Пуаро ведёт следствие
I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
Bonnemère,trèsfemme!”
“Yes,”Isaiddoubtfully,hardlysharingPoirot’sviewsonfemininity.“IsupposeitwasRolfwhosenthertheduplicateletters.”
“Pasdutout,”saidPoirotbriskly.“ShecamebytheadviceofMaryCavendishtoseekmyaidinherdilemma.ThensheheardthatMaryMarvell,whomsheknewtobeherenemy,hadbeenhere,andshechangedhermind,jumpingatapretextthatyou,myfriend,offeredher.Averyfewquestionssufficedtoshowmethatyoutoldheroftheletters,notsheyou!Shejumpedatthechanceyourwordsoffered.”
“Idon’tbelieveit,”Icried,stung.
“Si,si,monami,itisapitythatyoustudynotthepsychology.Shetoldyouthatthelettersweredestroyed?Oh,lala,neverdoesawomandestroyaletterifshecanavoidit!Notevenifitwouldbemoreprudenttodoso!”
“It’sallverywell,”Isaid,myangerrising,“butyou’vemadeaperfectfoolofme!Frombeginningtoend!No,it’sallverywelltotryandexplainitawayafterwards.Therereallyisalimit!”
“Butyouweresoenjoyingyourself,myfriend.Ihadnotthehearttoshatteryourillusions.”
“It’snogood.You’vegoneabittoofarthistime.”
“MonDieu!buthowyouenrageyourselffornothing,monami!”
“I’mfedup!”Iwentout,bangingthedoor.Poirothadmadeanabsolutelaughing-stockofme.Idecidedthatheneededasharplesson.IwouldletsometimeelapsebeforeIforgavehim.Hehadencouragedmetomakeaperfectfoolofmyself!
