Пуаро ведёт следствие
II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
Bernardwasanelderlyman,high-shoulderedandstooping,withapleasantvaguenessofmanner.
Poirotintroducedhimselfandexplainedthepurposeofourvisit,addingthatInsuranceCompanieswereboundtoinvestigatefullyinacaseofthiskind.
“Ofcourse,ofcourse,”saidDr.Bernardvaguely.“Isuppose,ashewassucharichman,hislifewasinsuredforabigsum?”
“Youconsiderhimarichman,doctor?”
Thedoctorlookedrathersurprised.
“Washenot?Hekepttwocars,youknow,andMarsdonManorisaprettybigplacetokeepup,althoughIbelieveheboughtitverycheap.”
“Iunderstandthathehadhadconsiderablelossesoflate,”saidPoirot,watchingthedoctornarrowly.
Thelatter,however,merelyshookhisheadsadly.
“Isthatso?Indeed.Itisfortunateforhiswife,then,thatthereisthislifeinsurance.Averybeautifulandcharmingyoungcreature,butterriblyunstrungbythissadcatastrophe.Amassofnerves,poorthing.IhavetriedtospareherallIcan,butofcoursetheshockwasboundtobeconsiderable.”
“YouhadbeenattendingMr.Maltraversrecently?”
“Mydearsir,Ineverattendedhim.”
“What?”
“IunderstandMr.MaltraverswasaChristianScientist—orsomethingofthatkind.”
“Butyouexaminedthebody?”
“Certainly.Iwasfetchedbyoneoftheunder-gardeners.”
“Andthecauseofdeathwasclear?”
“Absolutely.Therewasbloodonthelips,butmostofthebleedingmusthavebeeninternal.”
“Washestilllyingwherehehadbeenfound?”
“Yes,thebodyhadnotbeentouched.Hewaslyingattheedgeofasmallplantation.
