Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
2. Ten Questions
Everypersonquestionedtookthepenintheirrighthand—withtheexceptionofPrincessDragomiroff,whorefusedtowrite.”
“PrincessDragomiroff,impossible,”saidM.Bouc.
“Idoubtifshewouldhavehadthestrengthtoinflictthatparticularleft-handedblow,”saidDr.Constantinedubiously.“Thatparticularwoundhadbeeninflictedwithconsiderableforce.”
“Moreforcethanawomancoulduse?”
“No,Iwouldnotsaythat.ButIthinkmoreforcethananelderlywomancoulddisplay,andPrincessDragomiroff’sphysiqueisparticularlyfrail.”
“Itmightbeaquestionoftheinfluenceofmindoverbody,”saidPoirot.“PrincessDragomiroffhasgreatpersonalityandimmensewillpower.Butletuspassfromthatforthemoment.”
“ToquestionsNos.9and10.CanwebesurethatRatchettwasstabbedbymorethanoneperson,andwhatotherexplanationofthewoundscantherebe?Inmyopinion,medicallyspeaking,therecanbenootherexplanationofthosewounds.Tosuggestthatonemanstruckfirstfeeblyandthenwithviolence,firstwiththerighthandandthenwiththeleft,andafteranintervalofperhapshalfanhourinflictedfreshwoundsonadeadbody—well,itdoesnotmakesense.”
“No,”saidPoirot.“Itdoesnotmakesense.Andyouthinkthattwomurderersdomakesense?”
“Asyouyourselfhavesaid,whatotherexplanationcantherebe?”
Poirotstaredstraightaheadofhim.
“ThatiswhatIaskmyself,”hesaid.“ThatiswhatIneverceasetoaskmyself.”
Heleanedbackinhisseat.
“Fromnowon,itisallhere,”hetappedhimselfontheforehead
