Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
3. Certain Suggestive Points
Hardmanwouldhavetoldhisstory,Mrs.Hubbardwouldhavebeeneagertotellhowamanpassedthroughhercompartment,thebuttonwouldhavebeenfound.Iimaginethattwothingsonlywouldhavebeendifferent.ThemanwouldhavepassedthroughMrs.Hubbard’scompartmentjustbeforeoneo’clock—andtheWagonLituniformwouldhavebeenfoundcastoffinoneofthetoilets.”
“Youmean?”
“Imeanthatthemurderwasplannedtolooklikeanoutsidejob.TheassassinwouldhavebeenpresumedtohaveleftthetrainatBrod,wherethetrainistimedtoarriveat00:58.SomebodywouldprobablyhavepassedastrangeWagonLitconductorinthecorridor.Theuniformwouldbeleftinaconspicuousplacesoastoshowclearlyjusthowthetrickhadbeenplayed.Nosuspicionwouldhavebeenattachedtothepassengers.That,myfriends,washowtheaffairwasintendedtoappeartotheoutsideworld.
“Buttheaccidenttothetrainchangeseverything.Doubtlesswehaveherethereasonwhythemanremainedinthecompartmentwithhisvictimsolong.Hewaswaitingforthetraintogoon.Butatlastherealizedthatthetrainwasnotgoingon.Differentplanswouldhavetobemade.Themurdererwouldnowbeknowntobestillonthetrain.”
“Yes,yes,”saidM.Boucimpatiently.“Iseeallthat.Butwheredoesthehandkerchiefcomein?”
“Iamreturningtoitbyasomewhatcircuitousroute.Tobeginwith,youmustrealizethatthethreateningletterswereinthenatureofablind.TheymighthavebeenliftedbodilyoutofanindifferentlywrittenAmericancrimenovel.Theyarenotreal.
