Убийство на поле для гольфа

           ButI,HerculePoirot,whomhedespises,willbethelittlepinthatpricksthebigballoon—commeça!”Andhemadeanexpressivegesture.Then,calmingdown,heresumed:

           “Withoutdoubt,whenMadameRenauldrecovers,shewillspeak.Thepossibilityofhersonbeingaccusedofthemurderneveroccurredtoher.Howshouldit,whenshebelievedhimsafelyatseaonboardtheAnzora?Ah!voilàunefemme,Hastings!Whatforce,whatself-command!Sheonlymadeoneslip.Onhisunexpectedreturn:‘Itdoesnotmatter—now.’Andnoonenoticed—noonerealizedthesignificanceofthosewords.Whataterriblepartshehashadtoplay,poorwoman.Imaginetheshockwhenshegoestoidentifythebodyand,insteadofwhatsheexpects,seestheactuallifelessformofthehusbandshehasbelievedmilesawaybynow.Nowondershefainted!Butsincethen,despitehergriefandherdespair,howresolutelyshehasplayedherpart,andhowtheanguishofitmustwringher.Shecannotsayawordtosetusonthetrackoftherealmurderers.Forherson’ssake,noonemustknowthatPaulRenauldwasGeorgesConneau,thecriminal.Finalandmostbitterblow,shehasadmittedpubliclythatMadameDaubreuilwasherhusband’smistress—forahintofblackmailmightbefataltohersecret.Howcleverlyshedealtwiththeexaminingmagistratewhenheaskedheriftherewasanymysteryinherhusband’spastlife.‘Nothingsoromantic,Iamsure,M.lejuge.’Itwasperfect,theindulgenttone,thesoupçonofsadmockery.AtonceM.Hautetfelthimselffoolishandmelodramatic.