Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
10. The Evidence of the Italian
“Itisveryrespectable,verywelldressed,butunderneathitisallwrong.Outofmyexperience,Ishouldsayhewasthebigcrook.Igiveyoumyopinionforwhatitisworth.”
“Youropinionisquiteright,”saidPoirotdryly.“RatchettwasCassetti,thekidnapper.”
“WhatdidItellyou?Ihavelearnedtobeveryacute—toreadtheface.Itisnecessary.OnlyinAmericadotheyteachyoutheproperwaytosell.”
“YouremembertheArmstrongcase?
“Idonotquiteremember.Thename,yes?Itwasalittlegirl—ababy—wasitnot?”
“Yes,averytragicaffair.”
TheItalianseemedthefirstpersontodemurtothisview.
“Ah,well,thesethingstheyhappen,”hesaidphilosophically,“inagreatcivilizationsuchasAmerica—”
Poirotcuthimshort.
“DidyouevercomeacrossanymembersoftheArmstrongfamily?”
“No,Idonotthinkso.Itisdifficulttosay.Iwillgiveyousomefigures.LastyearaloneIsold—”
“Monsieur,prayconfineyourselftothepoint.”
TheItalian’shandsflungthemselvesoutinagestureofapology.
“Athousandpardons.”
“Tellme,ifyouplease,yourexactmovementslastnightfromdinneronwards.”
“Withpleasure.IstayhereaslongasIcan.Itismoreamusing.ItalktotheAmericangentlemanatmytable.Hesellstypewriterribbons.ThenIgobacktomycompartment.Itisempty.ThemiserableJohnBullwhosharesitwithmeisawayattendingtohismaster.Atlasthecomesback—verylongfaceasusual.Hewillnottalk—saysyesandno.Amiserablerace,theEnglish—notsympathetic.Hesitsinthecorner,verystiff,readingabook.
