Убийство на поле для гольфа
10. Gabriel Stonor
”
“Youwillpardonme,M.Stonor,butwemustbeginwithafewformalities.Yourname?”
“GabrielStonor.”
“HowlongagowasitthatyoubecamesecretarytoM.Renauld?”
“Abouttwoyearsago,whenhefirstarrivedfromSouthAmerica.Imethimthroughamutualfriend,andheofferedmethepost.Athunderinggoodbosshewastoo.”
“DidhetalktoyoumuchabouthislifeinSouthAmerica?”
“Yes,agoodbit.”
“DoyouknowifhewaseverinSantiago?”
“Severaltimes,Ibelieve.”
“Henevermentionedanyspecialincidentthatoccurredthere—anythingthatmighthaveprovokedsomevendettaagainsthim?”
“Never.”
“Didhespeakofanysecretthathehadacquiredwhilstsojourningthere?”
“No.”
“Didheeversayanythingatallaboutasecret?”
“NotthatIcanremember.But,forallthat,therewasamysteryabouthim.I’veneverheardhimspeakofhisboyhoodforinstance,orofanyincidentpriortohisarrivalinSouthAmerica.HewasaFrenchCanadianbybirth,Ibelieve,butI’veneverheardhimspeakofhislifeinCanada.Hecouldshutuplikeaclamifheliked.”
“So,asfarasyouknow,hehadnoenemies,andyoucangiveusnoclueastoanysecrettoobtainpossessionofwhichhemighthavebeenmurdered?”
“That’sso.”
“M.Stonor,haveyoueverheardthenameofDuveeninconnectionwithM.Renauld?”
“Duveen.Duveen.”Hetriedthenameoverthoughtfully.“Idon’tthinkIhave.Andyetitseemsfamiliar.”
“Doyouknowalady,afriendofM.Renauld’swhoseChristiannameisBella?”
AgainMr.Stonorshookhishead.
