Пуаро ведёт следствие
VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
“ThisisCaptainLyall,whowillflyyouovertoFrance.Hecanstartatonce.”
“Wrapupwarmly,sir,”saidtheyoungpilot.“Icanlendyouacoat,ifyoulike.”
Poirotwasconsultinghisenormouswatch.Hemurmuredtohimself:“Yes,thereistime—justtime.”Thenhelookedup,andbowedpolitelytotheyoungofficer.“Ithankyou,monsieur.ButitisnotIwhoamyourpassenger.Itisthisgentlemanhere.”
Hemovedalittleasideashespoke,andafigurecameforwardoutofthedarkness.Itwasthesecondmaleprisonerwhohadgoneintheothercar,andasthelightfellonhisface,Igaveagaspofsurprise.
ItwasthePrimeMinister!
•••••••
“ForHeaven’ssake,tellmeallaboutit,”Icriedimpatiently,asPoirot,Norman,andImotoredbacktoLondon.“HowintheworlddidtheymanagetosmugglehimbacktoEngland?”
“Therewasnoneedtosmugglehimback,”repliedPoirotdryly.“ThePrimeMinisterhasneverleftEngland.HewaskidnappedonhiswayfromWindsortoLondon.”
“What?”
“Iwillmakeallclear.ThePrimeMinisterwasinhiscar,hissecretarybesidehim.Suddenlyapadofchloroformisclappedonhisface——”
“Butbywhom?”
“BythecleverlinguisticCaptainDaniels.AssoonasthePrimeMinisterisunconscious,Danielspicksupthespeaking-tube,anddirectsO’Murphytoturntotheright,whichthechauffeur,quiteunsuspicious,does.Afewyardsdownthatunfrequentedroad,alargecarisstanding,apparentlybrokendown.ItsdriversignalstoO’Murphytostop.O’Murphyslowsup.Thestrangerapproaches.
