Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
13. Summary of the Passengers’ Evidence
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“Andhavingarrivedatthefactthatthereis—ehbien—whereishenow?”
“Thereareonlytwoanswerstothat,moncher.Eitherheisstillhiddenonthetraininaplaceofsuchextraordinaryingenuitythatwecannoteventhinkofit,orelseheis,asonemightsay,twopersons.Thatis,heisbothhimself—themanfearedbyM.Ratchett—andapassengeronthetrainsowelldisguisedthatM.Ratchettdidnotrecognizehim.”
“Itisanidea,that,”saidM.Bouc,hisfacelightingup.Thenitcloudedoveragain.“Butthereisoneobjection—”
Poirottookthewordsoutofhismouth.
“Theheightoftheman.Itisthatyouwouldsay?WiththeexceptionofM.Ratchett’svalet,allthepassengersarebigmen—theItalian,ColonelArbuthnot,HectorMacQueen,CountAndrenyi.Well,thatleavesusthevalet—notaverylikelysupposition.Butthereisanotherpossibility.Rememberthe‘womanish’voice.Thatgivesusachoiceofalternatives.Themanmaybedisguisedasawoman,or,alternatively,hemayactuallybeawoman.Atallwomandressedinman’sclotheswouldlooksmall.”
“ButsurelyRatchettwouldhaveknown—”
“Perhapshedidknow.Perhaps,alreadythiswomanhadattemptedhislifewearingmen’sclothesthebettertoaccomplishherpurpose.Ratchettmayhaveguessedthatshewouldusethesametrickagain,sohetellsHardmantolookforaman.Buthementions,however,awomanishvoice.”
“Itisapossibility,”saidM.Bouc.“But—”
“Listen,myfriend,IthinkthatIshouldnowtellyouofcertaininconsistenciesnoticedbyDr.Constantine.
