Убийство на поле для гольфа
5. Mrs. Renauld’s Story
Atwhattimedidyougotobedlastnight?”
“Athalf-pastnine,monsieur.Iwastired.”
“Andyourhusband?”
“Aboutanhourlater,Ifancy.”
“Didheseemdisturbed—upsetinanyway?”
“No,notmorethanusual.”
“Whathappenedthen?”
“Weslept.Iwasawakenedbyahandbeingpressedovermymouth.Itriedtoscreamout,butthehandpreventedme.Thereweretwomenintheroom.Theywerebothmasked.”
“Canyoudescribethematall,madame?”
“Onewasverytall,andhadalongblackbeard,theotherwasshortandstout.Hisbeardwasreddish.Theybothworehatspulleddownovertheireyes.”
“H’m,”saidthemagistratethoughtfully,“toomuchbeard,Ifear.”
“Youmeantheywerefalse?”
“Yes,madame.Butcontinueyourstory.”
“Itwastheshortmanwhowasholdingme.Heforcedagagintomymouth,andthenboundmewithropehandandfoot.Theothermanwasstandingovermyhusband.Hehadcaughtupmylittledaggerpaper-knifefromthedressing-tableandwasholdingitwiththepointjustoverhisheart.Whentheshortmanhadfinishedwithme,hejoinedtheother,andtheyforcedmyhusbandtogetupandaccompanythemintothedressing-roomnextdoor.Iwasnearlyfaintingwithterror,neverthelessIlisteneddesperately.
“Theywerespeakingintoolowatoneformetohearwhattheysaid.ButIrecognizedthelanguage,abastardSpanishsuchasisspokeninsomepartsofSouthAmerica.Theyseemedtobedemandingsomethingfrommyhusband,andpresentlytheygrewangry,andtheirvoicesrosealittle.Ithinkthetallmanwasspeaking.
