Вбивство на поле для гольфу
14. The Second Body
”
Hestoodthereforamoment,thenwithanimperativegesturehewavedmeaside,andoncemore,onhandsandknees,hecontinuedhissearchoftheflooroftheshed.Hewasmarvellous.Nothingescapedhim.Inchbyinchhewentoverthefloor,turningoverpots,examiningoldsacks.Hepouncedonabundlebythedoor,butitprovedtobeonlyaraggedcoatandtrousers,andheflungitdownagainwithasnarl.Twopairsofoldglovesinterestedhim,butintheendheshookhisheadandlaidthemaside.Thenhewentbacktothepots,methodicallyturningthemoveronebyone.Intheend,herosetohisfeet,andshookhisheadthoughtfully.Heseemedbaffledandperplexed.Ithinkhehadforgottenmypresence.
But,atthatmoment,astirandbustlewasheardoutside,andouroldfriend,theexaminingmagistrate,accompaniedbyhisclerkandM.Bex,withthedoctorbehindhim,camebustlingin.
“Butthisisextraordinary,Mr.Giraud,”criedM.Hautet.“Anothercrime!Ah,wehavenotgottothebottomofthiscase.Thereissomedeepmysteryhere.Butwhoisthevictimthistime?”
“Thatisjustwhatnobodycantellus,M.lejuge.Hehasnotbeenidentified.”
“Whereisthebody?”askedthedoctor.
Giraudmovedasidealittle.
“Thereinthecorner.Hehasbeenstabbedtotheheart,asyousee.Andwiththedaggerthatwasstolenyesterdaymorning.Ifancythatthemurderfollowedharduponthetheft—butthatisforyoutosay.Youcanhandlethedaggerfreely—therearenofinger-printsonit.”
Thedoctorkneltdownbythedeadman,andGiraudturnedtotheexaminingmagistrate
