Убийство на поле для гольфа
5. Mrs. Renauld’s Story
”
“MadameRenauld,”saidthemagistrate,“hadyouanyideawhatitwasforwhichtheassassinsweresearching?”
“Nonewhatever,monsieur.”
“Hadyouanyknowledgethatyourhusbandfearedsomething?”
“Yes.Ihadseenthechangeinhim.”
“Howlongagowasthat?”
Mrs.Renauldreflected.
“Tendaysperhaps.”
“Notlonger?”
“Possibly.Ionlynoticeditthen.”
“Didyouquestionyourhusbandatallastothecause?”
“Once.Heputmeoffevasively.Nevertheless,Iwasconvincedthathewassufferingsometerribleanxiety.However,sinceheevidentlywishedtoconcealthefactfromme,ItriedtopretendthatIhadnoticednothing.”
“Wereyouawarethathehadcalledintheservicesofadetective?”
“Adetective?”exclaimedMrs.Renauld,verymuchsurprised.
“Yes,thisgentleman—M.HerculePoirot.”Poirotbowed.“Hearrivedtodayinresponsetoasummonsfromyourhusband.”AndtakingtheletterwrittenbyM.Renauldfromhispockethehandedittothelady.
Shereaditwithapparentlygenuineastonishment.
“Ihadnoideaofthis.Evidentlyhewasfullycognizantofthedanger.”
“Now,madame,Iwillbegofyoutobefrankwithme.Isthereanyincidentinyourhusband’spastlifeinSouthAmericawhichmightthrowlightonhismurder?”
Mrs.Renauldreflecteddeeply,butatlastshookherhead.
“Icanthinkofnone.Certainlymyhusbandhadmanyenemies,peoplehehadgotthebetterofinsomewayoranother,butIcanthinkofnoonedistinctivecase.Idonotsaythereisnosuchincident—onlythatIamnotawareofit.
