Агата Кристи - Dumb Witness / Безмолвный свидетель. Книга для чтения на английском языке

‘Well, he sent in a hospital nurse the following evening, but I think he hoped she would pull through.’

‘The—excuse me—the relatives were not sent for?’

Miss Lawson flushed.

‘They were notified as soon as possible—that is to say, when Dr Grainger pronounced her to be in danger.’

‘What was the cause of the attack? Something she had eaten?’

‘No, I don’t think there was anything in particular. Dr Grainger said she hadn’t been quite as careful in diet as she should have been. I think he thought the attack was probably brought on by a chill. The weather had been very treacherous.’

‘Theresa and Charles Arundell had been down that weekend, had they not?’

Miss Lawson pursed her lips together.

‘They had.’

‘The visit was not a success,’ Poirot suggested, watching her. ‘It was not.’ She added quite spitefully. ‘Miss Arundell knew what they’d come for!’

‘Which was?’ asked Poirot, watching her.

‘Money!’ snapped Miss Lawson. ‘And they didn’t get it.’

‘No?’ said Poirot.

‘And I believe that’s what Dr Tanios was after [399] to be after – гнаться, преследовать цель too,’ she went on.

‘Dr Tanios. He was not down that same weekend, was he?’

‘Yes, he came down on the Sunday. He only stayed about an hour.’

‘Everyone seems to have been after poor Miss Arundell’s money,’ hazarded Poirot.

‘I know, it is not very nice to think of, is it?’

‘No, indeed,’ said Poirot. ‘It must have been a shock to Charles and Theresa Arundell that weekend when they learned that Miss Arundell had definitely disinherited them!’

Miss Lawson stared at him.

Poirot said:

‘Is that not so? Did she not specifically inform them of the fact?’

‘As to that, I couldn’t say. I didn’t hear anything about it! There wasn’t any fuss, or anything, as far as I know. Both Charles and his sister seemed to go away quite cheerful.’

‘Ah! possibly I have been misinformed. Miss Arundell actually kept her will in the house, did she not?’

Miss Lawson dropped her pince-nez and stooped to pick them up.

‘I really couldn’t say. No, I think it was with Mr Purvis.’

‘Who was the executor?’

‘Mr Purvis was.’

‘After the death did he come over and look through her papers?’

‘Yes, he did.’

Poirot looked at her keenly and asked her an unexpected question.

‘Do you like Mr Purvis?’

Miss Lawson was flustered.

‘Like Mr Purvis? Well, really, that’s difficult to say, isn’t it? I mean, I’m sure he’s a very clever man—that is a clever lawyer, I mean. But rather a brusque manner ! I mean, it’s not very pleasant always, to have someone speaking to you as though— well, really I can’t explain what I mean—he was quite civil and yet at the same time, almost rude if you know what I mean.’

‘A difficult situation for you,’ said Poirot, sympathetically.

‘Yes, indeed it was.’

Miss Lawson sighed and shook her head.

Poirot rose to his feet.

‘Thank you very much, mademoiselle, for all your kindness and help.’

Miss Lawson rose too. She sounded slightly flustered.

‘I’m sure there’s nothing to thank me for—nothing at all! So glad if I’ve been able to do anything—if there’s anything more I can do—’

Poirot came back from the door. He lowered his voice.

‘I think, Miss Lawson, that there is something you ought to be told. Charles and Theresa Arundell are hoping to upset this will. [400] to upset a will – опротестовать завещание ’

A sharp flush of colour came into Miss Lawson’s cheeks.

‘They can’t do that,’ she said, sharply. ‘My lawyer says so.’

‘Ah,’ said Poirot. ‘You have consulted a lawyer, then?’

‘Certainly. Why shouldn’t I?’

‘No reason at all. A very wise proceeding. Good day to you, mademoiselle.’

When we emerged from Clanroyden Mansions into the street Poirot drew a deep breath.

‘Hastings, mon ami , that woman is either exactly what she seems or else she is a very good actress.’

‘She doesn’t believe Miss Arundell’s death was anything but natural. You can see that,’ I said.

Poirot did not answer. There are moments when he is conveniently deaf. He hailed a taxi.

‘Durham Hotel, Bloomsbury,’ he told the driver.

‘Gentleman to see you, madam.’

The woman who was sitting writing at one of the tables in the writing-room of the Durham Hotel turned her head and then rose, coming towards us uncertainly.

Mrs Tanios might have been any age over thirty. She was a tall, thin woman with dark hair, rather prominent light ‘boiled gooseberry’ eyes and a worried face. A fashionable hat was perched on her head at an unfashionable angle and she wore a rather depressed-looking cotton frock.

‘I don’t think—’ she began vaguely.

Poirot bowed.

‘I have just come from your cousin, Miss Theresa Arundell.’

‘Oh! from Theresa? Yes?’

‘Perhaps I could have a few minutes’ private conversation?’

Mrs Tanios looked about her rather vacantly. Poirot suggested a leather sofa at the far end of the room.

As we made our way there a high voice squeaked out:

‘Mother, where are you going?’

‘I shall be just over there. Go on with your letter, darling.’

The child, a thin, peaky-looking girl of about seven, settled down again to what was evidently a laborious task. Her tongue showed through her parted lips in the effort of composition.

The far end of the room was quite deserted. Mrs Tanios sat down, we did the same. She looked inquiringly at Poirot.

He began:

‘It is in reference to the death of your aunt, the late Miss Emily Arundell.’

Was I beginning to fancy things, or did a look of alarm spring up suddenly in those pale, prominent eyes?

‘Yes?’

‘Miss Arundell,’ said Poirot, ‘altered her will a very short time before she died. By the new will everything was left to Miss Wilhelmina Lawson. What I want to know, Mrs Tanios, is whether you will join with your cousins, Miss Theresa and Mr Charles Arundell, in trying to contest that will?’

‘Oh!’ Mrs Tanios drew a deep breath [401] to draw a deep breath – вздохнуть с облегчением . ‘But I don’t think that’s possible, is it? I mean, my husband consulted a lawyer and he seemed to think that it was better not to attempt it.’

‘Lawyers, madame, are cautious people. Their advice is usually to avoid litigation at all costs [402] at all costs – любой ценой —and no doubt they are usually right. But there are times when it pays [403] it pays – выгодно to take a risk. I am not a lawyer myself and therefore I look at the matter differently. Miss Arundell—Miss Theresa Arundell, I mean—is prepared to fight. What about you?’

‘I—Oh! I really don’t know.’ She twisted her fingers nervously together: ‘I should have to consult my husband.’

‘Certainly, you must consult your husband before anything definite is undertaken. But what is your own feeling in the matter?’

‘Well, really, I don’t know.’ Mrs Tanios looked more worried than ever. ‘It depends so much on my husband.’

‘But you yourself, what do you think, madame?’

Mrs Tanios frowned, then she said slowly:

‘I don’t think I like the idea very much. It seems—it seems rather indecent, doesn’t it?’