Убийство на поле для гольфа
18. Giraud Acts
ThreelittlewordsgavemetheinformationIwanted.WhenIaskedherifsheknewthatJackRenauldwasherethatnight,sheanswered‘Hetoldme.’Now,Hastings,whatwasJackRenaulddoinghereonthateventfulevening,andifhedidnotseeMademoiselleMarthewhomdidhesee?”
“Surely,Poirot,”Icried,aghast,“youcannotbelievethataboylikethatwouldmurderhisownfather.”
“Monami,”saidPoirot,“youcontinuetobeofasentimentalityunbelievable!Ihaveseenmotherswhomurderedtheirlittlechildrenforthesakeoftheinsurancemoney!Afterthat,onecanbelieveanything.”
“Andthemotive?”
“Moneyofcourse.RememberthatJackRenauldthoughtthathewouldcomeintohalfhisfather’sfortuneatthelatter’sdeath.”
“Butthetramp.Wheredoeshecomein?”
Poirotshruggedhisshoulders.
“Giraudwouldsaythathewasanaccomplice—anapachewhohelpedyoungRenauldtocommitthecrime,andwhowasconvenientlyputoutofthewayafterwards.”
“Butthehairroundthedagger?Thewoman’shair?”
“Ah,”saidPoirot,smilingbroadly.“ThatisthecreamofGiraud’slittlejest.Accordingtohim,itisnotawoman’shairatall.Rememberthattheyouthsoftodayweartheirhairbrushedstraightbackfromtheforeheadwithpomadeorhairwashtomakeitlieflat.Consequentlysomeofthehairsareofconsiderablelength.”
“Andyoubelievethattoo?”
“No,”saidPoirotwithacurioussmile.“ForIknowittobethehairofawoman—andmore,whichwoman!”
“MadameDaubreuil,”Iannouncedpositively.
