Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
2. The Tokatlian Hotel
Alltheworldelectstotraveltonight!”
“Allthesame,youmustfindroomforthisgentlemanhere.Heisafriendofmine.HecanhavetheNo.16.”
“Itistaken,Monsieur.”
“What?TheNo.16?”
Aglanceofunderstandingpassedbetweenthem,andtheconductorsmiled.Hewasatall,sallowmanofmiddleage.
“Butyes,Monsieur.AsItoldyou,wearefull—full—everywhere.”
“Butwhatpassesitself?”demandedM.Boucangrily.“Thereisaconferencesomewhere?Itisaparty?”
“No,Monsieur.Itisonlychance.Itjusthappensthatmanypeoplehaveelectedtotraveltonight.”
M.Boucmadeaclickingsoundofannoyance.
“AtBelgrade,”hesaid,“therewillbetheslipcoachfromAthens.TherewillalsobetheBucharest-Pariscoach—butwedonotreachBelgradeuntiltomorrowevening.Theproblemisfortonight.Thereisnosecond-classberthfree?”
“Thereisasecond-classberth,Monsieur—”
“Well,then—”
“Butitisalady’sberth.ThereisalreadyaGermanwomaninthecompartment—alady’smaid.”
“Là,là,thatisawkward,”saidM.Bouc.
“Donotdistressyourself,myfriend,”saidPoirot.“Imusttravelinanordinarycarriage.”
“Notatall.Notatall.”Heturnedoncemoretotheconductor.“Everyonehasarrived?”
“Itistrue,”saidtheman,“thatthereisonepassengerwhohasnotyetarrived.”
Hespokeslowlywithhesitation.
“Butspeakthen?”
“No.7berth—asecond-class.Thegentlemanhasnotyetcome,anditisfourminutestonine.”
“Whoisit?”
“AnEnglishman,”theconductorconsultedhislist.“AM.Harris.
