Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
7. The Identity of Mary Debenham
Poirot,ofthefighttogetandkeepdecentemployment?Doyouthinkthatagirlwhohadbeendetainedinconnectionwithamurdercase,whosenameandperhapsphotographswerereproducedintheEnglishpapers—doyouthinkthatanyniceordinarymiddle-classEnglishwomanwouldwanttoengagethatgirlasgovernesstoherdaughters?”
“Idonotseewhynot—ifnoblameattachedtoyou.”
“Oh,blame—itisnotblame—itispublicity!Sofar,M.Poirot,Ihavesucceededinlife.Ihavehadwell-paid,pleasantposts.IwasnotgoingtoriskthepositionIhadattainedwhennogoodendcouldhavebeenserved.”
“Iwillventuretosuggest,Mademoiselle,thatIwouldhavebeenthebestjudgeofthat,notyou.”
Sheshruggedhershoulders.
“Forinstance,youcouldhavehelpedmeinthematterofidentification.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“Isitpossible,Mademoiselle,thatyoudidnotrecognizeintheCountessAndrenyiMrs.Armstrong’syoungsisterwhomyoutaughtinNewYork?”
“CountessAndrenyi?No.”Sheshookherhead.“Itmayseemextraordinarytoyou,butIdidnotrecognizeher.Shewasnotgrownup,yousee,whenIknewher.Thatwasoverthreeyearsago.ItistruethattheCountessremindedmeofsomeone—itpuzzledme.Butshelookssoforeign—IneverconnectedherwiththelittleAmericanschoolgirl.ItistruethatIonlyglancedathercasuallywhencomingintotherestaurantcar.Inoticedherclothesmorethanherface—”shesmiledfaintly—“womendo!Andthen—well,Ihadmyownpreoccupations.
