Убийство на поле для гольфа
28. Journey’s End
Butabolderideatakesitsplace,andonethatfailstohorrifythedaughterofJeanneBeroldy!AtpresentM.RenauldstandsinexorablyinthewayofhermarriagewithJack.Ifthelatterdefieshisfather,hewillbeapauper—whichisnotatalltothemindofMademoiselleMarthe.Infact,IdoubtifshehasevercaredastrawforJackRenauld.Shecansimulateemotion,butinrealitysheisofthesamecold,calculatingtypeashermother.Idoubt,too,whethershewasreallyverysureofherholdovertheboy’saffections.Shehaddazzledandcaptivatedhim,butseparatedfromher,ashisfathercouldsoeasilymanagetoseparatehim,shemightlosehim.ButwithM.Renaulddead,andJacktheheirtohalfhismillions,themarriagecantakeplaceatonce,andatastrokeshewillattainwealth—notthebeggarlythousandsthathavebeenextractedfromhimsofar.Andhercleverbraintakesinthesimplicityofthething.Itisallsoeasy.M.Renauldisplanningallthecircumstancesofhisdeath—shehasonlytostepinattherightmomentandturnthefarceintoagrimreality.AndherecomesinthesecondpointwhichledmeinfalliblytoMartheDaubreuil—thedagger!JackRenauldhadthreesouvenirsmade.Onehegavetohismother,onetoBellaDuveen;wasitnothighlyprobablethathehadgiventhethirdonetoMartheDaubreuil?
“Sothen,tosumup,therewerefourpointsofnoteagainstMartheDaubreuil:
“(1)MartheDaubreuilcouldhaveoverheardM.Renauld’splans.
“(2)MartheDaubreuilhadadirectinterestincausingM.Renauld’sdeath.