Пуаро веде слідство
VII. Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
”
Thebuxomdamewaddledacrosstotheliftbrisklyenough.Herhusband,whohadbeentalkingtome,lookedatPoirotinquiringly.
“Madameyourwifeissoamiableastoinsistonshowingmeherpearlnecklace,”explainedthelatter.
“Oh,thepearls!”Opalsensmiledinasatisfiedfashion.“Well,theyareworthseeing.Costaprettypennytoo!Still,themoney’sthereallright;IcouldgetwhatIpaidforthemanyday—perhapsmore.Mayhaveto,too,ifthingsgoonastheyarenow.Money’sconfoundedlytightintheCity.AllthisinfernalE.P.D.”Herambledon,launchingintotechnicalitieswhereIcouldnotfollowhim.
Hewasinterruptedbyasmallpage-boywhoapproachedandmurmuredsomethinginhisear.
“Eh—what?I’llcomeatonce.Nottakenill,isshe?Excuseme,gentlemen.”
Heleftusabruptly.PoirotleanedbackandlitoneofhistinyRussiancigarettes.Then,carefullyandmeticulously,hearrangedtheemptycoffee-cupsinaneatrow,andbeamedhappilyontheresult.
Theminutespassed.TheOpalsensdidnotreturn.
“Curious,”Iremarked,atlength.“Iwonderwhentheywillcomeback.”
Poirotwatchedtheascendingspiralsofsmoke,andthensaidthoughtfully:
“Theywillnotcomeback.”
“Why?”
“Because,myfriend,somethinghashappened.”
“Whatsortofthing?Howdoyouknow?”Iaskedcuriously.
Poirotsmiled.
“Afewmomentsagothemanagercamehurriedlyoutofhisofficeandranupstairs.Hewasmuchagitated.Thelift-boyisdeepintalkwithoneofthepages.Thelift-bellhasrungthreetimes,butheheedsitnot.
