Пуаро ведёт следствие
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
Well,thatringwaspawnedinLondononSaturdaynightbyamancalledBillyKellett!He’salreadyknowntothepolice—didthreemonthslastautumnforliftinganoldgentleman’swatch.Itseemshetriedtopawntheringatnolessthanfivedifferentplaces,succeededatthelastone,gotgloriouslydrunkontheproceeds,assaultedapoliceman,andwasrunininconsequence.IwenttoBowStreetwithMillerandsawhim.He’ssoberenoughnow,andIdon’tmindadmittingweprettywellfrightenedthelifeoutofhim,hintinghemightbechargedwithmurder.Thisishisyarn,andaveryqueeroneitis.
“HewasatEntfieldracesonSaturday,thoughIdaresayscarfpinswashislineofbusiness,ratherthanbetting.Anyway,hehadabadday,andwasdownonhisluck.HewastrampingalongtheroadtoChingside,andsatdowninaditchtorestjustbeforehegotintothevillage.Afewminuteslaterhenoticedamancomingalongtheroadtothevillage,‘dark-complexionedgent,withabigmoustache,oneofthemcitytoffs,’ishisdescriptionoftheman.
“Kellettwashalfconcealedfromtheroadbyaheapofstones.Justbeforehegotabreastofhim,themanlookedquicklyupanddowntheroad,andseeingitapparentlydesertedhetookasmallobjectfromhispocketandthrewitoverthehedge.Thenhewentontowardsthestation.Now,theobjecthehadthrownoverthehedgehadfallenwithaslight‘chink’whicharousedthecuriosityofthehumanderelictintheditch.Heinvestigatedand,afterashortsearch,discoveredthering!ThatisKellett’sstory.
