Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
14. The Evidence of the Weapon
Mrs.HubbardturnedgratefullytoPoirot.
“That’svurrykindanddelicateofyou.Iappreciateit,Iassureyou.”
“Donotmentionit,Madame.Wewillcomewithyouandseeyoucomfortablyinstalled.”
Mrs.Hubbardwasescortedbythethreementohernewhome.Shelookedroundherhappily.
“Thisisfine.”
“Itsuitsyou,Madame?Itis,yousee,exactlylikethecompartmentyouhaveleft.”
“That’sso—onlyitfacestheotherway.Butthatdoesn’tmatter,forthesetrainsgofirstonewayandthentheother.Isaidtomydaughter,‘Iwantacarriagefacingtheengine,’andshesaid,‘Why,Momma,that’llbenogoodtoyou,forifyougotosleeponeway,whenyouwakeupthetrain’sgoingtheother.’Anditwasquitetruewhatshesaid.Why,lasteveningwewentintoBelgradeonewayandouttheother.”
“Atanyrate,Madame,youarequitehappyandcontentednow?”
“Well,no,Iwouldn’tsaythat.Herewearestuckinasnowdriftandnobodydoinganythingaboutit,andmyboatsailingthedayaftertomorrow.”
“Madame,”saidM.Bouc,“weareallinthesamecase—everyoneofus.”
“Well,that’strue,”admittedMrs.Hubbard.“Butnobodyelsehashadamurdererwalkingrightthroughtheircompartmentinthemiddleofthenight.”
“Whatstillpuzzlesme,Madame,”saidPoirot,“ishowthemangotintoyourcompartmentifthecommunicatingdoorwasboltedasyousay.Youaresurethatitwasbolted?”
“Why,theSwedishladytrieditbeforemyeyes.”
“Letusjustreconstructthatlittlescene.
