Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
8. The Evidence of Colonel Arbuthnot
Thereisnothingyouyourselfcanrecalllastnightthatinanywaystruckyou—orshallwesaystrikesyounowlookingback—assuspicious?”
Arbuthnotconsideredforamomentortwo.
“No,”hesaid.“Nothingatall.Unless—”hehesitated.
“Butyes,continue,Iprayofyou.”
“Well,it’snothingreally,”saidtheColonelslowly.“Butyousaidanything.”
“Yes,yes.Goon.”
“Oh,it’snothing.Ameredetail.ButasIgotbacktomycompartmentInoticedthatthedooroftheonebeyondmine—theendone,youknow—”
“Yes,No.16.”
“Well,thedoorofitwasnotquiteclosed.Andthefellowinsidepeeredoutinafurtivesortofway.Thenhepulledthedoortoquickly.Ofcourse,Iknowthere’snothinginthat—butitjuststruckmeasabitodd.Imean,it’squiteusualtoopenadoorandstickyourheadoutifyouwanttoseeanything.Butitwasthefurtivewayhediditthatcaughtmyattention.”
“Ye-es,”saidPoirotdoubtfully.
“Itoldyoutherewasnothingtoit,”saidArbuthnotapologetically.“Butyouknowwhatitis—earlyhoursofthemorning—everythingverystill—thethinghadasinisterlook—likeadetectivestory.Allnonsense,really.”
Herose.
“Well,ifyoudon’twantmeanymore—”
“Thankyou,ColonelArbuthnot,thereisnothingelse.”
Thesoldierhesitatedforaminute.Hisfirstnaturaldistasteforbeingquestionedby“foreigners”hadevaporated.
“AboutMissDebenham,”hesaidratherawkwardly.“Youcantakeitfrommethatshe’sallright.She’sapukkasahib.”
Flushingalittle,hewithdrew
