Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
15. The Evidence of the Passengers’ Luggage
Constantine,whowerelisteningattentively.
“Thereisthesnow,yousee.Thesnowwhichconfusesallhisplans.Wherecanhehidetheseclothes?Allthecompartmentsarefull.No,hepassesonewherethedoorisopenandshowsittobeunoccupied.Itmustbetheonebelongingtothewomanwithwhomhehasjustcollided.Heslipsin,removestheuniformandjamsithurriedlyintoasuitcaseontherack.Itmaybesometimebeforeitisdiscovered.”
“Andthen?”saidM.Bouc.
“Thatwemustdiscuss,”saidPoirotwithawarningglance.
Heheldupthetunic.Abutton,thethirddown,wasmissing.Poirotslippedhishandintothepocketandtookoutaconductor’spasskey,usedtounlockthedoorsofthecompartments.
“Hereistheexplanationofhowourmanwasabletopassthroughlockeddoors,”saidM.Bouc.“YourquestionstoMrs.Hubbardwereunnecessary.Lockedornotlocked,themancouldeasilygetthroughthecommunicatingdoor.Afterall,ifaWagonLituniform,whynotaWagonLitkey?”
“Whynot,indeed,”saidPoirot.
“Wemighthaveknownit,really.YourememberMichelsaidthatthedoorintothecorridorofMrs.Hubbard’scompartmentwaslockedwhenhecameinanswertoherbell.”
“Thatisso,Monsieur,”saidtheconductor.“ThatiswhyIthoughttheladymusthavebeendreaming.”
“Butnowitiseasy,”continuedM.Bouc.“Doubtlesshemeanttorelockthecommunicatingdooralso,butperhapsheheardsomemovementfromthebedanditstartledhim.”
“Wehavenow,”saidPoirot,“onlytofindthescarletkimono.”
“True.
