Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
13. Summary of the Passengers’ Evidence
Theyattachednoimportancetothefact,butMessieurs,PierreMichelhasdeclaredthathedidnotleavehisseatexceptoncertainspecifiedoccasions,noneofwhichwouldtakehimdowntothefarendofthecoachpastthecompartmentinwhichArbuthnotandMacQueenweresitting.
“Thereforethisstory,thestoryofasmalldarkmanwithawomanishvoicedressedinWagonLituniform,restsonthetestimony—directorindirect—offourwitnesses.”
“Onesmallpoint,”saidDr.Constantine.“IfHildegardeSchmidt’sstoryistrue,howisitthattherealconductordidnotmentionhavingseenherwhenhecametoanswerMrs.Hubbard’sbell?”
“Thatisexplained,Ithink.WhenhearrivedtoanswerMrs.Hubbard,themaidwasinwithhermistress.Whenshefinallyreturnedtoherowncompartment,theconductorwasinwithMrs.Hubbard.”
M.Bouchadbeenwaitingwithdifficultyuntiltheyhadfinished.
“Yes,yes,myfriend,”hesaidimpatientlytoPoirot.“ButwhilstIadmireyourcaution,yourmethodofadvancingastepatatime,Isubmitthatyouhavenotyettouchedthepointatissue.Weareallagreedthatthispersonexists.Thepointis—wheredidhego?”
Poirotshookhisheadreprovingly.
“Youareinerror.Youareinclinedtoputthecartbeforethehorse.BeforeIaskmyself,‘Wheredidthismanvanishto?’Iaskmyself,‘Didsuchamanreallyexist?’Because,yousee,ifthemanwereaninvention—afabrication—howmucheasiertomakehimdisappear!SoItrytoestablishfirstthattherereallyissuchafleshandbloodperson.
