Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
14. The Evidence of the Weapon
Andasforthosemosquesandputtingonthosegreatshufflingthingsoveryourshoes—wherewasI?”
“YouweresayingthatMr.Johnsonmetyou.”
“That’sso,andhesawmeonboardaFrenchMessagerieboatforSmyrna,andmydaughter’shusbandwaswaitingrightonthequay.Whathe’llsaywhenhehearsaboutallthis!Mydaughtersaidthiswouldbejustthesafest,easiestwayimaginable.‘Youjustsitinyourcarriage,’shesaid,‘andyougetrighttoParrusandtheretheAmericanExpresswillmeetyou.’And,ohdear,whatamItodoaboutcancellingmysteamshippassage?Ioughttoletthemknow.Ican’tpossiblymakeitnow.Thisisjusttooterrible—”
Mrs.Hubbardshowedsignsoftearsoncemore.
Poirot,whohadbeenfidgetingslightly,seizedhisopportunity.
“Youhavehadashock,Madame.Therestaurantattendantshallbeinstructedtobringyoualongsometeaandsomebiscuits.”
“Idon’tknowthatI’msosetontea,”saidMrs.Hubbardtearfully.“That’smoreanEnglishhabit.”
“Coffee,then,Madame.Youneedsomestimulant.”
“Thatcognac’smademyheadfeelmightyfunny.IthinkIwouldlikesomecoffee.”
“Excellent.Youmustreviveyourforces.”
“My,whatafunnyexpression.”
“Butfirst,Madame,alittlematterofroutine.YoupermitthatImakeasearchofyourbaggage?”
“Whateverfor?”
“Weareabouttocommenceasearchofallthepassengers’luggage.Idonotwanttoremindyouofanunpleasantexperience,butyourspongebag—remember.”
“Mercy!Perhapsyou’dbetter!Ijustcouldn’tbeartogetanymoresurprisesofthatkind
