Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
1. Which of Them?
”
“Yes,Yes,”saidthedoctor.“Thatreasoningisgood.”
“Wemustalsopayalittleattentiontothetimetheintruderenteredthecompartment.Whenhadheanopportunityofdoingso?Unlesswearetoassumethecomplicityoftherealconductor,therewasonlyonetimewhenhecouldhavedoneso—duringthetimethetrainstoppedatVincovci.AfterthetrainleftVincovcitheconductorwassittingfacingthecorridorandwhereasanyoneofthepassengerswouldpaylittleattentiontoaWagonLitattendant,theonepersonwhowouldnoticeanimposterwouldbetherealconductor.ButduringthehaltatVincovcitheconductorisoutontheplatform.Thecoastisclear.”
“And,byourformerreasoning,itmustbeoneofthepassengers,”saidM.Bouc.“Wecomebacktowherewewere.Whichofthem?”
Poirotsmiled.
“Ihavemadealist,”hesaid,“Ifyouliketoseeit,itwill,perhaps,refreshyourmemory.”
ThedoctorandM.Boucporedoverthelisttogether.Itwaswrittenoutneatlyinamethodicalmannerintheorderinwhichthepassengershadbeeninterviewed.
HectorMacQueen—Americansubject.BerthNo.6.SecondClass.
Motive:Possiblyarisingoutofassociationwithdeadman?
Alibi:Frommidnightto2a.m.(Midnightto1:30vouchedforbyCol.Arbuthnotand1:15to2vouchedforbyconductor.)
EvidenceAgainstHim:None.
SuspiciousCircumstances:None.
Conductor—PierreMichel—Frenchsubject.
Motive:None.
Alibi:Frommidnightto2a.m.(SeenbyH.P.incorridoratsametimeasvoicespokefromRatchett’scompartmentat
12:37.From1a.m.to1:16vouchedforbyothertwoconductors.
