Пуаро веде слідство
II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
Maltravershadabeautifulyoungwife,anditissuggestedthathegottogetherallthereadymoneyhecouldforthepurposeofpayingthepremiumsonalifeinsuranceforhiswife’sbenefit,andthencommittedsuicide.Suchathingisnotuncommon.Inanycase,myfriendAlfredWright,whoisadirectoroftheNorthernUnion,hasaskedmetoinvestigatethefactsofthecase,but,asItoldhim,Iamnotveryhopefulofsuccess.Ifthecauseofthedeathhadbeenheartfailure,Ishouldhavebeenmoresanguine.HeartfailuremayalwaysbetranslatedastheinabilityofthelocalG.P.todiscoverwhathispatientreallydiddieof,butahæmorrhageseemsfairlydefinite.Still,wecanbutmakesomenecessaryinquiries.Fiveminutestopackyourbag,Hastings,andwewilltakeataxitoLiverpoolStreet.”
Aboutanhourlater,wealightedfromaGreatEasterntrainatthelittlestationofMarsdonLeigh.InquiriesatthestationyieldedtheinformationthatMarsdonManorwasaboutamiledistant.Poirotdecidedtowalk,andwebetookourselvesalongthemainstreet.
“Whatisourplanofcampaign?”Iasked.
“FirstIwillcalluponthedoctor.IhaveascertainedthatthereisonlyonedoctorinMarsdonLeigh,Dr.RalphBernard.Ah,hereweareathishouse.”
Thehouseinquestionwasakindofsuperiorcottage,standingbackalittlefromtheroad.Abrassplateonthegateborethedoctor’sname.Wepassedupthepathandrangthebell.
Weprovedtobefortunateinourcall.Itwasthedoctor’sconsultinghour,andforthemomenttherewerenopatientswaitingforhim.Dr.
