Пуаро веде слідство
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Butnow,thoughitmaybetoolate,Iwillsettoworktherightway,fromwithin.Silence,myfriends,Ibegofyou.”
Andforfivelonghoursthelittlemansatmotionless,blinkinghiseyelidslikeacat,hisgreeneyesflickeringandbecomingsteadilygreenerandgreener.TheScotlandYardmanwasobviouslycontemptuous,MajorNormanwasboredandimpatient,andImyselffoundthetimepasswithwearisomeslowness.
Finally,Igotup,andstrolledasnoiselesslyasIcouldtothewindow.Thematterwasbecomingafarce.Iwassecretlyconcernedformyfriend.Ifhefailed,Iwouldhavepreferredhimtofailinalessridiculousmanner.OutofthewindowIidlywatchedthedailyleaveboat,belchingforthcolumnsofsmoke,asshelayalongsidethequay.
SuddenlyIwasarousedbyPoirot’svoiceclosetomyelbow.
“Mesamis,letusstart!”
Iturned.Anextraordinarytransformationhadcomeovermyfriend.Hiseyeswereflickeringwithexcitement,hischestwasswelledtotheuttermost.
“Ihavebeenanimbecile,myfriends!ButIseedaylightatlast.”
MajorNormanmovedhastilytothedoor.“I’llorderthecar.”
“Thereisnoneed.Ishallnotuseit.ThankHeaventhewindhasfallen.”
“Doyoumeanyouaregoingtowalk,sir?”
“No,myyoungfriend.IamnoSt.Peter.Iprefertocrosstheseabyboat.”
“Tocrossthesea?”
“Yes.Toworkwithmethod,onemustbeginfromthebeginning.AndthebeginningofthisaffairwasinEngland.Therefore,wereturntoEngland.”
•••••••
Atthreeo’clock,westoodoncemoreuponCharingCrossplatform.
