Убийство на поле для гольфа
24. “Save Him!”
Hecontentshimselfwithageneraldenial,andbeyondthattakesrefugeinamostobstinatesilence.Iaminterrogatinghimagaintomorrow;perhapsyouwouldliketobepresent?”
Weacceptedtheinvitationwithempressement.
“Adistressingcase,”saidthemagistratewithasigh.“MysympathyforMadameRenauldisprofound.”
“HowisMadameRenauld?”
“Shehasnotyetrecoveredconsciousness.Itismercifulinaway,poorwoman,sheisbeingsparedmuch.Thedoctorssaythatthereisnodanger,butthatwhenshecomestoherselfshemustbekeptasquietaspossible.Itwas,Iunderstand,quiteasmuchtheshockasthefallwhichcausedherpresentstate.Itwouldbeterribleifherbrainbecameunhinged;butIshouldnotwonderatall—no,really,notatall.”
M.Hautetleanedback,shakinghishead,withasortofmournfulenjoyment,asheenvisagedthegloomyprospect.
Herousedhimselfatlength,andobservedwithastart.
“Thatremindsme.Ihaveherealetterforyou,M.Poirot.Letmesee,wheredidIputit?”
Heproceededtorummageamongsthispapers.Atlasthefoundthemissive,andhandedittoPoirot.
“ItwassentundercovertomeinorderthatImightforwardittoyou,”heexplained.“ButasyouleftnoaddressIcouldnotdoso.”
Poirotstudiedthelettercuriously.Itwasaddressedinalong,sloping,foreignhand,andthewritingwasdecidedlyawoman’s.Poirotdidnotopenit.Insteadheputitinhispocketandrosetohisfeet.
“Ademainthen,M.lejuge.Manythanksforyourcourtesyandamiability.”
“Butnotatall.Iamalwaysatyourservice.
