Пуаро веде слідство
II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
“MyolduncleinScotlanddiedunexpectedlyandleftmesomemoney.UnderthecircumstancesIthoughtitbettertocancelmypassage.ThenIsawthisbadnewsinthepaperandIcamedowntoseeiftherewasanythingIcoulddo.You’llwantsomeonetolookafterthingsforyouabitperhaps.”
Atthatmomenttheybecameawareofourpresence.Poirotsteppedforward,andwithmanyapologiesexplainedthathehadlefthisstickinthehall.Ratherreluctantly,itseemedtome,Mrs.Maltraversmadethenecessaryintroduction.
“MonsieurPoirot,CaptainBlack.”
Afewminutes’chatensued,inthecourseofwhichPoirotelicitedthefactthatCaptainBlackwasputtingupattheAnchorInn.Themissingsticknothavingbeendiscovered(whichwasnotsurprising),Poirotutteredmoreapologiesandwewithdrew.
Wereturnedtothevillageatagreatpace,andPoirotmadeabeelinefortheAnchorInn.
“HereweestablishourselvesuntilourfriendtheCaptainreturns,”heexplained.“YounoticethatIemphasizedthepointthatwewerereturningtoLondonbythefirsttrain?PossiblyyouthoughtImeantit.Butno—youobservedMrs.Maltravers’facewhenshecaughtsightofthisyoungBlack?Shewasclearlytakenaback,andhe—ehbien,hewasverydevoted,didyounotthinkso?AndhewashereonTuesdaynight—thedaybeforeMr.Maltraversdied.WemustinvestigatethedoingsofCaptainBlack,Hastings.”
Inabouthalfanhourweespiedourquarryapproachingtheinn.Poirotwentoutandaccostedhimandpresentlybroughthimuptotheroomwehadengaged.
