Пуаро ведёт следствие
III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
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Softlyunboltingthedoor,hestuckthecat’sheadroundtheedgeandejaculatedapiercing“Miaow.”
TheScotlandYardinspector,whowasstandingoutsidewithanotherman,jumpedinspiteofhimself.
“Oh,it’sonlyMonsieurPoirotatoneofhislittlejokes!”heexclaimed,asPoirot’sheadfollowedthatofthecat.“Letusin,moosior.”
“Youhaveourfriendssafeandsound?”
“Yes,we’vegotthebirdsallright.Buttheyhadn’tgotthegoodswiththem.”
“Isee.Soyoucometosearch.Well,IamabouttodepartwithHastings,butIshouldliketogiveyoualittlelectureuponthehistoryandhabitsofthedomesticcat.”
“FortheLord’ssake,haveyougonecompletelybalmy?”
“Thecat,”declaimedPoirot,“wasworshippedbytheancientEgyptians.Itisstillregardedasasymbolofgoodluckifablackcatcrossesyourpath.Thiscatcrossedyourpathto-night,Japp.Tospeakoftheinteriorofanyanimaloranypersonisnot,Iknow,consideredpoliteinEngland.Buttheinteriorofthiscatisperfectlydelicate.Irefertothelining.”
Withasuddengrunt,thesecondmanseizedthecatfromPoirot’shand.
“Oh,Iforgottointroduceyou,”saidJapp.“Mr.Poirot,thisisMr.BurtoftheUnitedStatesSecretService.”
TheAmerican’strainedfingershadfeltwhathewaslookingfor.Heheldouthishand,andforamomentspeechfailedhim.Thenherosetotheoccasion.
“Pleasedtomeetyou,”saidMr.Burt.
