Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
15. The Evidence of the Passengers’ Luggage
Afterall,theycanhavenothingtodowiththematter.WhyshouldIstirupneedlesstroubleformyself.”
“Idonotagreewithyou,”saidPoirot.“IfeelsurethatCountAndrenyiwillbereasonable.Atanyrate,letusmaketheattempt.”
And,beforeM.Bouccouldreply,herappedsharplyonthedoorofNo.13.
Avoicefromwithincried,“Entrez.”
TheCountwassittinginthecornernearthedoorreadinganewspaper.TheCountesswascurledupintheoppositecornernearthewindow.Therewasapillowbehindherhead,andsheseemedtohavebeenasleep.
“Pardon,MonsieurleComte,”beganPoirot.“Prayforgivethisintrusion.Itisthatwearemakingasearchofallthebaggageonthetrain.Inmostcasesamereformality.Butithastobedone.M.Boucsuggeststhat,asyouhaveadiplomaticpassport,youmightreasonablyclaimtobeexemptfromsuchasearch.”
TheCountconsideredforamoment.
“Thankyou,”hesaid.“ButIdonotthinkthatIcareforanexceptiontobemadeinmycase.Ishouldpreferthatourbaggageshouldbeexaminedlikethatoftheotherpassengers.”
Heturnedtohiswife.
“Youdonotobject,Ihope,Elena?”
“Notatall,”saidtheCountesswithouthesitation.
Arapidandsomewhatperfunctorysearchfollowed.Poirotseemedtobetryingtomaskanembarrassmentinmakingvarioussmallpointlessremarks,suchas:
“Hereisalabelallwetonyoursuitcase,Madame,”ashelifteddownabluemoroccocasewithinitialsonitandacoronet.
TheCountessdidnotreplytothisobservation.
