Убийство на поле для гольфа
5. Mrs. Renauld’s Story
Itseemsalmostcertainthatthemurderersenteredthatway,yetithasnotbeenforcedatall.Canyousuggestanyexplanation?”
“Possiblymyhusbandwentoutforastrollthelastthing,andforgottolatchitwhenhecamein.”
“Isthatalikelythingtohappen?”
“Very.Myhusbandwasthemostabsent-mindedofmen.”
Therewasaslightfrownonherbrowasshespoke,asthoughthistraitinthedeadman’scharacterhadattimesvexedher.
“ThereisoneinferenceIthinkwemightdraw,”remarkedthecommissarysuddenly.“SincethemeninsistedonM.Renaulddressinghimself,itlooksasthoughtheplacetheyweretakinghimto,theplacewhere‘thesecret’wasconcealed,laysomedistanceaway.”
Themagistratenodded.
“Yes,far,andyetnottoofar,sincehespokeofbeingbackbymorning.”
“WhattimesdoesthelasttrainleavethestationofMerlinville?”askedPoirot.
“Eleven-fiftyoneway,and12:17theother,butitismoreprobablethattheyhadamotorwaiting.”
“Ofcourse,”agreedPoirot,lookingsomewhatcrestfallen.
“Indeed,thatmightbeonewayoftracingthem,”continuedthemagistrate,brightening.“Amotorcontainingtwoforeignersisquitelikelytohavebeennoticed.Thatisanexcellentpoint,M.Bex.”
Hesmiledtohimself,andthen,becominggraveoncemore,hesaidtoMrs.Renauld:
“Thereisanotherquestion.Doyouknowanyoneofthenameof‘Duveen’?”
“Duveen?”Mrs.Renauldrepeated,thoughtfully.“No,forthemoment,IcannotsayIdo.”
“Youhaveneverheardyourhusbandmentionanyoneofthatname?”
“Never.