Убийство на поле для гольфа
26. I Receive a Letter
Iwenttoanhotel,andBellastartedforMerlinville.Istillcouldn’tshakeoffmyfeelingofwhatthebookscall‘impendingdisaster.’
“Thenextdaycame—butnoBella.She’dmadeadatewithmetomeetatthehotel,butshedidn’tkeepit.Nosignofherallday.Igotmoreandmoreanxious.Thencameaneveningpaperwiththenews.
“Itwasawful!Icouldn’tbesure,ofcourse—butIwasterriblyafraid.IfigureditoutthatBellahadmetPapaRenauldandtoldhimaboutherandJack,andthathe’dinsultedherorsomethinglikethat.We’vebothgotterriblyquicktempers.
“Thenallthemaskedforeignerbusinesscameout,andIbegantofeelmoreatease.ButitstillworriedmethatBellahadn’tkeptherdatewithme.
“Bythenextmorning,IwassorattledthatI’djustgottogoandseewhatIcould.Firstthing,Iranupagainstyou.Youknowallthat …WhenIsawthedeadman,lookingsolikeJack,andwearingJack’sfancyovercoat,Iknew!Andtherewastheidenticalpaper-knife—wickedlittlething!—thatJackhadgivenBella!Tentooneithadherfinger-marksonit.Ican’thopetoexplaintoyouthesortofhelplesshorrorofthatmoment.Ionlysawonethingclearly—Imustgetholdofthatdagger,andgetrightawaywithitbeforetheyfoundoutitwasgone.Ipretendedtofaint,andwhilstyouwereawaygettingwaterItookthethingandhiditawayinmydress.
“ItoldyouthatIwasstayingattheHôtelduPhare,butofcoursereallyImadeabeelinebacktoCalais,andthenontoEnglandbythefirstboat.
