Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
8. The Evidence of Colonel Arbuthnot
“Yes,I’malmostsureitwas.”
“Well,wewillpassfromthat.HaveyoueverbeeninAmerica,ColonelArbuthnot?”
“Never.Don’twanttogo.”
“DidyoueverknowaColonelArmstrong?”
“Armstrong—Armstrong—I’veknowntwoorthreeArmstrongs.TherewasTommyArmstronginthe60th—youdon’tmeanhim?AndSelbyArmstrong—hewaskilledontheSomme.”
“ImeantheColonelArmstrongwhomarriedanAmericanwifeandwhoseonlychildwaskidnappedandkilled.”
“Ah,yes,Irememberreadingaboutthat—shockingaffair.Idon’tthinkIactuallyevercameacrossthefellow,though,ofcourse,Iknewofhim.TobyArmstrong.Nicefellow.Everybodylikedhim.Hehadaverydistinguishedcareer.GottheV.C.”
“ThemanwhowaskilledlastnightwasthemanresponsibleforthemurderofColonelArmstrong’schild.”
Arbuthnot’sfacegrewrathergrim.
“Theninmyopiniontheswinedeservedwhathegot.ThoughIwouldhavepreferredtohaveseenhimproperlyhanged—orelectrocuted,Isuppose,overthere.”
“Infact,ColonelArbuthnot,youpreferlawandordertoprivatevengeance?”
“Well,youcan’tgoabouthavingbloodfeudsandstabbingeachotherlikeCorsicansortheMafia,”saidtheColonel.“Saywhatyoulike,trialbyjuryisasoundsystem.”
Poirotlookedathimthoughtfullyforaminuteortwo.
“Yes,”hesaid.“Iamsurethatwouldbeyourview.Well,ColonelArbuthnot,IdonotthinkthereisanythingmoreIhavetoaskyou.
