Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
13. Summary of the Passengers’ Evidence
Poirotclearedhisthroatandstraightenedapieceofblotting-paper.
“Letusreviewthecaseasitstandsatthismoment.First,therearecertainindisputablefacts.ThismanRatchett,orCassetti,wasstabbedintwelveplacesanddiedlastnight.Thatisfactone.”
“Igrantittoyou—Igrantit,monvieux,”saidM.Boucwithagestureofirony.
HerculePoirotwasnotatallputout.Hecontinuedcalmly.
“IwillpassoverforthemomentcertainratherpeculiarappearanceswhichDr.ConstantineandIhavealreadydiscussedtogether.Iwillcometothempresently.Thenextfactofimportance,tomymind,isthetimeofthecrime.”
“That,again,isoneofthefewthingswedoknow,”saidM.Bouc.“Thecrimewascommittedataquarterpastonethismorning.Everythinggoestoshowthatwasso.”
“Noteverything.Youexaggerate.Thereis,certainly,afairamountofevidencetosupportthatview.”
“Iamgladyouadmitthatatleast.”
Poirotwentoncalmly,unperturbedbytheinterruption.
“Wehavebeforeusthreepossibilities:
“One:Thatthecrimewascommitted,asyousay,ataquarterpastone.ThisissupportedbytheevidenceoftheGermanwoman,HildegardeSchmidt.ItagreeswiththeevidenceofDr.Constantine.
“Possibilitytwo:Thecrimewascommittedlaterandtheevidenceofthewatchwasdeliberatelyfaked.
“Possibilitythree:Thecrimewascommittedearlierandtheevidencefakedforthesamereasonasabove.
“Now,ifweacceptpossibilityoneasthemostlikelytohaveoccurredandtheonesupportedbymostevidence,wemustalsoacceptcertainfactsarisingfromit.
