Пуаро веде слідство
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
EarlyonSundaymorningthepolicewerecommunicatedwith,butcouldmakeneitherheadnortailofthematter.Mr.Davenheimseemedliterallytohavevanishedintothinair.Hehadnotbeentothepostoffice;norhadhebeenseenpassingthroughthevillage.Atthestationtheywerepositivehehadnotdepartedbyanytrain.Hisownmotorhadnotleftthegarage.Ifhehadhiredacartomeethiminsomelonelyspot,itseemsalmostcertainthatbythistime,inviewofthelargerewardofferedforinformation,thedriverofitwouldhavecomeforwardtotellwhatheknew.True,therewasasmallrace-meetingatEntfield,fivemilesaway,andifhehadwalkedtothatstationhemighthavepassedunnoticedinthecrowd.Butsincethenhisphotographandafulldescriptionofhimhavebeencirculatedineverynewspaper,andnobodyhasbeenabletogiveanynewsofhim.Wehave,ofcourse,receivedmanylettersfromalloverEngland,buteachclue,sofar,hasendedindisappointment.
“OnMondaymorningafurthersensationaldiscoverycametolight.BehindaportièreinMr.Davenheim’sstudystandsasafe,andthatsafehadbeenbrokenintoandrifled.Thewindowswerefastenedsecurelyontheinside,whichseemstoputanordinaryburglaryoutofcourt,unless,ofcourse,anaccomplicewithinthehousefastenedthemagainafterwards.Ontheotherhand,Sundayhavingintervened,andthehouseholdbeinginastateofchaos,itislikelythattheburglarywascommittedontheSaturday,andremainedundetecteduntilMonday.”
“Précisément,”saidPoirotdryly.“Well,ishearrested,cepauvreM.
