Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter VIII. Fresh Suspicions
“Now,sir,”saidJapp,turningbrisklytoJohn,“Ishouldliketoseethelady’sbedroom,please,andafterthatI’llhavealittlechatwiththeservants.Don’tyoubotheraboutanything.Mr.Poirot,here,willshowmetheway.”
Astheyallwentoutoftheroom,Poirotturnedandmademeasigntofollowhimupstairs.Therehecaughtmebythearm,anddrewmeaside.
“Quick,gototheotherwing.Standthere—justthissideofthebaizedoor.DonotmovetillIcome.”Then,turningrapidly,herejoinedthetwodetectives.
Ifollowedhisinstructions,takingupmypositionbythebaizedoor,andwonderingwhatonearthlaybehindtherequest.WhywasItostandinthisparticularspotonguard?Ilookedthoughtfullydownthecorridorinfrontofme.Anideastruckme.WiththeexceptionofCynthiaMurdoch’s,everyone’sroomwasinthisleftwing.Hadthatanythingtodowithit?WasItoreportwhocameorwent?Istoodfaithfullyatmypost.Theminutespassed.Nobodycame.Nothinghappened.
ItmusthavebeenquitetwentyminutesbeforePoirotrejoinedme.
“Youhavenotstirred?”
“No,I’vestuckherelikearock.Nothing’shappened.”
“Ah!”Washepleased,ordisappointed?“You’veseennothingatall?”
“No.”
“Butyouhaveprobablyheardsomething?Abigbump—eh,monami?”
“No.”
“Isitpossible?Ah,butIamvexedwithmyself!Iamnotusuallyclumsy.
