Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
2. Ten Questions
”
“Infact,”saidPoirot,“shestabbedhiminthedark,notrealizingthathewasdeadalready,butsomehowdeducedthathehadawatchinhispyjamapocket,tookitout,putbackthehandsblindlyandgaveittherequisitedent.”
M.Bouclookedathimcoldly.
“Haveyouanythingbettertosuggestyourself?”heasked.
“Atthemoment—no,”admittedPoirot.
“Allthesame,”hewenton,“Idonotthinkyouhaveeitherofyouappreciatedthemostinterestingpointaboutthatwatch.”
“DoesquestionNo.6dealwithit?”askedthedoctor.“Tothatquestion—wasthemurdercommittedatthattime—1:15—Ianswer,‘No.’”
“Iagree,”saidM.Bouc.“‘Wasitearlier?’isthenextquestion.Isayyes.You,too,doctor?”
Thedoctornodded.
“Yes,butthequestion‘Wasitlater?’canalsobeansweredintheaffirmative.Iagreewithyourtheory,M.Bouc,andso,Ithink,doesM.Poirot,althoughhedoesnotwishtocommithimself.TheFirstMurderercameearlierthan1:15,theSecondMurderercameafter1:15.Andasregardsthequestionofleft-handedness,oughtwenottotakestepstoascertainwhichofthepassengersisleft-handed?”
“Ihavenotcompletelyneglectedthatpoint,”saidPoirot.“YoumayhavenoticedthatImadeeachpassengerwriteeitherasignatureoranaddress.Thatisnotconclusive,becausesomepeopledocertainactionswiththerighthandandotherswiththeleft.Somewriteright-handed,butplaygolfleft-handed.Stillitissomething.
