Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
13. Summary of the Passengers’ Evidence
Inthecaseofmanyofthepassengers,toestablishtheirbonafideswillbedifficult;inmostcasesitwillprobablynotbeattempted,especiallysincethereseemsnothinginthewayofsuspicionattachingtothem.ButinHardman’scaseitissimple.Eitherheisthepersonherepresentshimselftobeorheisnot.ThereforeIsaythatallwillprovetobeinorder.”
“Youacquithimofsuspicion?”
“Notatall.Youmisunderstandme.ForallIknow,anyAmericandetectivemighthavehisownprivatereasonsforwishingtomurderRatchett.No,whatIamsayingisthatIthinkwecanacceptHardman’sownaccountofhimself.Thisstory,then,thathetellsofRatchett’sseekinghimoutandemployinghim,isnotunlikelyandismostprobably,thoughnotofcoursecertainly,true.Ifwearegoingtoacceptitastrue,wemustseeifthereisanyconfirmationofit.Wefinditinratheranunlikelyplace—intheevidenceofHildegardeSchmidt.HerdescriptionofthemanshesawinWagonLituniformtalliesexactly.Isthereanyfurtherconfirmationofthesetwostories?Thereis.ThereisthebuttonfoundinhercompartmentbyMrs.Hubbard.Andthereisalsoanothercorroboratingstatementwhichyoumaynothavenoticed.”
“Whatisthat?”
“ThefactthatbothColonelArbuthnotandHectorMacQueenmentionthattheconductorpassedtheircarriage.
