Пуаро ведёт следствие
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
Hadheanyenemies?”
“Hehadplentyoffinancialrivals,andnodoubttherearemanypeoplewhomhehasgotthebetterofwhobearhimnoparticulargood-will.Buttherewasnoonelikelytomakeawaywithhim—and,iftheyhad,whereisthebody?”
“Exactly.AsHastingssays,bodieshaveahabitofcomingtolightwithfatalpersistency.”
“Bytheway,oneofthegardenerssayshesawafiguregoingroundtothesideofthehousetowardtherose-garden.ThelongFrenchwindowofthestudyopensontotherose-garden,andMr.Davenheimfrequentlyenteredandleftthehousethatway.Butthemanwasagoodwayoff,atworkonsomecucumberframes,andcannotevensaywhetheritwasthefigureofhismasterornot.Also,hecannotfixthetimewithanyaccuracy.Itmusthavebeenbeforesix,asthegardenersceaseworkatthattime.”
“AndMr.Davenheimleftthehouse?”
“Abouthalf-pastfiveorthereabouts.”
“Whatliesbeyondtherose-garden?”
“Alake.”
“Withaboathouse?”
“Yes,acoupleofpuntsarekeptthere.Isupposeyou’rethinkingofsuicide,MonsieurPoirot?Well,Idon’tmindtellingyouthatMiller’sgoingdownto-morrowexpresslytoseethatpieceofwaterdragged.That’sthekindofmanheis!”
Poirotsmiledfaintly,andturnedtome.“Hastings,Iprayyou,handmethatcopyoftheDailyMegaphone.IfIrememberrightly,thereisanunusuallyclearphotographthereofthemissingman.”
Irose,andfoundthesheetrequired.Poirotstudiedthefeaturesattentively.
“H’m!”hemurmured.
