Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
15. The Evidence of the Passengers’ Luggage
“YouknowColonelArbuthnotwell,Mademoiselle?”
Hefanciedthatshewasrelievedbythechangeofsubject.
“Imethimforthefirsttimeonthisjourney.”
“HaveyouanyreasontosuspectthathemayhaveknownthismanRatchett?”
Sheshookherheaddecisively.
“Iamquitesurehedidn’t.”
“Whyareyousure?”
“Bythewayhespoke.”
“Andyet,Mademoiselle,wefoundapipecleaneronthefloorofthedeadman’scompartment.AndColonelArbuthnotistheonlymanonthetrainwhosmokesapipe?”
Hewatchedhernarrowly,butshedisplayedneithersurprisenoremotion,merelysaid:
“Nonsense.It’sabsurd.ColonelArbuthnotisthelastmanintheworldtobemixedupinacrime—especiallyatheatricalkindofcrimelikethis.”
ItwassomuchwhatPoirothimselfthoughtthathefoundhimselfonthepointofagreeingwithher.Hesaidinstead:
“Imustremindyouthatyoudonotknowhimverywell,Mademoiselle.”
Sheshruggedhershoulders.
“Iknowthetypewellenough.”
Hesaidverygently:
“Youstillrefusetotellmethemeaningofthosewords—‘Whenit’sbehindus?’”
Shesaidcoldly:
“Ihavenothingmoretosay.”
“Itdoesnotmatter,”saidHerculePoirot.“Ishallfindout.”
Hebowedandleftthecompartment,closingthedoorafterhim.
“Wasthatwise,myfriend?”askedM.Bouc.“Youhaveputheronherguard—andthroughheryouhaveputtheColonelonhisguardalso.”
“Monami,ifyouwishtocatcharabbityouputaferretintothehole,andiftherabbitisthereheruns.ThatisallIhavedone.
