Убийство на поле для гольфа
16. The Beroldy Case
TherewasalsomuchtalkofCrownjewelsthatweretobesoldsecretly,withherselfactingasthego-between.
AmongstthefriendsandacquaintancesoftheBeroldyswasayounglawyer,GeorgesConneau.ItwassoonevidentthatthefascinatingJeannehadcompletelyenslavedhisheart.MadameBeroldyencouragedtheyoungmaninadiscreetfashion,butbeingalwayscarefultoaffirmhercompletedevotiontohermiddle-agedhusband.Nevertheless,manyspitefulpersonsdidnothesitatetodeclarethatyoungConneauwasherlover—andnottheonlyone!
WhentheBeroldyshadbeeninParisaboutthreemonths,anotherpersonagecameuponthescene.ThiswasMr.HiramP.Trapp,anativeoftheUnitedStates,andextremelywealthy.IntroducedtothecharmingandmysteriousMadameBeroldy,hefellapromptvictimtoherfascinations.Hisadmirationwasobvious,thoughstrictlyrespectful.
Aboutthistime,MadameBeroldybecamemoreoutspokeninherconfidences.Toseveralfriends,shedeclaredherselfgreatlyworriedonherhusband’sbehalf.Sheexplainedthathehadbeendrawnintoseveralschemesofapoliticalnature,andalsoreferredtosomeimportantpapersthathadbeenentrustedtohimforsafekeepingandwhichconcerneda“secret”offarreachingEuropeanimportance.Theyhadbeenentrustedtohiscustodytothrowpursuersoffthetrack,butMadameBeroldywasnervous,havingrecognizedseveralimportantmembersoftheRevolutionaryCircleinParis.
Onthe28thdayofNovember,theblowfell.ThewomanwhocamedailytocleanandcookfortheBeroldyswassurprisedtofindthedooroftheapartmentstandingwideopen.
