Пуаро ведёт следствие
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
”
“Well,youcan’tdenythatheliedaboutneverhavingleftthestudy?”
“No.Buthemayhavebeenfrightened.Remember,themissingman’sclotheshadjustbeendiscoveredinthelake.Ofcourse,asusual,hewouldhavedonebettertospeakthetruth.”
“Andthefourthpoint?”
“Igrantyouthat.IfKellett’sstoryistrue,Lowenisundeniablyimplicated.Thatiswhatmakestheaffairsoveryinteresting.”
“ThenIdidappreciateonevitalfact?”
“Perhaps—butyouhaveentirelyoverlookedthetwomostimportantpoints,theoneswhichundoubtedlyholdthecluetothewholematter.”
“Andpray,whatarethey?”
“One,thepassionwhichhasgrownuponMr.Davenheiminthelastfewyearsforbuyingjewellery.Two,histriptoBuenosAyreslastautumn.”
“Poirot,youarejoking!”
“Iammostserious.Ah,sacredthunder,butIhopeJappwillnotforgetmylittlecommission.”
Butthedetective,enteringintothespiritofthejoke,hadremembereditsowellthatatelegramwashandedtoPoirotabouteleveno’clockthenextday.AthisrequestIopeneditandreaditout:
“‘Husbandandwifehaveoccupiedseparateroomssincelastwinter.’”
“Aha!”criedPoirot.“AndnowweareinmidJune!Allissolved!”
Istaredathim.
“YouhavenomoneysinthebankofDavenheimandSalmon,monami?”
“No,”Isaid,wondering.“Why?”
“BecauseIshouldadviseyoutowithdrawit—beforeitistoolate.”
“Why,whatdoyouexpect?”
“Iexpectabigsmashinafewdays—perhapssooner.Whichremindsme,wewillreturnthecomplimentofadépêchetoJapp.
