Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
15. The Evidence of the Passengers’ Luggage
Itis,perhaps,bettertohaveahomelywomanwhomonecantrustthanamorechicmaid—forexample,somesmartParisienne.”
Hesawthedarkintelligenteyescomeslowlyroundandfastenthemselvesuponhisface.
“Whatexactlyareyouimplying,M.Poirot?”
“Nothing,Madame.I?Nothing.”
“Butyes.Youthink,doyounot,thatIshouldhaveasmartFrenchwomantoattendtomytoilet?”
“Itwouldbe,perhaps,moreusual,Madame.”
Sheshookherhead.
“Schmidtisdevotedtome.”Hervoicedweltlingeringlyonthewords.“Devotion—c’estimpayable.”
TheGermanwomanhadarrivedwiththekeys.ThePrincessspoketoherinherownlanguage,tellinghertoopenthevalisesandhelpthegentlemenintheirsearch.SheherselfremainedinthecorridorlookingoutatthesnowandPoirotremainedwithher,leavingM.Bouctothetaskofsearchingtheluggage.
Sheregardedhimwithagrimsmile.
“Well,Monsieur,doyounotwishtoseewhatmyvalisescontain?”
Heshookhishead.
“Madame,itisaformality,thatisall.”
“Areyousosure?”
“Inyourcase,yes.”
“AndyetIknewandlovedSoniaArmstrong.Whatdoyouthink,then?ThatIwouldnotsoilmyhandswithkillingsuchcanailleasthatmanCassetti?Well,perhapsyouareright.”
Shewassilentaminuteortwo,thenshesaid:
“Withsuchamanasthat,doyouknowwhatIshouldhavelikedtohavedone?Ishouldhavelikedtocalltomyservants:“Flogthismantodeathandflinghimoutontherubbishheap.”ThatisthewaythingsweredonewhenIwasyoung.Monsieur.”
Stillhedidnotspeak,justlistenedattentively.
