Пуаро веде слідство
VI. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
MyhusbandmanagedtointeresthiminEgyptology,anditwashismoneythatwassousefulinfinancingtheexpedition.”
“Andthenephew?Whatdoyouknowofhistastes?Washewiththepartyatall?”
“Idonotthinkso.InfactIneverknewofhisexistencetillIreadofhisdeathinthepaper,IdonotthinkheandMr.Bleibnercanhavebeenatallintimate.Heneverspokeofhavinganyrelations.”
“Whoaretheothermembersoftheparty?”
“Well,thereisDr.Tosswill,aminorofficialconnectedwiththeBritishMuseum;Mr.SchneideroftheMetropolitanMuseuminNewYork;ayoungAmericansecretary;Dr.Ames,whoaccompaniestheexpeditioninhisprofessionalcapacity;andHassan,myhusband’sdevotednativeservant.”
“DoyourememberthenameoftheAmericansecretary?”
“Harper,Ithink,butIcannotbesure.HehadnotbeenwithMr.Bleibnerverylong,Iknow.Hewasaverypleasantyoungfellow.”
“Thankyou,LadyWillard.”
“Ifthereisanythingelse——?”
“Forthemoment,nothing.Leaveitnowinmyhands,andbeassuredthatIwilldoallthatishumanlypossibletoprotectyourson.”
Theywerenotexactlyreassuringwords,andIobservedLadyWillardwinceasheutteredthem.Yet,atthesametime,thefactthathehadnotpooh-poohedherfearsseemedinitselftobearelieftoher.
FormypartIhadneverbeforesuspectedthatPoirothadsodeepaveinofsuperstitioninhisnature.Itackledhimonthesubjectaswewenthomewards.Hismannerwasgraveandearnest.
“Butyes,Hastings.Ibelieveinthesethings.Youmustnotunderratetheforceofsuperstition.
