"Bruce, Leo - Cold Blood" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bruce Leo)

"THE trouble is," said Beef while we sat awaiting the appearance of Theo Gray, "you've made me look so silly in some of your books that we can't tell why I'm being called in. This man may be the murderer, for all we know, consulting me because he thinks I shall never find out and he wants to show willing."

"That's an exaggeration," I retorted. "I've always admitted that you've got your man."

"But you've made it look more like luck than judgement very often."

How different, I could not help reflecting, was the conversation of Holmes and Watson while they sat waiting for their clients not half a mile away. If Watson had to make any apology it was for himself, not for the man whose achievements he proudly chronicled, whereas when I looked across the sitting - room at Beef I know how much I had to explain.

There was a short ring at the door and we could hear Beef's wife hurrying forward from the kitchen. I had tried tactfully to explain to her the necessity, on occasions like this, of giving a professional air to the consultation, enquiring the visitor's name and announcing him, but my efforts were in vain.

"Gent to see yon," she said, pushing her head in and leaving our visitor to come forward after she had returned to the kitchen.

We both rose.

Mr. Theo Gray was rather a distinguished - looking man with thick hair prematurely white and a straight soldierly bearing. A clipped moustache and a well - tailored suit emphasized this. He did not look distraught or nervous, but he was clearly not a man to exhibit his emotions. Beef held out his large red hand. "This is a pleasure," he said heartily, then introduced me. Theo Gray wasted little time on civilities.

"I want your help," he said gravely to Beef.

"You shall have it," Beef replied importantly. "I've read what's been published of the case."

"That is very little. There are some baffling features of it which have not been mentioned. What I want you to do is to come down to Hokestones and discover the truth. I should like you to come at once because at any moment the police may arrest an innocent man."

"That's not very likely," cautioned Beef. "The police don't often charge anyone with murder until they're sure."

"But as far as I have been able to gather they are sure. They believe that Cosmo Ducrow was murdered by his nephew Rudolf."

"And wasn't he?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said, wasn't he?"

"Of course he wasn't. Rudolf was very fond of his uncle and does not know what it means to be covetous. Unless we have that straight it's not much good your working on the case."

I thought it was time for me to interrupt lest Beef by his tactlessness should lose his opportunity.

"What Sergeant Beef intended ..." I began, but Beef broke in.

"Look here, Mr. Gray," he said. "You've known this young man for years. You couldn't imagine him doing anything like this. But can you imagine anyone else doing it, for that matter? Murder is always a surprise unless it is just a crime of violence by a thug. Now I'm not saying that I think Rudolf Ducrow murdered his uncle. I don't know anything about it yet. But appearances are very much against him."

"Of course they are. That is exactly why I have come to you. I don't want to see this young man put to the terrible ordeal of a trial. The only way to prevent that is for someone to discover the truth."

"So in your mind discovering the truth and proving Rudolf Ducrow's innocence are the same thing? You're so sure he did not do it that you are employing me to investigate?"

"That is so."

"Why me?" asked Beef suddenly and rather loudly.

There was the hint of a smile on Theo Gray's face as he answered.