Пуаро веде слідство
III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
Poirotrangthebellandmotionedustostandalittleaside.Therewasnoanswerandherangagainandthenseizedtheknockerwhichhepliedforsomeminutesvigorously.
Alightappearedsuddenlyabovethefanlight,andthedoorwasopenedcautiouslyalittleway.
“Whatthedevildoyouwant?”aman’svoicedemandedharshly.
“Iwantthedoctor.Mywifeistakenill.”
“There’snodoctorhere.”
Themanpreparedtoshutthedoor,butPoirotthrusthisfootinadroitly.HebecamesuddenlyaperfectcaricatureofaninfuriatedFrenchman.
“Whatyousay,thereisnodoctor?Iwillhavethelawofyou.Youmustcome!Iwillstayhereandringandknockallnight.”
“Mydearsir——”Thedoorwasopenedagain,theman,cladinadressing-gownandslippers,steppedforwardtopacifyPoirotwithanuneasyglanceround.
“Iwillcallthepolice.”
Poirotpreparedtodescendthesteps.
“No,don’tdothatforHeaven’ssake!”Themandashedafterhim.
WithaneatpushPoirotsenthimstaggeringdownthesteps.Inanotherminuteallthreeofuswereinsidethedooranditwaspushedtoandbolted.
“Quick—inhere.”Poirotledthewayintothenearestroomswitchingonthelightashedidso.“Andyou—behindthecurtain.”
“Si,signor,”saidtheItalianandslidrapidlybehindthefullfoldsofrose-colouredvelvetwhichdrapedtheembrasureofthewindow.
Notaminutetoosoon.Justashedisappearedfromviewawomanrushedintotheroom.Shewastallwithreddishhairandheldascarletkimonoroundherslenderform.
“Whereismyhusband?”shecried,withaquickfrightenedglance.
