Вбивство на поле для гольфу
10. Gabriel Stonor
You’rebarkingupthewrongtree.IknewPaulRenauld.Whatyou’vejustbeensayingisutterlyimpossible.There’ssomeotherexplanation.”
Themagistrateshruggedhisshoulders.
“Whatotherexplanationcouldtherebe?”
“Whatleadsyoutothinkitwasaloveaffair?”
“MadameDaubreuilwasinthehabitofvisitinghimhereintheevenings.Also,sinceM.RenauldcametotheVillaGeneviève,MadameDaubreuilhaspaidlargesumsofmoneyintothebankinnotes.Inall,theamounttotalsfourthousandpoundsofyourEnglishmoney.”
“Iguessthat’sright,”saidStonorquietly.“Itransmittedhimthosesumsathisrequest.Butitwasn’tanintrigue.”
“Eh!monDieu!Whatelsecoulditbe?”
“Blackmail,”saidStonorsharply,bringingdownhishandwithaslamonthetable.“That’swhatitwas.”
“Ah!Voilàuneidée!”criedthemagistrate,shakeninspiteofhimself.
“Blackmail,”repeatedStonor.“Theoldmanwasbeingbled—andatagoodratetoo.Fourthousandinacoupleofmonths.Whew!ItoldyoujustnowtherewasamysteryaboutRenauld.EvidentlythisMadameDaubreuilknewenoughofittoputthescrewson.”
“Itispossible,”thecommissarycriedexcitedly.“Decidedly,itispossible.”
“Possible?”roaredStonor.“It’scertain!Tellme,haveyouaskedMrs.Renauldaboutthisloveaffairstuntofyours?”
“No,monsieur.Wedidnotwishtooccasionheranydistressifitcouldreasonablybeavoided.”
“Distress?Why,she’dlaughinyourface.Itellyou,sheandRenauldwereacoupleinahundred.
