Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
4. The Grease Spot on a Hungarian Passport
”
“Oh,no,no,”thegirlleanedforward.“M.Poirot,he’sexplainedtoyouhowitwas.”ShebrokefromFrenchintoEnglish.“Iwasscared—absolutelydeadscared,youunderstand.Ithadbeensoawful—thattime—andtohaveitallrakedupagain.Andtobesuspectedandperhapsthrownintoprison.Iwasjustscaredstiff,M.Poirot.Can’tyouunderstandatall?”
Hervoicewaslovely—deep—rich—pleading,thevoiceofthedaughterofLindaArdentheactress.
Poirotlookedgravelyather.
“IfIamtobelieveyou,Madame—andIdonotsaythatIwillnotbelieveyou—thenyoumusthelpme.”
“Helpyou?”
“Yes.Thereasonforthemurderliesinthepast—inthattragedywhichbrokeupyourhomeandsaddenedyouryounglife.Takemebackintothepast,Mademoiselle,thatImayfindtherethelinkthatexplainsthewholething.”
“Whatcantherebetotellyou?Theyarealldead.”Sherepeatedmournfully.“Alldead—alldead—Robert,Sonia—darling,darlingDaisy.Shewassosweet—sohappy—shehadsuchlovelycurls.Wewerealljustcrazyabouther.”
“Therewasanothervictim,Madame.Anindirectvictim,youmightsay.”
“PoorSusanne?Yes,Ihadforgottenabouther.Thepolicequestionedher.Theywereconvincedshehadsomethingtodowithit.Perhapsshehad—butifso,onlyinnocently.Shehad,Ibelieve,chattedidlywithsomeone,givinginformationastothetimeofDaisy’soutings.Thepoorthinggotterriblywroughtup—shethoughtshewasbeingheldresponsible.”Sheshuddered.“Shethrewherselfoutofthewindow.Ohitwashorrible.
