Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case. Агата Кристи
Чтение книги онлайн.
Читать онлайн книгу Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case - Агата Кристи страница 14
Название: Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case
Автор: Агата Кристи
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Полицейские детективы
isbn: 9780007422241
isbn:
‘Yes, that’s quite true.’
She lowered her voice. ‘There was a murder here, wasn’t there? So one of the maids was telling me. An old lady?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you were here at the time?’
‘I was.’
She gave a slight shiver. She said: ‘That explains it, doesn’t it?’
‘Explains what?’
She gave me a quick sideways glance. ‘The – the atmosphere of the place. Don’t you feel it? I do. Something wrong, if you know what I mean?’
I was silent a moment considering. Was it true what she had just said? Did the fact that death by violence – by malice aforethought – had taken place in a certain spot leave its impression on that spot so strongly that it was perceptible after many years? Psychic people said so. Did Styles definitely bear traces of that event that had occurred so long ago? Here, within these walls, in these gardens, thoughts of murder had lingered and grown stronger and had at last come to fruition in the final act. Did they still taint the air?
Nurse Craven broke in on my thoughts by saying abruptly: ‘I was in a house where there was a murder case once. I’ve never forgotten it. One doesn’t, you know. One of my patients. I had to give evidence and everything. Made me feel quite queer. It’s a nasty experience for a girl.’
‘It must be. I know myself –’
I broke off as Boyd Carrington came striding round the corner of the house.
As usual, his big, buoyant personality seemed to sweep away shadows and intangible worries. He was so large, so sane, so out-of-doors – one of those lovable, forceful personalities that radiate cheerfulness and common sense.
‘Morning, Hastings, morning, Nurse. Where’s Mrs Franklin?’
‘Good morning, Sir William. Mrs Franklin’s down at the bottom of the garden under the beech tree near the laboratory.’
‘And Franklin, I suppose, is inside the laboratory?’
‘Yes, Sir William – with Miss Hastings.’
‘Wretched girl. Fancy being cooped up doing stinks on a morning like this! You ought to protest, Hastings.’
Nurse Craven said quickly: ‘Oh, Miss Hastings is quite happy. She likes it, you know, and the doctor couldn’t do without her, I’m sure.’
‘Miserable fellow,’ said Boyd Carrington. ‘If I had a pretty girl like your Judith as a secretary, I’d be looking at her instead of at guinea pigs, eh, what?’
It was the kind of joke that Judith would particularly have disliked but it went down quite well with Nurse Craven who laughed a good deal.
‘Oh, Sir William,’ she exclaimed. ‘You really mustn’t say things like that. I’m sure we all know what you’d be like! But poor Dr Franklin is so serious – quite wrapped up in his work.’
Boyd Carrington said cheerfully: ‘Well, his wife seems to have taken up her position where she can keep her eye on her husband. I believe she’s jealous.’
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.