Пуаро ведёт следствие
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
Rolf,alsoafilmactor.TheirmarriagehadtakenplaceaboutayearagointheStatesandthiswastheirfirstvisittoEngland.Theyhadbeengivenagreatreception.EveryonewaspreparedtogomadoverMaryMarvell,herwonderfulclothes,herfurs,herjewels,aboveallonejewel,thegreatdiamondwhichhadbeennicknamed,tomatchitsowner,“theWesternStar.”Much,trueanduntrue,hadbeenwrittenaboutthisfamousstonewhichwasreportedtobeinsuredfortheenormoussumoffiftythousandpounds.
AllthesedetailspassedrapidlythroughmymindasIjoinedwithPoirotingreetingourfairclient.
MissMarvellwassmallandslender,veryfairandgirlish-looking,withthewideinnocentblueeyesofachild.
Poirotdrewforwardachairforher,andshecommencedtalkingatonce.
“Youwillprobablythinkmeveryfoolish,MonsieurPoirot,butLordCronshawwastellingmelastnighthowwonderfullyyouclearedupthemysteryofhisnephew’sdeath,andIfeltthatIjustmusthaveyouradvice.Idaresayit’sonlyasillyhoax—Gregorysaysso—butit’sjustworryingmetodeath.”
Shepausedforbreath.Poirotbeamedencouragement.
“Proceed,Madame.Youcomprehend,Iamstillinthedark.”
“It’stheseletters.”MissMarvellunclaspedherhandbag,anddrewoutthreeenvelopeswhichshehandedtoPoirot.
Thelatterscrutinizedthemclosely.
“Cheappaper—thenameandaddresscarefullyprinted.Letusseetheinside.”Hedrewouttheenclosure.
Ihadjoinedhim,andwasleaningoverhisshoulder.Thewritingconsistedofasinglesentence,carefullyprintedliketheenvelope.
