Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе / The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Книга для чтения на английском языке.

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Poirot’s face did not betray a trace of whether he was disappointed or otherwise[77 - Poirot’s face did not betray a trace of whether he was disappointed or otherwise. – Выражение лица Пуаро не выказало и тени разочарования или чего-либо подобного.]. He merely remarked:

‘Good, we will leave that and pass on. Have you any reason to believe that your mistress was likely to take a sleeping powder last night?’

‘Not last night, sir, I know she didn’t.’

‘Why do you know so positively?’

‘Because the box was empty.

She took the last one two days ago, and she didn’t have any more made up.’

‘You are quite sure of that?’

‘Positive, sir.’

‘Then that is cleared up! By the way, your mistress didn’t ask you to sign any paper yesterday?’

‘To sign a paper? No, sir.’

‘When Mr Hastings and Mr Lawrence came in yesterday evening, they found your mistress busy writing letters. I suppose you can give me no idea to whom these letters were addressed?’

‘I’m afraid I couldn’t, sir. I was out in the evening.

Perhaps Annie could tell you, though she’s a careless girl. Never cleared the coffee cups away last night. That’s what happens when I’m not here to look after things.’

Poirot lifted his hand.

‘Since they have been left, Dorcas, leave them a little longer, I pray you. I should like to examine them.’

‘Very well, sir.’

‘What time did you go out last evening?’

‘About six o’clock, sir.’

‘Thank you, Dorcas, that is all I have to ask you.’ He rose and strolled to the window.

‘I have been admiring these flower beds. How many gardeners are employed here, by the way?’

‘Only three now, sir. Five, we had, before the war, when it was kept as a gentleman’s place should be. I wish you could have seen it then, sir. A fair sight it was. But now there’s only old Manning, and young William, and a new-fashioned woman gardener in breeches and such-like[78 - a new-fashioned woman gardener in breeches and such-like – новомодная женщина-садовник в бриджах или чем-то подобном].

Ah, these are dreadful times!’

‘The good times will come again, Dorcas. At least, we hope so. Now, will you send Annie to me here?’

‘Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.’

‘How did you know that Mrs Inglethorp took sleeping powders?’ I asked, in lively curiosity, as Dorcas left the room. ‘And about the lost key and the duplicate?’

‘One thing at a time[79 - One thing at a time. – Всему свое время.]. As to the sleeping powders, I knew by this.