Пуаро веде слідство
V. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
Whenhehadfinished,Poirottookupthethreadwithaquestion.
“Whatexactlyledyoutodiscoverthatthebondshadbeenstolen,Mr.Ridgeway?”
Helaughedratherbitterly.
“Thethingstaredmeintheface,MonsieurPoirot.Icouldn’thavemissedit.Mycabintrunkwashalfoutfromunderthebunkandallscratchedandcutaboutwherethey’dtriedtoforcethelock.”
“ButIunderstoodthatithadbeenopenedwithakey?”
“That’sso.Theytriedtoforceit,butcouldn’t.And,intheend,theymusthavegotitunlockedsomehoworother.”
“Curious,”saidPoirot,hiseyesbeginningtoflickerwiththegreenlightIknewsowell.“Verycurious!Theywastemuch,muchtimetryingtopriseitopen,andthen—sapristi!theyfindthattheyhavethekeyallthetime—foreachofHubbs’slocksareunique.”
“That’sjustwhytheycouldn’thavehadthekey.Itneverleftmedayornight.”
“Youaresureofthat?”
“Icansweartoit,andbesides,iftheyhadhadthekeyoraduplicate,whyshouldtheywastetimetryingtoforceanobviouslyunforceablelock?”
“Ah!thereisexactlythequestionweareaskingourselves!Iventuretoprophesythatthesolution,ifweeverfindit,willhingeonthatcuriousfact.IbegofyounottoassaultmeifIaskyouonemorequestion:Areyouperfectlycertainyoudidnotleavethetrunkunlocked?”
PhilipRidgewaymerelylookedathim,andPoirotgesticulatedapologetically.
“Ah,butthesethingscanhappen,Iassureyou!Verywell,thebondswerestolenfromthetrunk.
