Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
6. A Second Interview with Colonel Arbuthnot
Icanmyselfthinkofelevenotherexcellentexplanationsofitspresence.”
Arbuthnotstaredathim.
“WhatIreallywishedtoseeyouaboutwasquiteanothermatter,”wentonPoirot.“MissDebenhammayhavetoldyou,perhaps,thatIoverheardsomewordsspokentoyouatthestationofKonya?”
Arbuthnotdidnotreply.
“Shesaid,‘Notnow.Whenit’sallover.Whenit’sbehindus.’Doyouknowtowhatthosewordsreferred?”
“Iamsorry,M.Poirot,butImustrefusetoanswerthatquestion.”
“Pourquoi?”
TheColonelsaidstiffly:
“IsuggestthatyoushouldaskMissDebenhamherselfforthemeaningofthosewords.”
“Ihavedoneso.”
“Andsherefusedtotellyou?”
“Yes.”
“ThenIshouldthinkitwouldhavebeenperfectlyplain—eventoyou—thatmylipsaresealed.”
“Youwillnotgiveawayalady’ssecret?”
“Youcanputitthatway,ifyoulike.”
“MissDebenhamtoldmethattheyreferredtoaprivatematterofherown.”
“Thenwhynotacceptherwordforit?”
“Because,ColonelArbuthnot,MissDebenhamiswhatonemightcallahighlysuspiciouscharacter.”
“Nonsense,”saidtheColonelwithwarmth.
“Itisnotnonsense.”
“Youhavenothingwhateveragainsther.”
“NotthefactthatMissDebenhamwascompaniongovernessintheArmstronghouseholdatthetimeofthekidnappingoflittleDaisyArmstrong?”
Therewasaminute’sdeadsilence.
Poirotnoddedhisheadgently.
“Yousee,”hesaid,“weknowmorethanyouthink
