Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
4. The Grease Spot on a Hungarian Passport
ThreeofthepeopleIlovedbestandwhomadeupmyhome—myworld!”
Hervoicerangoutpassionately.Shewasatruedaughterofthatmother,theemotionalforceofwhoseactinghadmovedhugeaudiencestotears.
Shewentonmorequietly.
“Ofallthepeopleonthetrain,Ialonehadprobablythebestmotiveforkillinghim.”
“Andyoudidnotkillhim,Madame?”
“Isweartoyou,M.Poirot,andmyhusbandknowsandwillswearalso—that,muchasImayhavebeentemptedtodoso,Ineverliftedahandagainstthatman.”
“Itoo,gentlemen,”saidtheCount.“IgiveyoumywordofhonourthatlastnightHelenaneverlefthercompartment.ShetookasleepingdraughtexactlyasIsaid.Sheisutterlyandentirelyinnocent.”
Poirotlookedfromonetotheotherofthem.
“Onmywordofhonour,”repeatedtheCount.
Poirotshookhisheadslightly.
“Andyetyoutookituponyourselftoalterthenameinthepassport?”
“MonsieurPoirot,”theCountspokeearnestlyandpassionately.“Considermyposition.DoyouthinkIcouldstandthethoughtofmywifedraggedthroughasordidpolicecase.Shewasinnocent,Iknewit,butwhatshesaidwastrue—becauseofherconnectionwiththeArmstrongfamilyshewouldhavebeenimmediatelysuspected.Shewouldhavebeenquestioned—arrested,perhaps.SincesomeevilchancehadtakenusonthesametrainasthismanRatchett,therewas,Ifeltsure,butonethingforit.Iadmit,Monsieur,thatIliedtoyou—all,thatis,saveinonething.Mywifeneverlefthercompartmentlastnight.”
Hespokewithanearnestnessthatitwashardtogainsay.
