Пуаро веде слідство
V. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
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“GoodLord,Poirot!Doyouknow,I’dgiveaconsiderablesumofmoneytoseeyoumakeathoroughassofyourself—justforonce.You’resoconfoundedlyconceited!”
“Donotenrageyourself,Hastings.Inverity,Iobservethattherearetimeswhenyoualmostdetestme!Alas,Isufferthepenaltiesofgreatness!”
Thelittlemanpuffedouthischest,andsighedsocomicallythatIwasforcedtolaugh.
TuesdaysawusspeedingtoLiverpoolinafirst-classcarriageoftheL.&N.W.R.Poirothadobstinatelyrefusedtoenlightenmeastohissuspicions—orcertainties.HecontentedhimselfwithexpressingsurprisethatI,too,wasnotequallyaufaitwiththesituation.Idisdainedtoargue,andentrenchedmycuriositybehindarampartofpretendedindifference.
Oncearrivedatthequayalongsidewhichlaythebigtransatlanticliner,Poirotbecamebriskandalert.OurproceedingsconsistedininterviewingfoursuccessivestewardsandinquiringafterafriendofPoirot’swhohadcrossedtoNewYorkonthe23rd.
“Anelderlygentleman,wearingglasses.Agreatinvalid,hardlymovedoutofhiscabin.”
ThedescriptionappearedtotallywithoneMr.VentnorwhohadoccupiedthecabinC24whichwasnexttothatofPhilipRidgeway.AlthoughunabletoseehowPoirothaddeducedMr.Ventnor’sexistenceandpersonalappearance,Iwaskeenlyexcited.
“Tellme,”Icried,“wasthisgentlemanoneofthefirsttolandwhenyougottoNewYork?”Thestewardshookhishead.
“No,indeed,sir,hewasoneofthelastofftheboat.”
Iretiredcrestfallen,andobservedPoirotgrinningatme.
