Пуаро веде слідство
IV. The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge
Youhavedonesomewonderfulthingstogether,haven’tyou?Itwasverycleverofmyhusbandtogetyousopromptly.Nowwillyouaskmequestions?Thatistheeasiestway,isn’tit,ofgettingtoknowallyouwanttoaboutthisdreadfulaffair?”
“Thankyou,Mrs.Havering.Nowwhattimewasitthatthismanarrived?”
“Itmusthavebeenjustbeforenineo’clock.Wehadfinisheddinner,andweresittingoverourcoffeeandcigarettes.”
“YourhusbandhadalreadyleftforLondon?”
“Yes,hewentupbythe6.15.”
“Didhegobycartothestation,ordidhewalk?”
“Ourowncarisn’tdownhere.OnecameoutfromthegarageinElmer’sDaletofetchhimintimeforthetrain.”
“WasMr.Pacequitehisusualself?”
“Absolutely.Mostnormalineveryway.”
“Now,canyoudescribethisvisitoratall?”
“I’mafraidnot.Ididn’tseehim.Mrs.Middletonshowedhimstraightintothegun-roomandthencametotellmyuncle.”
“Whatdidyourunclesay?”
“Heseemedratherannoyed,butwentoffatonce.ItwasaboutfiveminuteslaterthatIheardthesoundofraisedvoices.IranoutintothehallandalmostcollidedwithMrs.Middleton.Thenweheardtheshot.Thegun-roomdoorwaslockedontheinside,andwehadtogorightroundthehousetothewindow.Ofcoursethattooksometime,andthemurdererhadbeenabletogetwellaway.Mypooruncle”—hervoicefaltered—“hadbeenshotthroughthehead.Isawatoncethathewasdead.IsentMrs.Middletonforthepolice.IwascarefultotouchnothingintheroombuttoleaveitexactlyasIfoundit.”
Inoddedapproval.
