Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
15. The Evidence of the Passengers’ Luggage
“Youdonotseemtorealizethatonemayhavefriendsawaitingone’sarrivalinLondon,andthataday’sdelayupsetsarrangementsandcausesalotofannoyance.”
“Ah,itislikethat?Therearefriendsawaitingyourarrival?Youdonotwanttocausetheminconvenience?”
“Naturally.”
“Andyet—itiscurious—”
“Whatiscurious?”
“Onthistrain—againwehaveadelay.Andthistimeamoreseriousdelay,sincethereisnopossibilityofsendingatelegramtoyourfriendsorofgettingthemonthelong—thelong—”
“Thelongdistance?Thetelephone,youmean.”
“Ah,yes,theportmanteaucall,asyousayinEngland.”
MaryDebenhamsmiledalittleinspiteofherself.
“Trunkcall,”shecorrected.“Yes,asyousay,itisextremelyannoyingnottobeabletogetanywordthrough,eitherbytelephoneortelegraph.”
“Andyet,mademoiselle,thistimeyourmannerisquitedifferent.Younolongerbetraytheimpatience.Youarecalmandphilosophical.”
MaryDebenhamflushedandbitherlip.Shenolongerfeltinclinedtosmile.
“Youdonotanswer,Mademoiselle?”
“Iamsorry.Ididnotknowthattherewasanythingtoanswer.”
“Theexplanationofyourchangeofattitude,Mademoiselle.”
“Don’tyouthinkthatyouaremakingratherafussaboutnothing,M.Poirot?”
Poirotspreadouthishandsinanapologeticgesture.
“Itisperhapsafaultwithusdetectives.Weexpectthebehaviourtobealwaysconsistent.Wedonotallowforchangesofmood.”
MaryDebenhammadenoreply.
