Пуаро веде слідство
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
Inthiswayhewillquietthelady,whomightconceivablytellalltoherhusband,anaffairwhichwouldnotsuitourblackmaileratall,hewillhave£50,000insurancemoney(aha,youhadforgottenthat!),andhewillstillhavethediamond!AtthispointIputmyfingerinthepie.Thearrivalofadiamondexpertisannounced.LadyYardly,asIfeltsureshewould,immediatelyarrangesarobbery—anddoesitverywelltoo!ButHerculePoirot,heseesnothingbutfacts.Whathappensinactuality?Theladyswitchesoffthelight,bangsthedoor,throwsthenecklacedownthepassage,andscreams.Shehasalreadywrenchedoutthediamondwithpliersupstairs——”
“Butwesawthenecklaceroundherneck!”Iobjected.
“Idemandpardon,myfriend.Herhandconcealedthepartofitwherethegapwouldhaveshown.Toplaceapieceofsilkinthedoorbeforehandischild’splay!Ofcourse,assoonasRolfreadoftherobbery,hearrangedhisownlittlecomedy.Andverywellheplayedit!”
“Whatdidyousaytohim?”Iaskedwithlivelycuriosity.
“IsaidtohimthatLadyYardlyhadtoldherhusbandall,thatIwasempoweredtorecoverthejewel,andthatifitwerenotimmediatelyhandedoverproceedingswouldbetaken.Alsoafewmorelittlelieswhichoccurredtome.Hewasaswaxinmyhands!”
Iponderedthematter.
“ItseemsalittleunfaironMaryMarvell.Shehaslostherdiamondthroughnofaultofherown.”
“Bah!”saidPoirotbrutally.“Shehasamagnificentadvertisement.Thatisallshecaresfor,thatone!Nowtheother,sheisdifferent
