The A B C Murders / Убийство по алфавиту. Книга для чтения на английском языке

�What do you want with me? I have not done nothing. It is a shame and a scandal to bring me here! You are swine, how dare you?’ His manner changed suddenly. �No, no, I do not mean that—you would not hurt a poor old man—not be hard on[60 - to be hard on (smb.) – быть суровым с кем-либо] him. Everyone is hard on poor old Franz. Poor old Franz.’

Mr Ascher started to weep.

�That’ll do[61 - That’ll do – Довольно], Ascher,’ said the inspector. �Pull yourself together.

I’m not charging you with anything—yet. And you’re not bound to make a statement unless you like. On the other hand, if you’re not concerned in the murder of your wife —’

Ascher interrupted him—his voice rising to a scream.

�I did not kill her! I did not kill her! It is all lies! You are goddamned English pigs—all against me. I never kill her—never.’

�You threatened to often enough, Ascher.’

�No, no. You do not understand. That was just a joke—a good joke between me and Alice.

She understood.’

�Funny kind of joke! Do you care to say where you were yesterday evening, Ascher?’

�Yes, yes—I tell you everything. I did not go near Alice. I am with friends—good friends. We are at the Seven Stars—and then we are at the Red Dog —’

He hurried on, his words stumbling over each other.

�Dick Willows—he was with me—and old Curdie—and George—and Platt and lots of the boys. I tell you I do not never go near Alice.

Ach Gott[62 - Ach Gott = Ah God], it is the truth I am telling you.’

His voice rose to a scream. The inspector nodded to his underling.

�Take him away. Detained on suspicion.’

�I don’t know what to think,’ he said as the unpleasant, shaking old man with the malevolent, mouthing jaw was removed. �If it wasn’t for the letter[63 - If it wasn’t for the letter – Если бы не письмо], I’d say he did it.’ �What about the men he mentions?’

�A bad crowd—not one of them would stick at perjury.

I’ve no doubt he was with them the greater part of the evening. A lot depends on whether any one saw him near the shop between half-past five and six.’

Poirot shook his head thoughtfully.

�You are sure nothing was taken from the shop?’

The inspector shrugged his shoulders.

�That depends. A packet or two of cigarettes might have been taken—but you’d hardly commit murder for that.