Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
11. The Evidence of Miss Debenham
”
Shenodded.
“Somebodyelseonthistrain?”
“Yes.”
“Whoseisit?”
“Itoldyoujustnow.Idon’tknow.Iwokeupthismorningaboutfiveo’clockwiththefeelingthatthetrainhadbeenstandingstillforalongtime.Iopenedthedoorandlookedoutintothecorridor,thinkingwemightbeatastation.Isawsomeoneinascarletkimonosomewaydownthecorridor.”
“Andyoudon’tknowwhoitwas?Wasshefairordarkorgrey-haired?”
“Ican’tsay.ShehadonashinglecapandIonlysawthebackofherhead.”
“Andinbuild?”
“Tallishandslim,Ishouldjudge,butit’sdifficulttosay.Thekimonowasembroideredwithdragons.”
“Yes,yesthatisright,dragons.”
Hewassilentaminute.Hemurmuredtohimself:
“Icannotunderstand.Icannotunderstand.Noneofthismakessense.”
Then,lookingup,hesaid:
“Ineednotkeepyoufurther,Mademoiselle.”
“Oh!”sheseemedrathertakenaback,butrosepromptly.Inthedoorway,however,shehesitatedaminuteandthencameback.
“TheSwedishlady—MissOhlsson,isit?—seemsratherworried.Shesaysyoutoldhershewasthelastpersontoseethismanalive.Shethinks,Ibelieve,thatyoususpectheronthataccount.Can’tItellherthatshehasmadeamistake?Really,youknow,sheisthekindofcreaturewhowouldn’thurtafly.”
Shesmiledalittleasshespoke.
“WhattimewasitthatshewenttofetchtheaspirinfromMrs.Hubbard?”
“Justafterhalf-pastten.”
“Shewasaway—howlong?”
“Aboutfiveminutes.”
“Didsheleavethecompartmentagainduringthenight?”
“No
