Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
15. The Evidence of the Passengers’ Luggage
”
TheyenteredthecompartmentofHildegardeSchmidt.
Thewomanwasstandinginreadiness,herfacerespectfulbutunemotional.
Poirottookaquickglancethroughthecontentsofthesmallcaseontheseat.Thenhemotionedtotheattendanttogetdownthebiggersuitcasefromtherack.
“Thekeys?”hesaid.
“Itisnotlocked,Monsieur.”
Poirotundidthehaspsandliftedthelid.
“Aha!”hesaid,andturningtoM.Bouc,“YourememberwhatIsaid?Lookherealittlemoment!”
OnthetopofthesuitcasewasahastilyrolledupbrownWagonLituniform.
ThestolidityoftheGermanwomanunderwentasuddenchange.
“Ach!”shecried.“Thatisnotmine.Ididnotputitthere.IhaveneverlookedinthatcasesinceweleftStamboul.Indeed,indeed,itistrue.”
Shelookedfromonetoanotherpleadingly.
Poirottookhergentlybythearmandsoothedher.
“No,noalliswell.Webelieveyou.Donotbeagitated.IamassureyoudidnothidetheuniformthereasIamsurethatyouareagoodcook.See.Youareagoodcook,areyounot?”
Bewildered,thewomansmiledinspiteofherself.
“Yes,indeed,allmyladieshavesaidso.I—”
Shestopped,hermouthopen,lookingfrightenedagain.
“No,no,”saidPoirot.“Iassureyoualliswell.See,Iwilltellyouhowthishappened.Thisman,themanyousawinWagonLituniform,comesoutofthedeadman’scompartment.Hecollideswithyou.Thatisbadluckforhim.Hehashopedthatnoonewillseehim.Whattodonext?Hemustgetridofhisuniform.Itisnownotasafeguard,butadanger.”
HisglancewenttoM.BoucandDr.
