Пуаро ведёт следствие
III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
“Whoareyou?”
Poirotsteppedforwardwithabow.
“Itistobehopedyourhusbandwillnotsufferfromachill.Iobservedthathehadslippersonhisfeet,andthathisdressing-gownwasawarmone.”
“Whoareyou?Whatareyoudoinginmyhouse?”
“Itistruethatnoneofushavethepleasureofyouracquaintance,madame.ItisespeciallytoberegrettedasoneofournumberhascomespeciallyfromNewYorkinordertomeetyou.”
ThecurtainspartedandtheItaliansteppedout.TomyhorrorIobservedthathewasbrandishingmyrevolver,whichPoirotmustdoubtlesshaveputdownthroughinadvertenceinthecab.
Thewomangaveapiercingscreamandturnedtofly,butPoirotwasstandinginfrontofthecloseddoor.
“Letmeby,”sheshrieked.“Hewillmurderme.”
“WhowasitdatcroakedLuigiValdarno?”askedtheItalianhoarsely,brandishingtheweapon,andsweepingeachoneofuswithit.Wedarednotmove.
“MyGod,Poirot,thisisawful.Whatshallwedo?”Icried.
“Youwillobligemebyrefrainingfromtalkingsomuch,Hastings.IcanassureyouthatourfriendwillnotshootuntilIgivetheword.”
“Yousesureo’dat,eh?”saidtheItalian,leeringunpleasantly.
ItwasmorethanIwas,butthewomanturnedtoPoirotlikeaflash.
“Whatisityouwant?”
Poirotbowed.
“IdonotthinkitisnecessarytoinsultMissElsaHardt’sintelligencebytellingher.”
Withaswiftmovement,thewomansnatchedupabigblackvelvetcatwhichservedasacoverforthetelephone.
“Theyarestitchedintheliningofthat.”
“Clever,”murmuredPoirotappreciatively.
