Убийство на поле для гольфа
9. M. Giraud Finds Some Clues
Giraudknowsquitewellthateachcriminalhashisparticularmethod,andthatthepolice,whencalledintoinvestigate—sayacaseofburglary—canoftenmakeashrewdguessattheoffender,simplybythepeculiarmethodhehasemployed.(Jappwouldtellyouthesame,Hastings.)Manisanunoriginalanimal.Unoriginalwithinthelawinhisdailyrespectablelife,equallyunoriginaloutsidethelaw.Ifamancommitsacrime,anyothercrimehecommitswillresembleitclosely.TheEnglishmurdererwhodisposedofhiswivesinsuccessionbydrowningthemintheirbathswasacaseinpoint.Hadhevariedhismethods,hemighthaveescapeddetectiontothisday.Butheobeyedthecommondictatesofhumannature,arguingthatwhathadoncesucceededwouldsucceedagain,andhepaidthepenaltyofhislackoforiginality.”
“Andthepointofallthis?”sneeredGiraud.
“Thatwhenyouhavetwocrimespreciselysimilarindesignandexecution,youfindthesamebrainbehindthemboth.Iamlookingforthatbrain,M.Giraud—andIshallfindit.Herewehaveatrueclue—apsychologicalclue.Youmayknowallaboutcigarettesandmatchends,M.Giraud,butI,HerculePoirot,knowthemindofman!”Andtheridiculouslittlefellowtappedhisforeheadwithemphasis.
Giraudremainedsingularlyunimpressed.
“Foryourguidance,”continuedPoirot,“Iwillalsoadviseyouofonefactwhichmightfailtobebroughttoyournotice.ThewristwatchofMadameRenauld,onthedayfollowingthetragedy,hadgainedtwohours.Itmightinterestyoutoexamineit.”
Giraudstared
