Пуаро веде слідство
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
TheFrenchpoliceandourownScotlandYardmen,andthemilitaryarestrainingeverynerve.Itis,asyousay,incredible—butnothinghasbeendiscovered!”
Atthatmomentatapcameatthedoor,andayoungofficerenteredwithaheavilysealedenvelopewhichhehandedtoLordEstair.
“JustthroughfromFrance,sir.Ibroughtitonhere,asyoudirected.”
TheMinistertoreitopeneagerly,andutteredanexclamation.Theofficerwithdrew.
“Hereisnewsatlast!Thistelegramhasjustbeendecoded.Theyhavefoundthesecondcar,alsothesecretary,Daniels,chloroformed,gagged,andbound,inanabandonedfarmnearC——.Heremembersnothing,exceptsomethingbeingpressedagainsthismouthandnosefrombehind,andstrugglingtofreehimself.Thepolicearesatisfiedastothegenuinenessofhisstatement.”
“Andtheyhavefoundnothingelse?”
“No.”
“NotthePrimeMinister’sdeadbody?Then,thereishope.Butitisstrange.Why,aftertryingtoshoothimthismorning,aretheynowtakingsomuchtroubletokeephimalive?”
Dodgeshookhishead.“Onething’squitecertain.They’redeterminedatallcoststopreventhisattendingtheConference.”
“Ifitishumanlypossible,thePrimeMinistershallbethere.Godgrantitisnottoolate.Now,messieurs,recounttomeeverything—fromthebeginning.Imustknowaboutthisshootingaffairaswell.”
“Lastnight,thePrimeMinister,accompaniedbyoneofhissecretaries,CaptainDaniels——”
“ThesamewhoaccompaniedhimtoFrance?”
“Yes.
