Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
1. Which of Them?
”
“Abouttheletters?”
“No,notabouttheletters.AsfarasIcanremember,hiswordswere:‘Wetravelledabout.Mr.Ratchettwantedtoseetheworld.Hewashamperedbyknowingnolanguages.Iactedmoreasacourierthanasecretary.’”
Helookedfromthedoctor’sfacetothatofM.Bouc.
“What?Youstilldonotsee?Thatisinexcusable—foryouhadasecondchanceagainjustnowwhenhesaid,‘You’reapttobedonedownifyouspeaknothingbutgoodAmerican.’”
“Youmean—?”M.Boucstilllookedpuzzled.
“Ah,itisthatyouwantitgiventoyouinwordsofonesyllable.Well,hereitis!M.RatchettspokenoFrench.Yet,whentheconductorcameinanswertohisbelllastnight,itwasavoicespeakinginFrenchthattoldhimthatitwasamistakeandthathewasnotwanted.Itwas,moreover,aperfectlyidiomaticphrasethatwasused,notonethatamanknowingonlyafewwordsofFrenchwouldhaveselected.‘Cen’estrien.Jemesuistrompé.’”
“Itistrue,”criedConstantineexcitedly.“Weshouldhaveseenthat!Irememberyourlayingstressonthewordswhenyourepeatedthemtous.NowIunderstandyourreluctancetorelyupontheevidenceofthedentedwatch.Already,attwenty-threeminutestoone,Ratchettwasdead—”
“Anditwashismurdererspeaking!”finishedM.Boucimpressively.
Poirotraisedadeprecatinghand.
“Letusnotgotoofast.Anddonotletusassumemorethanweactuallyknow.
