Пуаро ведёт следствие
V. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
Everyoneassertstheincredibilityofitsbeingsmuggledashore——”
“Yes,butweknow——”
“Youmayknow,Hastings.Idonot.Itaketheviewthat,sinceitseemedincredible,itwasincredible.Twopossibilitiesremain:itwashiddenonboard—alsoratherdifficult—oritwasthrownoverboard.”
“Withacorkonit,doyoumean?”
“Withoutacork.”
Istared.
“Butifthebondswerethrownoverboard,theycouldn’thavebeensoldinNewYork.”
“Iadmireyourlogicalmind,Hastings.ThebondsweresoldinNewYork,thereforetheywerenotthrownoverboard.Youseewherethatleadsus?”
“Wherewewerewhenwestarted.”
“Jamaisdelavie!Ifthepackagewasthrownoverboard,andthebondsweresoldinNewYork,thepackagecouldnothavecontainedthebonds.Isthereanyevidencethatthepackagedidcontainthebonds?Remember,Mr.RidgewayneveropeneditfromthetimeitwasplacedinhishandsinLondon.”
“Yes,butthen——”
Poirotwavedanimpatienthand.
“Permitmetocontinue.ThelastmomentthatthebondsareseenasbondsisintheofficeoftheLondonandScottishBankonthemorningofthe23rd.TheyreappearinNewYorkhalfanhouraftertheOlympiagetsin,andaccordingtooneman,whomnobodylistensto,actuallybeforeshegetsin.Supposingthen,thattheyhaveneverbeenontheOlympiaatall?IsthereanyotherwaytheycouldgettoNewYork?Yes.TheGiganticleavesSouthamptononthesamedayastheOlympia,andsheholdstherecordfortheAtlantic.MailedbytheGigantic,thebondswouldbeinNewYorkthedaybeforetheOlympiaarrived
