Причуда мертвеца / Dead Man's Folly. Книга для чтения на английском языке

A memory rose in his mind: windswept grey hair… an eagle profile…

He rose and replaced Miss Lemon at the telephone.

�Hercule Poirot speaks,’ he announced grandiloquently.

�Is that Mr Hercules Porrot speaking personally?’ the suspicious voice of the telephone operator demanded.

Poirot assured her that that was the case.

�You’re through to Mr Porrot,’ said the voice.

Its thin reedy accents were replaced by a magnificent booming contralto which caused Poirot hastily to shift the receiver a couple of inches farther from his ear.

�M. Poirot, is that really you?’ demanded Mrs Oliver.

�Myself in person, Madame.’

�This is Mrs Oliver. I don’t know if you’ll remember me—’

�But of course I remember you, Madame. Who could forget you?’

�Well, people do sometimes,’ said Mrs Oliver. �Quite often, in fact. I don’t think that I’ve got a very distinctive personality.

Or perhaps it’s because I’m always doing different things to my hair. But all that’s neither here nor there. I hope I’m not interrupting you when you’re frightfully busy?’

�No, no, you do not derange me in the least.’

�Good gracious—I’m sure I don’t want to drive you out of your mind. The fact is, I need you.’

�Need me?’

�Yes, at once. Can you take an aeroplane?’

�I do not take aeroplanes. They make me sick.

’

�They do me, too. Anyway, I don’t suppose it would be any quicker than the train really, because I think the only airport near here is Exeter which is miles away. So come by train. Twelve o’clock from Paddington to Nassecombe. You can do it nicely. You’ve got three-quarters of an hour if my watch is right—though it isn’t usually.’

�But where are you, Madame? What is all this about?’

�Nasse House, Nassecombe. A car or taxi will meet you at the station at Nassecombe.

’

�But why do you need me? What is all this about?’ Poirot repeated frantically.

�Telephones are in such awkward places,’ said Mrs Oliver. �This one’s in the hall… People passing through and talking… I can’t really hear. But I’m expecting you. Everybody will be so thrilled. Goodbye.’

There was a sharp click as the receiver was replaced. The line hummed gently.