Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
14. The Evidence of the Weapon
Itistoomuchofagoodthingthateachofthemshouldselectanidenticalweapon.”
“Astothat,thecoincidenceisnot,perhaps,sogreatasitseems,”saidthedoctor.“ThousandsoftheseshamEasterndaggersaremadeandshippedtothebazaarsofConstantinople.”
“Youconsolemealittle,butonlyalittle,”saidPoirot.Helookedthoughtfullyatthedoorinfrontofhim,then,liftingoffthespongebag,hetriedthehandle.Thedoordidnotbudge.Aboutafootabovethehandlewasthedoorbolt,Poirotdrewitbackandtriedagain,butstillthedoorremainedfast.
“Welockeditfromtheotherside,youremember,”saidthedoctor.
“Thatistrue,”saidPoirotabsently.Heseemedtobethinkingaboutsomethingelse.Hisbrowwasfurrowedasthoughinperplexity.
“Itagrees,doesitnot?”saidM.Bouc.“Themanpassesthroughthiscarriage.Asheshutsthecommunicatingdoorbehindhimhefeelsthespongebag.Athoughtcomestohimandhequicklyslipsthebloodstainedknifeinside.Then,allunwittingthathehasawakenedMrs.Hubbard,heslipsoutthroughtheotherdoorintothecorridor.”
“Asyousay,”murmuredPoirot.“Thatishowitmusthavehappened.”
Butthepuzzledlookdidnotleavehisface.
“Butwhatisit?”demandedM.Bouc.“Thereissomething,istherenot,thatdoesnotsatisfyyou?”
Poirotdartedaquicklookathim.
“Thesamepointdoesnotstrikeyou?No,evidentlynot.Well,itisasmallmatter.”
Theconductorlookedintothecarriage.
“TheAmericanladyiscomingback.”
Dr.Constantinelookedratherguilty.Hehad,hefelt,treatedMrs.
