Убийство на поле для гольфа
9. M. Giraud Finds Some Clues
ItisaSouthAmericancigarettewithliquoricepectoralpaper.”
Poirotbowed.Thecommissaryspoke:
“ThecigaretteendandmatchmighthavebelongedtoM.Renauld.Remember,itisonlytwoyearssincehereturnedfromSouthAmerica.”
“No,”repliedtheotherconfidently.“IhavealreadysearchedamongtheeffectsofM.Renauld.Thecigaretteshesmokedandthematchesheusedarequitedifferent.”
“Youdonotthinkitodd,”askedPoirot,“thatthesestrangersshouldcomeunprovidedwithaweapon,withgloves,withaspade,andthattheyshouldsoconvenientlyfindallthesethings?”
Giraudsmiledinarathersuperiormanner.
“Undoubtedlyitisstrange.Indeed,withoutthetheorythatIhold,itwouldbeinexplicable.”
“Aha!”saidM.Hautet.“Anaccomplice.Anaccomplicewithinthehouse!”
“Oroutsideit,”saidGiraudwithapeculiarsmile.
“Butsomeonemusthaveadmittedthem?Wecannotallowthat,byanunparalleledpieceofgoodfortune,theyfoundthedoorajarforthemtowalkin?”
“D’accord,M.lejuge.Thedoorwasopenedforthem,butitcouldjustaseasilybeopenedfromoutside—bysomeonewhopossessedakey.”
“Butwhodidpossessakey?”
Giraudshruggedhisshoulders.
“Asforthat,noonewhopossessesoneisgoingtoadmitthefactiftheycanhelpit.Butseveralpeoplemighthavehadone.M.JackRenauld,theson,forinstance.ItistruethatheisonhiswaytoSouthAmerica,buthemighthavelostthekeyorhaditstolenfromhim.Thenthereisthegardener—hehasbeenheremanyyears.Oneoftheyoungerservantsmayhavealover.