Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
8. The Evidence of Colonel Arbuthnot
“What,”askedDr.Constantinewithinterest,“doesapukkasahibmean?”
“Itmeans,”saidPoirot,“thatMissDebenham’sfatherandbrotherswereatthesamekindofschoolasColonelArbuthnot.”
“Oh!”saidDr.Constantine,disappointed.“Thenithasnothingtodowiththecrimeatall.”
“Exactly,”saidPoirot.
Hefellintoareverie,beatingalighttattooonthetable.Thenhelookedup.
“ColonelArbuthnotsmokesapipe,”hesaid.“InthecompartmentofMr.RatchettIfoundapipecleaner.M.Ratchettsmokedonlycigars.”
“Youthink—?”
“Heistheonlymansofarwhoadmitstosmokingapipe.AndheknewofColonelArmstrong—perhapsactuallydidknowhimthoughhewon’tadmitit.”
“Soyouthinkitpossible—”
Poirotshookhisheadviolently.
“Thatisjustit—itisimpossible—quiteimpossible—thatanhonourable,slightlystupid,uprightEnglishmanshouldstabanenemytwelvetimeswithaknife!Doyounotfeel,myfriends,howimpossibleitis?”
“Thatisthepsychology,”saidM.Bouc.
“Andonemustrespectthepsychology.ThiscrimehasasignatureanditiscertainlynotthesignatureofColonelArbuthnot.Butnowtoournextinterview.”
ThistimeM.BoucdidnotmentiontheItalian.Buthethoughtofhim.
