Вбивство на поле для гольфу
2. An Appeal for Help
Onecounsel’squestioningbringsouttestimonyastotheresemblances,thedefencebringsevidencetoshowdissimilarity.Allthelanguageisverytechnical.Andtheresult?Whatweallknewinthefirstplace.ThewritingwasverylikethatofJohnCavendish.Andthepsychologicalmindisfacedwiththequestion‘Why?’Becauseitwasactuallyhis?Orbecausesomeonewishedustothinkitwashis?Iansweredthatquestion,monami,andanswereditcorrectly.”
AndPoirot,havingeffectuallysilenced,ifnotconvincedme,leanedbackwithasatisfiedair.
Ontheboat,Iknewbetterthantodisturbmyfriend’ssolitude.Theweatherwasgorgeous,andtheseaassmoothastheproverbialmill-pond,soIwashardlysurprisedtohearthatLaverguier’smethodhadoncemorejustifieditselfwhenasmilingPoirotjoinedmeondisembarkingatCalais.Adisappointmentwasinstoreforus,asnocarhadbeensenttomeetus,butPoirotputthisdowntohistelegramhavingbeendelayedintransit.
“Sinceitiscarteblanche,wewillhireacar,”hesaidcheerfully.Andafewminuteslatersawuscreakingandjoltingalong,inthemostramshackleofautomobilesthateverpliedforhire,inthedirectionofMerlinville.
Myspiritswereattheirhighest.
“Whatgorgeousair!”Iexclaimed.“Thispromisestobeadelightfultrip.”
“Foryou,yes.Forme,Ihaveworktodo,remember,atourjourney’send.”
“Bah!”Isaidcheerfully.“Youwilldiscoverall,ensurethisMr.Renauld’ssafety,runthewould-beassassinstoearth,andallwillfinishinablazeofglory.”
“Youaresanguine,myfriend.
