Убийство на поле для гольфа
12. Poirot Elucidates Certain Points
Hewentonserenely:
“YouheardmesaytoGiraud,didyounot,thatallthedetailsofthiscrimewerefamiliartome?Ehbien,thatpresupposesoneoftwothings,eitherthebrainthatplannedthefirstcrimealsoplannedthisone,orelseanaccountreadofacausecélèbreunconsciouslyremainedinourassassin’smemoryandpromptedthedetails.Ishallbeabletopronouncedefinitelyonthatafter—”hebrokeoff.
Iwasrevolvingsundrymattersinmymind.
“ButMr.Renauld’sletter?ItdistinctlymentionsasecretandSantiago?”
“UndoubtedlytherewasasecretinM.Renauld’slife—therecanbenodoubtofthat.Ontheotherhand,thewordSantiago,tomymind,isaredherring,draggedcontinuallyacrossthetracktoputusoffthescent.ItispossiblethatitwasusedinthesamewayonM.Renauld,tokeephimfromdirectinghissuspicionsintoaquarternearerathand.Oh,beassured,Hastings,thedangerthatthreatenedhimwasnotinSantiago,itwasnearathand,inFrance.”
Hespokesogravely,andwithsuchassurance,thatIcouldnotfailtobeconvinced.ButIessayedonefinalobjection:
“Andthematchandcigaretteendfoundnearthebody?Whatofthem.”
AlightofpureenjoymentlitupPoirot’sface.
“Planted!DeliberatelyplantedthereforGiraudoroneofhistribetofind!Ah,heissmart,Giraud,hecandohistricks!Socanagoodretrieverdog.Hecomesinsopleasedwithhimself.Forhourshehascrawledonhisstomach.‘SeewhatIhavefound,’hesays.Andthenagaintome:‘Whatdoyouseehere?’Me,Ianswer,withprofoundanddeeptruth,‘Nothing.
