Убийство на поле для гольфа
17. We Make Further Investigations
“Butofcourse!Don’tyou?”
Poirotwalkedtotheendoftheroom,absentmindedlystraightenedachair,andthensaidthoughtfully.
“Yes,thatismyopinion.Butthereisno‘ofcourse’aboutit,myfriend.Technicallyspeaking,MadameBeroldyisinnocent.”
“Ofthatcrime,perhaps.Butnotofthis.”
Poirotsatdownagain,andregardedme,histhoughtfulairmoremarkedthanever.
“Soitisdefinitelyyouropinion,Hastings,thatMadameDaubreuilmurderedM.Renauld?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
HeshotthequestionatmewithsuchsuddennessthatIwastakenaback.
“Why?”Istammered.“Why?Oh,because—”Icametoastop.
Poirotnoddedhisheadatme.
“Yousee,youcometoastumbling-blockatonce.WhyshouldMadameDaubreuil(Ishallcallherthatforclearnesssake)murderM.Renauld?Wecanfindnoshadowofamotive.Shedoesnotbenefitbyhisdeath;consideredaseithermistressorblackmailershestandstolose.Youcannothaveamurderwithoutamotive.Thefirstcrimewasdifferent,therewehadarichloverwaitingtostepintoherhusband’sshoes.”
“Moneyisnottheonlymotiveformurder,”Iobjected.
“True,”agreedPoirotplacidly.“Therearetwoothers,thecrimepassionnelisone.Andthereisthethirdraremotive,murderforanideawhichimpliessomeformofmentalderangementonthepartofthemurderer.Homicidalmania,andreligiousfanaticismbelongtothatclass.Wecanruleitouthere.
