Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
3. Certain Suggestive Points
YouhavegivenmethecueIexpected.”
Hesatveryupright,threwouthischest,caressedhismoustacheandspokeinthemannerofapractisedspeakeraddressingapublicmeeting.
“Myfriends,Ihavereviewedthefactsinmymind,andhavealsogoneovertomyselftheevidenceofthepassengers—withthisresult.Isee,nebulouslyasyet,acertainexplanationthatwouldcoverthefactsasweknowthem.Itisaverycuriousexplanation,andIcannotbesureasyetthatitisthetrueone.Tofindoutdefinitely,Ishallhavetomakecertainexperiments.
“Iwouldlikefirsttomentioncertainpointswhichappeartomesuggestive.LetusstartwitharemarkmadetomebyM.Boucinthisveryplaceontheoccasionofourfirstlunchtogetheronthetrain.Hecommentedonthefactthatweweresurroundedbypeopleofallclasses,ofallages,ofallnationalities.Thatisafactsomewhatrareatthistimeofyear.TheAthens-ParisandtheBucharest-Pariscoaches,forinstance,arealmostempty.Rememberalsoonepassengerwhofailedtoturnup.Itis,Ithink,significant.Thentherearesomeminorpointsthatstrikemeassuggestive—forinstance,thepositionofMrs.Hubbard’sspongebag,thenameofMrs.Armstrong’smother,thedetectivemethodsofM.Hardman,thesuggestionofM.MacQueenthatRatchetthimselfdestroyedthecharrednotewefound,PrincessDragomiroff’sChristianname,andagreasespotonaHungarianpassport.”
Thetwomenstaredathim.
“Dotheysuggestanythingtoyou,thosepoints?”askedPoirot.
“Notathing,”saidM.Boucfrankly.
“AndM.
