addressingthemagistrate:
“Iought,perhaps,tohavespokentomyhusbandonthesubject,butIhopedthatitwasonlyaboyandgirlflirtationwhichwouldblowoverallthequickerifnonoticewastakenofit.Iblamemyselfnowformysilence,butmyhusband,asItoldyou,hadseemedsoanxiousandcare-worn,differentaltogetherfromhisnormalself,thatIwaschieflyconcernednottogivehimanyadditionalworry.”
M.Hautetnodded.
“WhenyouinformedyourfatherofyourintentionstowardsMademoiselleDaubreuil,”heresumed,“hewassurprised?”
“Heseemedcompletelytakenaback.
