Пуаро веде слідство
V. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
PhilipRidgewaywastherebeforeus,andlookedsomewhatsurprisedtoseehisfiancéearrivingwithtwocompletestrangers.Hewasanice-lookingyoungfellow,tallandspruce,withatouchofgreyinghairatthetemples,thoughhecouldnothavebeenmuchoverthirty.
MissFarquharwentuptohimandlaidherhandonhisarm.
“Youmustforgivemyactingwithoutconsultingyou,Philip,”shesaid.“LetmeintroduceyoutoMonsieurHerculePoirot,ofwhomyoumustoftenhaveheard,andhisfriend,CaptainHastings.”
Ridgewaylookedveryastonished.
“OfcourseIhaveheardofyou,MonsieurPoirot,”hesaid,asheshookhands.“ButIhadnoideathatEsméewasthinkingofconsultingyouaboutmy—ourtrouble.”
“Iwasafraidyouwouldnotletmedoit,Philip,”saidMissFarquharmeekly.
“Soyoutookcaretobeonthesafeside,”heobserved,withasmile.“IhopeMonsieurPoirotwillbeabletothrowsomelightonthisextraordinarypuzzle,forIconfessfranklythatIamnearlyoutofmymindwithworryandanxietyaboutit.”
Indeed,hisfacelookeddrawnandhaggardandshowedonlytooclearlythestrainunderwhichhewaslabouring.
“Well,well,”saidPoirot.“Letuslunch,andoverlunchwewillputourheadstogetherandseewhatcanbedone.IwanttohearMr.Ridgeway’sstoryfromhisownlips.”
Whilstwediscussedtheexcellentsteakandkidneypuddingoftheestablishment,PhilipRidgewaynarratedthecircumstancesleadingtothedisappearanceofthebonds.HisstoryagreedwiththatofMissFarquharineveryparticular.
