Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
13. Summary of the Passengers’ Evidence
Tobeginwith,ifthecrimewascommittedataquarterpastone,themurderercannothaveleftthetrain,andthequestionarises:Whereishe?Andwhoishe?
“Tobeginwith,letusexaminetheevidencecarefully.Wefirsthearoftheexistenceofthisman—thesmalldarkmanwithawomanishvoice—fromthemanHardman.HesaysthatRatchetttoldhimofthispersonandemployedhimtowatchoutfortheman.Thereisnoevidencetosupportthis—wehaveonlyHardman’swordforit.Letusnextexaminethequestion:IsHardmanthepersonhepretendstobe—anoperativeofaNewYorkDetectiveAgency?
“Whattomymindissointerestinginthiscaseisthatwehavenoneofthefacilitiesaffordedtothepolice.Wecannotinvestigatethebonafidesofanyofthesepeople.Wehavetorelysolelyondeduction.That,tome,makesthematterverymuchmoreinteresting.Thereisnoroutinework.Itisamatteroftheintellect.Iaskmyself,‘CanweacceptHardman’saccountofhimself?’ImakemydecisionandIanswer,‘Yes.’IamoftheopinionthatwecanacceptHardman’saccountofhimself.”
“Yourelyontheintuition—whattheAmericanscallthehunch?”saidDr.Constantine.
“Notatall.Iregardtheprobabilities.Hardmanistravellingwithafalsepassport—thatwillatoncemakehimanobjectofsuspicion.ThefirstthingthatthepolicewilldowhentheydoarriveuponthesceneistodetainHardmanandcableastowhetherhisaccountofhimselfistrue.
