Пуаро ведёт следствие
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
It’sonlyfairtosaythatLowendeniesitutterly,andofcoursethewordofamanlikeKellettcan’tberelieduponintheslightest.It’swithintheboundsofpossibilitythathemetDavenheiminthelaneandrobbedandmurderedhim.”
Poirotshookhishead.
“Veryimprobable,monami.Hehadnomeansofdisposingofthebody.Itwouldhavebeenfoundbynow.Secondly,theopenwayinwhichhepawnedtheringmakesitunlikelythathedidmurdertogetit.Thirdly,yoursneak-thiefisrarelyamurderer.Fourthly,ashehasbeeninprisonsinceSaturday,itwouldbetoomuchofacoincidencethatheisabletogivesoaccurateadescriptionofLowen.”
Jappnodded.“Idon’tsayyou’renotright.Butallthesame,youwon’tgetajurytotakemuchnoteofajailbird’sevidence.WhatseemsoddtomeisthatLowencouldn’tfindaclevererwayofdisposingofthering.”
Poirotshruggedhisshoulders.“Well,afterall,ifitwerefoundintheneighbourhood,itmightbearguedthatDavenheimhimselfhaddroppedit.”
“Butwhyremoveitfromthebodyatall?”Icried.
“Theremightbeareasonforthat,”saidJapp.“Doyouknowthatjustbeyondthelake,alittlegateleadsoutontothehill,andnotthreeminutes’walkbringsyouto—whatdoyouthink?—alimekiln.”
“Goodheavens!”Icried.“Youmeanthatthelimewhichdestroyedthebodywouldbepowerlesstoaffectthemetalofthering?”
“Exactly.”
“Itseemstome,”Isaid,“thatthatexplainseverything.Whatahorriblecrime!”
BycommonconsentwebothturnedandlookedatPoirot.
