Пуаро веде слідство
III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
ElsaHardtandherhusband,orbrotherorwhateverhereallyis,comefromNewYork,andtakeaflatinthenameofMr.andMrs.Robinson.Suddenlytheylearnthatoneofthesesecretsocieties,theMafia,ortheCamorra,towhichdoubtlessLuigiValdarnobelonged,isontheirtrack.Whatdotheydo?Theyhitonaschemeoftransparentsimplicity.Evidentlytheyknewthattheirpursuerswerenotpersonallyacquaintedwitheitherofthem.Whatthencanbesimpler?Theyoffertheflatatanabsurdlylowrental.OfthethousandsofyoungcouplesinLondonlookingforflats,therecannotfailtobeseveralRobinsons.Itisonlyamatterofwaiting.IfyouwilllookatthenameofRobinsoninthetelephonedirectory,youwillrealizethatafair-hairedMrs.Robinsonwasprettysuretocomealongsoonerorlater.Thenwhatwillhappen?Theavengerarrives.Heknowsthename,heknowstheaddress.Hestrikes!Allisover,vengeanceissatisfied,andMissElsaHardthasescapedbytheskinofherteethoncemore.Bytheway,Hastings,youmustpresentmetotherealMrs.Robinson—thatdelightfulandtruthfulcreature!Whatwilltheythinkwhentheyfindtheirflathasbeenbrokeninto!Wemusthurryback.Ah,thatsoundslikeJappandhisfriendsarriving.”
Amightytattoosoundedontheknocker.
“Howdidyouknowthisaddress?”IaskedasIfollowedPoirotoutintothehall.“Oh,ofcourse,youhadthefirstMrs.Robinsonfollowedwhenshelefttheotherflat.”
“Alabonneheure,Hastings.Youuseyourgreycellsatlast.NowforalittlesurpriseforJapp
