"Simon Hawke - Wizard 4 - The Wizard of Rue Morgue" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hawke Simon)

"What evidence have you got against him?"
"Well, this is all somewhat irregular, mademoiselle," he said, "I am not in the
habit of discussing police business with outsiders, especially criminals." He smiled.
"Correction, 'suspected criminals.' However, since I am interested in seeing justice
served and you have been kind enough to join me for breakfast, then speaking strictly
off the record, I can tell you what I have already said to his attorney. It does not look
very good for your friend. He engaged young Joelle Muset to model for him in the
nude. Her friends have testified to this and there is no question but that she was in his
studio on the night that she was murdered. He admitted it. The arresting officers found
the canvas that Siegal was working on that night. It was unfinished, yet it was a
painting of Mademoiselle Muset. Her face is clearly identifiable and the pose that she
was in was quite, shall we say, provocative?"
"All of Max's nudes are highly provocative," said Jacqueline. "That in itself
proves nothing."
"Perhaps," said Renaud, "but the painting was discovered impaled upon its easel.
Siegal evidently smashed it over the easel in one of his famous fits of temper. He is
known for being violent on occasion."
"That still doesn't mean he killed her," said Jacqueline.
"Perhaps not, but it does indicate that there was some sort of violent argument,"
Renaud replied. "And aside from his famous temper, Max Siegal is also known for his
romantic liaisons with many of his models and he has been accused of assault before. It
would appear as though he had tried to pursue a sexual liaison with Mademoiselle
Muset, but, she protested and one thing unfortunately led to another. Siegal admitted to
being very drunk that night. And some of the things he said to his arresting officers
clearly indicate his guilt."
"What sort of things?"
"He referred to the deceased as 'a little bitch' and said he knew that something like
this would happen, that he should have known she would be trouble. While being
interrogated, he asked to be arrested and to call his lawyer. He confessed that he could
not take it anymore. That he hadn't the stomach fork."
"But did he actually confess to having killed her?"
"Well, not in so many words," Renaud said. "By the time he realized what was
happening, he had apparently regained enough of his sobriety to start denying it, but
then they always do, don't they? And he resisted arrest, as well. Would an innocent
man do that?"
"Max would," Jacqueline said wryly. "How was the girl killed?"
Renaud pursed his lips. "She was murdered in a particularly violent manner,
mademoiselle," he said. "Her body was discovered in the apartment that she shared
with two other young women in the Rue Morgue, just off the Rue St. Roch. One of
them is her sister. They found the body when they came home from work at the Cafe
Noir, where they are employed as dancers. She couldn't have been dead more than an
hour or two. Siegal must have followed her home from his studio, gained entrance,
found her alone and then attacked her. She was found nude, with her body badly
mutilated."


16
 "Was there any blood on him when he was arrested?" Jacqueline said.
"No, but then he would have had ample time to wash it off," Renaud said.
"Was any bloody clothing found in his studio?"