Пуаро веде слідство
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
Danielsleansoutofthewindow,and,probablywiththeaidofaninstantaneousanæsthetic,suchasethylchloride,thechloroformtrickisrepeated.Inafewseconds,thetwohelplessmenaredraggedoutandtransferredtotheothercar,andapairofsubstitutestaketheirplaces.”
“Impossible!”
“Pasdutout!Haveyounotseenmusic-hallturnsimitatingcelebritieswithmarvellousaccuracy?Nothingiseasierthantopersonateapubliccharacter.ThePrimeMinisterofEnglandisfareasiertounderstudythanMr.JohnSmithofClapham,say.AsforO’Murphy’s‘double,’noonewasgoingtotakemuchnoticeofhimuntilafterthedepartureofthePrimeMinister,andbythenhewouldhavemadehimselfscarce.HedrivesstraightfromCharingCrosstothemeeting-placeofhisfriends.HegoesinasO’Murphy,heemergesassomeonequitedifferent.O’Murphyhasdisappeared,leavingaconvenientlysuspicioustrailbehindhim.”
“ButthemanwhopersonatedthePrimeMinisterwasseenbyeveryone!”
“Hewasnotseenbyanyonewhoknewhimprivatelyorintimately.AndDanielsshieldedhimfromcontactwithanyoneasmuchaspossible.Moreover,hisfacewasbandagedup,andanythingunusualinhismannerwouldbeputdowntothefactthathewassufferingfromshockasaresultoftheattemptuponhislife.Mr.MacAdamhasaweakthroat,andalwaysspareshisvoiceasmuchaspossiblebeforeanygreatspeech.ThedeceptionwasperfectlyeasytokeepupasfarasFrance.Thereitwouldbeimpracticableandimpossible—sothePrimeMinisterdisappears.
