Убийство на поле для гольфа
20. An Amazing Statement
Wehavetodeduceit.Now,monami,letmeaskyouaquestion;whodowebelievetohaveplannedthiscrime?”
“GeorgesConneau,”Isaiddoubtfully,eyeingPoirotwarily.
“Exactly.NowGiraudlaiditdownasanaxiomthatawomanliestosaveherself,themansheloves,andherchild.SincewearesatisfiedthatwasGeorgesConneauwhodictatedthelietoher,andasGeorgesConneauisnotJackRenauld,followsthatthethirdcaseisputoutofcourt.And,stillattributingthecrimetoGeorgesConneau,thefirstisequallyso.Soweareforcedtothesecond—thatMadameRenauldliedforthesakeofthemansheloved—orinotherwords,forthesakeofGeorgesConneau.Youagreetothat.”
“Yes,”Iadmitted.“Itseemslogicalenough.”
“Bien!MadameRenauldlovesGeorgesConneau.Who,then,isGeorgesConneau?”
“Thetramp.”
“HaveweanyevidencetoshowthatMadameRenauldlovedthetramp?”
“No,but—”
“Verywellthen.Donotclingtotheorieswherefactsnolongersupportthem.AskyourselfinsteadwhoMadameRenaulddidlove.”
Ishookmyheadperplexed.
“Mais,oui,youknowperfectly.WhodidMadameRenauldlovesodearlythatwhenshesawhisdeadbody,shefelldowninaswoon?”
Istareddumbfounded.
“Herhusband?”Igasped.
Poirotnodded.
“Herhusband—orGeorgesConneau,whicheveryouliketocallhim.”
Iralliedmyself.
“Butit’simpossible.”
“How‘impossible?’DidwenotagreejustnowthatMadameDaubreuilwasinapositiontoblackmailGeorgesConneau?”
“Yes,but—”
“AnddidshenotveryeffectivelyblackmailM