Пуаро веде слідство
VI. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
Alsotheheat,itcausesmymoustachestobecomelimp—butlimp!”
“LookattheSphinx,”Iurged.“EvenIcanfeelthemysteryandthecharmitexhales.”
Poirotlookedatitdiscontentedly.
“Ithasnottheairhappy,”hedeclared.“Howcouldit,half-buriedinsandinthatuntidyfashion.Ah,thiscursedsand!”
“Come,now,there’salotofsandinBelgium,”Iremindedhim,mindfulofaholidayspentatKnocke-sur-merinthemidstof“lesdunesimpeccables”astheguide-bookhadphrasedit.
“NotinBrussels,”declaredPoirot.HegazedatthePyramidsthoughtfully.“Itistruethatthey,atleast,areofashapesolidandgeometrical,buttheirsurfaceisofanunevennessmostunpleasing.Andthepalm-treesIlikethemnot.Notevendotheyplanttheminrows!”
Icutshorthislamentations,bysuggestingthatweshouldstartforthecamp.Weweretoridethereoncamels,andthebeastswerepatientlykneeling,waitingforustomount,inchargeofseveralpicturesqueboysheadedbyavolubledragoman.
IpassoverthespectacleofPoirotonacamel.Hestartedbygroansandlamentationsandendedbyshrieks,gesticulationsandinvocationstotheVirginMaryandeverySaintinthecalendar.Intheend,hedescendedignominiouslyandfinishedthejourneyonadiminutivedonkey.Imustadmitthatatrottingcamelisnojokefortheamateur.Iwasstiffforseveraldays.
Atlastwenearedthesceneoftheexcavations.Asunburntmanwithagreybeard,inwhiteclothesandwearingahelmet,cametomeetus.
“MonsieurPoirotandCaptainHastings?Wereceivedyourcable.
