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

‘Is that where the—er—Dr Loughbarrow’s Liver Capsules were kept?’

‘No, they were kept in the corner-cupboard in the diningroom so as to be handy for taking after meals as directed.’

‘What nurse attended Miss Arundell? Can you give me her name and address?’

Ellen could supply that at once and did.

Poirot continued to ask questions about Miss Arundell’s last illness.

Ellen gave details with relish [471] with relish – с удовольствием , describing the sickness, the pain, the onset of jaundice, and the final delirium. I don’t know whether Poirot got any satisfaction out of the catalogue. He listened patiently enough and occasionally interpolated some pertinent little question, usually about Miss Lawson and the amount of time she spent in the sickroom. He was also exceedingly interested in the diet administered to the ill woman, comparing it with that administered to some dead relative (non-existent) of his own.

Seeing that they were enjoying themselves so much, I stole out in the hall again. Bob had gone to sleep on the landing, his ball lying under his chin.

I whistled to him and he sprang up, alert at once. This time, however, doubtless out of offended dignity, he made a protracted business of despatching the ball down to me, several times catching it back at the last minute.

‘Disappointed, aren’t you? Well, perhaps I will let you have it this time.’

When I next went back to the morning-room, Poirot was talking about Dr Tanios’ surprise visit on the Sunday before the old lady’s death.

‘Yes, sir, Mr Charles and Miss Theresa were out for a walk. Dr Tanios wasn’t expected, I know. The mistress was lying down and she was very surprised when I told her who it was. “Dr Tanios?” she said. “Is Mrs Tanios with him?” I told her no, the gentleman had come alone. So she said to tell him she’d be down in a minute.’

‘Did he stay long?’

‘Not above an hour, sir. He didn’t look too pleased when he went away.’

‘Have you any idea of the—er—purpose of his visit?’

‘I couldn’t say, I’m sure, sir.’

‘You did not happen to hear anything?’

Ellen’s face flushed suddenly.

‘No, I did not, sir! I’ve never been one to listen at doors, no matter what some people will do—and people who ought to know better!’

‘Oh, but you misunderstand me.’ Poirot was eager, apologetic. ‘It just occurred to me that perhaps you might have brought in tea while the gentleman was there and if so, you could hardly have helped hearing what he and your mistress were talking about.’

Ellen was mollified.

‘I’m sorry, sir, I misunderstood you. No, Dr Tanios didn’t stay for tea.’

Poirot looked up at her and twinkled a little.

‘And if I want to know what he came down for—well, it is possible that Miss Lawson might be in a position to know? Is that it?’

‘Well, if she doesn’t know, sir, nobody does,’ said Ellen with a sniff.

‘Let me see,’ Poirot frowned as though trying to remember. ‘Miss Lawson’s bedroom—was it next to Miss Arundell’s?’

‘No, sir. Miss Lawson’s room is right at the top of the staircase. I can show you, sir.’

Poirot accepted the offer. As he went up the stairs he kept close to the wall side, and just as he reached the top uttered an exclamation and stooped to his trouser-leg.

‘Ah—I have just caught a thread—ah, yes, there is a nail here in the skirting-board.’

‘Yes, there is, sir. I think it must have worked loose or something. I’ve caught my dress on it once or twice.’

‘Has it been like that long?’

‘Well, some time, I’m afraid, sir. I noticed it first when the mistress was laid up—after her accident, that was, sir—I tried to pull it out but I couldn’t.’

‘It had a thread round it some time, I think.’

‘That’s right, sir, there was a little loop of thread, I remember. I can’t think what for, I’m sure.’

But there was no suspicion in Ellen’s voice. To her it was just one of the things that occur in houses and which one does not bother to explain!

Poirot had stepped into the room at the top of the stairs. It was of moderate size. There were two windows directly facing us. There was a dressing-table across one corner and between the windows was a wardrobe with a long mirror. The bed was to the right behind the door facing the windows. On the left-hand wall of the room was a big mahogany chest of drawers and a marble-topped wash-stand.

Poirot looked round the room thoughtfully and then came out again on the landing. He went along the passage, passing two other bedrooms and then came to the large bedchamber which had belonged to Emily Arundell.

‘The nurse had the little room next door,’ Ellen explained.

Poirot nodded thoughtfully.

As we descended the stairs, he asked if he might walk round the garden.

‘Oh, yes, sir, certainly. It looks lovely just now.’

‘The gardener is still employed?’

‘Angus? Oh, yes, Angus is still here. Miss Lawson wants everything kept nice because she thinks it will sell better that way.’

‘I think she is wise. To let a place run to seed [472] to run to seed – приходить в упадок is not the good policy.’

The garden was very peaceful and beautiful. The wide borders were full of lupins and delphiniums and great scarlet poppies. The peonies were in bud. Wandering along we came presently to a potting-shed [473] a potting-shed – помещение для пересадки растений where a big, rugged old man was busy. He saluted us respectfully and Poirot engaged him in conversation.

A mention that we had seen Mr Charles that day thawed the old man and he became quite garrulous.

‘Always a one [474] a one – (зд.) плут , he was! I’ve known him come out here with half a gooseberry pie and the cook hunting high and low for it [475] to hunt high and low – искать повсюду ! And he’d go back with such an innocent face that durned if they wouldn’t say it must have been the cat, though I’ve never known a cat eat a gooseberry pie! Oh, he’s a one, Mr Charles is!’

‘He was down here in April, wasn’t he?’

‘Yes, down here two weekends. Just before the missus died, it was.’

‘Did you see much of him?’

‘A good bit, I did. There wasn’t much for a young gentleman to do down here, and that’s a fact. Used to stroll up to the George and have one. And then he’d potter round here, asking me questions about one thing and another.’

‘About flowers?’

‘Yes—flowers—and weeds too.’ The old man chuckled.

‘Weeds?’

Poirot’s voice held a sudden, tentative note. He turned his head and looked searchingly along the shelves. His eye stopped at a tin.

‘Perhaps he wanted to know how you got rid of them?’

‘He did that!’

‘I suppose this is the stuff you use.’

Poirot turned the tin gently round and read the label.

‘That’s it,’ said Angus. ‘Very handy stuff it is.’

‘Dangerous stuff?’

‘Not if you use it right. It’s arsenic, of course. Had a bit of a joke about that, Mr Charles and I did. Said as how when he had a wife and didn’t like her, he’d come to me and get a little of that stuff to put her away [476] to put away – избавляться, убивать with! Maybe, I sez [477] sez = says , she’ll be the one that wants to do away with [478] to do away with – избавиться от к.-л. you! Ah, that made him laugh proper, that did! It was a good one, that!’