Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
12. The Evidence of the German Lady’s Maid
”
“Ah!Monsieur,itisalady’shandkerchief,that.Averyexpensivehandkerchief.Embroideredbyhand.ItcomesfromParis,Ishouldsay.”
“Itisnotyoursandyoudonotknowwhoseitis?”
“I?Oh,no,Monsieur.”
Ofthethreelistening,onlyPoirotcaughtthenuanceofhesitationinthereply.
M.Boucwhisperedinhisear.Poirotnoddedandsaidtothewoman:
“Thethreesleepingcarattendantsarecomingin.WillyoubesokindastotellmewhichistheoneyoumetlastnightasyouweregoingwiththerugtothePrincess?”
Thethreemenentered.PierreMichel,thebigblondconductoroftheAthens-Pariscoach,andthestoutburlyconductoroftheBucharestone.
HildegardeSchmidtlookedatthemandimmediatelyshookherhead.
“No,Monsieur,”shesaid.“NoneoftheseisthemanIsawlastnight.”
“Butthesearetheonlyconductorsonthetrain.Youmustbemistaken.”
“Iamquitesure,Monsieur.Thesearealltall,bigmen.TheoneIsawwassmallanddark.Hehadalittlemoustache.Hisvoicewhenhesaid‘Pardon’wasweaklikeawoman’s.Indeed,Irememberhimverywell,Monsieur.”
