Убийство на поле для гольфа
7. The Mysterious Madame Daubreuil
Forinstance,iftheobjectofthemurdererswasrevenge,whydidtheynotstabRenauldinhissleepandhavedonewithit?”
“Theywantedthe‘secret,’ ”Iremindedhim.
Poirotbrushedaspeckofdustfromhissleevewithadissatisfiedair.
“Well,whereisthis‘secret’?Presumablysomedistanceaway,sincetheywishhimtodresshimself.Yetheisfoundmurderedcloseathand,almostwithinear-shotofthehouse.Thenagain,itispurechancethataweaponsuchasthedaggershouldbelyingaboutcasually,readytohand.”
Hepausedfrowning,andthenwenton:
“Whydidtheservantshearnothing?Weretheydrugged?Wasthereanaccompliceanddidthataccompliceseetoitthatthefrontdoorshouldremainopen?Iwonderif—”
Hestoppedabruptly.Wehadreachedthedriveinfrontofthehouse.Suddenlyheturnedtome.
“Myfriend,Iamabouttosurpriseyou—topleaseyou!Ihavetakenyourreproachestoheart!Wewillexaminesomefootprints!”
“Where?”
“Inthatright-handbedyonder.M.Bexsaysthattheyarethefootmarksofthegardener.Letusseeifthatisso.See,heapproacheswithhiswheelbarrow.”
Indeedanelderlymanwasjustcrossingthedrivewithabarrowfulofseedlings.Poirotcalledtohim,andhesetdownthebarrowandcamehobblingtowardsus.
“Youaregoingtoaskhimforoneofhisbootstocomparewiththefootmarks?”Iaskedbreathlessly.MyfaithinPoirotrevivedalittle.Sincehesaidthefootprintsinthisright-handbedwereimportant,presumablytheywere.
“Exactly,”saidPoirot.
