Пуаро веде слідство
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
LordYardlystoodnear,smilingdownonthem.
“MonsieurPoirotandCaptainHastings,”announcedthebutler.
LadyYardlylookedupwithastart,herhusbandcameforwarduncertainly,hiseyesseekinginstructionfromPoirot.Thelittlemanwasequaltotheoccasion.
“Allmyexcuses!ItisthatIinvestigatestillthisaffairofMissMarvell’s.ShecomestoyouonFriday,doesshenot?Imakealittletourfirsttomakesurethatallissecure.AlsoIwantedtoaskofLadyYardlyifsherecollectedatallthepostmarksonthelettersshereceived?”
LadyYardlyshookherheadregretfully.“I’mafraidIdon’t.Itisstupidofme.But,yousee,Ineverdreamtoftakingthemseriously.”
“You’llstaythenight?”saidLordYardly.
“Oh,milord,Ifeartoincommodeyou.Wehaveleftourbagsattheinn.”
“That’sallright.”LordYardlyhadhiscue.“We’llsenddownforthem.No,no—notrouble,Iassureyou.”
Poirotpermittedhimselftobepersuaded,andsittingdownbyLadyYardly,begantomakefriendswiththechildren.Inashorttimetheywereallrompingtogether,andhaddraggedmeintothegame.
“Vousêtesbonnemère,”saidPoirot,withagallantlittlebow,asthechildrenwereremovedreluctantlybyasternnurse.
LadyYardlysmoothedherruffledhair.
“Iadorethem,”shesaidwithalittlecatchinhervoice.
“Andtheyyou—withreason!”Poirotbowedagain.
Adressing-gongsounded,andwerosetogouptoourrooms.AtthatmomentthebutlerenteredwithatelegramonasalverwhichhehandedtoLordYardly.Thelattertoreitopenwithabriefwordofapology.
