Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
5. The Christian Name of Princess Dragomiroff
“Ibelieve,Monsieur,”shesaid,“thatyouhaveahandkerchiefofmine.”
Poirotshotaglanceoftriumphattheothertwo.
“Isthisit,Madame?”
Heproducedthelittlesquareoffinecambric.
“Thatisit.Ithasmyinitialinthecorner.”
“But,MadamelaPrincesse,thatistheletterH,”saidM.Bouc.“YourChristianname—pardonme—isNatalia.”
Shegavehimacoldstare.
“Thatiscorrect,Monsieur.MyhandkerchiefsarealwaysinitialledintheRussiancharacters.HisNinRussian.”
M.Boucwassomewhattakenaback.Therewassomethingaboutthisindomitableoldladywhichmadehimfeelflusteredanduncomfortable.
“Youdidnottellusthatthishandkerchiefwasyoursattheinquirythismorning.”
“Youdidnotaskme,”saidthePrincessdryly.
“Praybeseated,Madame,”saidPoirot.
Shesighed.
“Imayaswell,Isuppose.”
Shesatdown.
“Youneednotmakealongbusinessofthis,Messieurs.Yournextquestionwillbe—howdidmyhandkerchiefcometobelyingbyamurderedman’sbody?MyreplytothatisthatIhavenoidea.”
“Youhavereallynoidea.”
“Nonewhatever.”
“Youwillexcuseme,Madame,buthowmuchcanwerelyuponthetruthfulnessofyourreplies?”
Poirotsaidthewordsverysoftly.PrincessDragomiroffansweredcontemptuously.
“IsupposeyoumeanbecauseIdidnottellyouthatHelenaAndrenyiwasMrs.Armstrong’ssister?”
“Infactyoudeliberatelyliedtousinthematter.”
“Certainly.Iwoulddothesameagain.Hermotherwasmyfriend.Ibelieve,Messieurs,inloyalty—toone’sfriendsandone’sfamilyandone’scaste.
