Убийство на поле для гольфа
15. A Photograph
Ihintedthattherewassomepossibilitytheymighthaveleftbythemidnighttrain,buthenegativedtheideadecidedly.Hewouldhavenoticedtwoforeigners—hewassureofit.Onlyabouttwentypeoplehadleftbythetrain,andhecouldnothavefailedtoobservethem.
Idonotknowwhatputtheideaintomyhead—possiblyitwasthedeepanxietyunderlyingMartheDaubreuil’stones—butIaskedsuddenly:
“YoungM.Renauld—hedidnotleavebythattrain,didhe?”
“Ah,no,monsieur.Toarriveandstartoffagainwithinhalfanhour,itwouldnotbeamusing,that!”
Istaredattheman,thesignificanceofhiswordsalmostescapingme.ThenIsaw. …
“Youmean,”Isaid,myheartbeatingalittle,“thatM.JackRenauldarrivedatMerlinvillethatevening?”
“Butyes,monsieur.Bythelasttrainarrivingtheotherway,the11:40.”
Mybrainwhirled.That,then,wasthereasonofMarthe’spoignantanxiety.JackRenauldhadbeeninMerlinvilleonthenightofthecrime!Butwhyhadhenotsaidso?Why,onthecontrary,hadheledustobelievethathehadremainedinCherbourg?Rememberinghisfrankboyishcountenance,Icouldhardlybringmyselftobelievethathehadanyconnectionwiththecrime.Yetwhythissilenceonhispartaboutsovitalamatter?Onethingwascertain,Marthehadknownallalong.Henceheranxiety,andhereagerquestioningofPoirottoknowwhetheranyoneweresuspected.
Mycogitationswereinterruptedbythearrivalofthetrain,andinanothermomentIwasgreetingPoirot.Thelittlemanwasradiant.
