Пуаро веде слідство
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
“IunderstandthatIhavecarteblanche,messieurs—ineveryway,Imean?ImustbeabletogowhereIchoose,andhowIchoose.”
“Perfectly.ThereisaspecialtrainleavingforDoverinanhour’stime,withafurthercontingentfromScotlandYard.YoushallbeaccompaniedbyaMilitaryofficerandaC.I.D.man,whowillholdthemselvesatyourdisposalineveryway.Isthatsatisfactory?”
“Quite.Onemorequestionbeforeyouleave,messieurs.Whatmadeyoucometome?Iamunknown,obscure,inthisgreatLondonofyours.”
“Wesoughtyououtontheexpressrecommendationandwishofaverygreatmanofyourowncountry.”
“Comment?MyoldfriendthePréfet——?”
LordEstairshookhishead.
“OnehigherthanthePréfet.OnewhosewordwasoncelawinBelgium—andshallbeagain!ThatEnglandhassworn!”
Poirot’shandflewswiftlytoadramaticsalute.“Amentothat!Ah,butmyMasterdoesnotforget....Messieurs,I,HerculePoirot,willserveyoufaithfully.Heavenonlysendthatitwillbeintime.Butthisisdark—dark....Icannotsee.”
“Well,Poirot,”Icriedimpatiently,asthedoorclosedbehindtheMinisters,“whatdoyouthink?”
Myfriendwasbusypackingaminutesuitcase,withquick,deftmovements.Heshookhisheadthoughtfully.
“Idonotknowwhattothink.Mybrainsdesertme.”
“Why,asyousaid,kidnaphim,whenaknockontheheadwoulddoaswell?”Imused.
“Pardonme,monami,butIdidnotquitesaythat.Itisundoubtedlyfarmoretheiraffairtokidnaphim.”
“Butwhy?”
“Becauseuncertaintycreatespanic.Thatisonereason.
