Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
3. Certain Suggestive Points
ThinkofAsYouLikeIt—theForestofArdenandRosalind.Itwasthereshegottheinspirationforheractingname.LindaArden,thenamebywhichshewasknownallovertheworld,wasnotherrealname.ItmayhavebeenGoldenberg—shequitelikelyhadcentralEuropeanbloodinherveins—astrainofJewish,perhaps.ManynationalitiesdrifttoAmerica.Isuggesttoyou,gentlemen,thatthatyoungsisterofMrs.Armstrong’s,littlemorethanachildatthetimeofthetragedy,wasHelenaGoldenbergtheyoungerdaughterofLindaArden,andthatshemarriedCountAndrenyiwhenhewasanattachéinWashington.”
“ButPrincessDragomiroffsaysthatshemarriedanEnglishman.”
“Whosenameshecannotremember!Iaskyou,myfriends—isthatreallylikely?PrincessDragomirofflovedLindaArdenasgreatladiesdolovegreatartists.Shewasgodmothertooneofherdaughters.Wouldsheforgetsoquicklythemarriednameoftheotherdaughter?Itisnotlikely.No,IthinkwecansafelysaythatPrincessDragomiroffwaslying.SheknewHelenawasonthetrain,shehadseenher.Sherealizedatonce,assoonassheheardwhoRatchettreallywas,thatHelenawouldbesuspected.Andso,whenwequestionherastothesistershepromptlylies—isvague,cannotremember,but‘thinksHelenamarriedanEnglishman’—asuggestionasfarawayfromthetruthaspossible.”
Oneoftherestaurantattendantscamethroughthedoorattheendandapproachedthem.HeaddressedM.Bouc.
“Thedinner,Monsieur,shallIserveit?Itisreadysomelittletime.”
M.BouclookedatPoirot.Thelatternodded
