Пуаро ведёт следствие
VI. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb
Itmaynotyetbetheend.”
“Forwhomdoyoufear?”
“Formyson.Whenthenewsofmyhusband’sdeathcameIwasill.Myson,whohasjustcomedownfromOxford,wentoutthere.Hebroughtthe—thebodyhome,butnowhehasgoneoutagain,inspiteofmyprayersandentreaties.Heissofascinatedbytheworkthatheintendstotakehisfather’splaceandcarryonthesystemofexcavations.Youmaythinkmeafoolish,credulouswoman,but,MonsieurPoirot,Iamafraid.SupposingthatthespiritofthedeadKingisnotyetappeased?PerhapstoyouIseemtobetalkingnonsense——”
“No,indeed,LadyWillard,”saidPoirotquickly.“I,too,believeintheforceofsuperstition,oneofthegreatestforcestheworldhaseverknown.”
Ilookedathiminsurprise.IshouldneverhavecreditedPoirotwithbeingsuperstitious.Butthelittlemanwasobviouslyinearnest.
“WhatyoureallydemandisthatIshallprotectyourson?Iwilldomyutmosttokeephimfromharm.”
“Yes,intheordinaryway,butagainstanoccultinfluence?”
“InvolumesoftheMiddleAges,LadyWillard,youwillfindmanywaysofcounteractingblackmagic.Perhapstheyknewmorethanwemodernswithallourboastedscience.Nowletuscometofacts,thatImayhaveguidance.YourhusbandhadalwaysbeenadevotedEgyptologist,hadn’the?”
“Yes,fromhisyouthupwards.Hewasoneofthegreatestlivingauthoritiesuponthesubject.”
“ButMr.Bleibner,Iunderstand,wasmoreorlessofanamateur?”
“Oh,quite.Hewasaverywealthymanwhodabbledfreelyinanysubjectthathappenedtotakehisfancy.
