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Five Little Pigs :: Christie Agatha
Страница: 27 из 147You’re just like an ostrich that buries its head in the sand. You know perfectly well that Amyas and I care for each other and are going to be married.” Mrs Crale said: “I know nothing of the kind.” Miss Greer then said: “Well, you know it now.” Whereupon, it seems, Mrs Crale turned to her husband who had just come into the room and said: “Is it true, Amyas, that you are going to marry Elsa?” ’
Poirot said with interest:
‘And what did Mr Crale say to that?’
‘Apparently he turned on Miss Greer and shouted at her: “What the devil do you mean by blurting that out? Haven’t you got the sense to hold your tongue?”
‘Miss Greer said: “I think Caroline ought to recognize the truth.”
‘Mrs Crale said to her husband: “Is it true, Amyas?”
‘He wouldn’t look at her, it seems, turned his face away and mumbled something.
‘She said: “Speak out. I’ve got to know.” Whereupon he said:
‘ “Oh, it’s true enough-but I don’t want to discuss it now.”
‘Then he flounced out of the room again and Miss Greer said:
‘ “You see!” and went on-with something about its being no good for Mrs Crale to adopt a dog-in-the-
manger attitude about it. They must all behave like rational people. She herself hoped that Caroline and Amyas would always remain good friends.’
‘And what did Mrs Crale say to that?’ asked Poirot curiously.
‘According to the witnesses she laughed. She said: “Over my dead body, Elsa.” She went to the door and Miss Greer called after her: “What do you mean?” Mrs Crale looked back and said: “I’ll kill Amyas before I give him up toyou.” ’
Hale paused.
‘Pretty damning-eh?’
‘Yes.’ Poirot seemed thoughtful. ‘Who overheard this scene?’
‘Miss Williams was in the room and Philip Blake. Very awkward for them.’
‘Their accounts of the scene agree?’
‘Near enough-you never got two witnesses to remember a thing exactly alike.You know that just as well as I do, M. Poirot.’
Poirot nodded. He said thoughtfully:
‘Yes, it will be interesting to see-’ He stopped with the sentence unfinished.
Hale went on: ‘I instituted a search of the house. In Mrs Crale’s bedroom I found in a bottom drawer, tucked away underneath some winter stockings, a small bottle labelled jasmine scent. It was empty. I finger-printed it. The only prints on it were those of Mrs Crale.
Poirot said with interest:
‘And what did Mr Crale say to that?’
‘Apparently he turned on Miss Greer and shouted at her: “What the devil do you mean by blurting that out? Haven’t you got the sense to hold your tongue?”
‘Miss Greer said: “I think Caroline ought to recognize the truth.”
‘Mrs Crale said to her husband: “Is it true, Amyas?”
‘He wouldn’t look at her, it seems, turned his face away and mumbled something.
‘She said: “Speak out. I’ve got to know.” Whereupon he said:
‘ “Oh, it’s true enough-but I don’t want to discuss it now.”
‘Then he flounced out of the room again and Miss Greer said:
‘ “You see!” and went on-with something about its being no good for Mrs Crale to adopt a dog-in-the-
manger attitude about it. They must all behave like rational people. She herself hoped that Caroline and Amyas would always remain good friends.’
‘And what did Mrs Crale say to that?’ asked Poirot curiously.
‘According to the witnesses she laughed. She said: “Over my dead body, Elsa.” She went to the door and Miss Greer called after her: “What do you mean?” Mrs Crale looked back and said: “I’ll kill Amyas before I give him up toyou.” ’
Hale paused.
‘Pretty damning-eh?’
‘Yes.’ Poirot seemed thoughtful. ‘Who overheard this scene?’
‘Miss Williams was in the room and Philip Blake. Very awkward for them.’
‘Their accounts of the scene agree?’
‘Near enough-you never got two witnesses to remember a thing exactly alike.You know that just as well as I do, M. Poirot.’
Poirot nodded. He said thoughtfully:
‘Yes, it will be interesting to see-’ He stopped with the sentence unfinished.
Hale went on: ‘I instituted a search of the house. In Mrs Crale’s bedroom I found in a bottom drawer, tucked away underneath some winter stockings, a small bottle labelled jasmine scent. It was empty. I finger-printed it. The only prints on it were those of Mrs Crale.