Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
7. The Identity of Mary Debenham
”
“Comment?Surelynot?”
“YourememberIaskedherabouthergovernessorcompanion?IhadalreadydecidedinmymindthatifMaryDebenhamweremixedupinthematter,shemusthavefiguredinthehouseholdinsomesuchcapacity.”
“Yes,buttheCountessAndrenyidescribedatotallydifferentperson.”
“Exactly.Atall,middle-agedwomanwithredhair—infact,theexactoppositeineveryrespectofMissDebenham,somuchsoastobequiteremarkable.Butthenshehadtoinventanamequickly,andthereitwasthattheunconsciousassociationofideasgaveheraway.ShesaidMissFreebody,youremember.”
“Yes?”
“Ehbien,youmaynotknowit,butthereisashopinLondonthatwascalled,untilrecently,Debenham&Freebody.WiththenameDebenhamrunninginherhead,theCountessclutchesatanothernamequickly,andthefirstthatcomesisFreebody.NaturallyIunderstoodimmediately.”
“Thatisyetanotherlie.Whydidshedoit?”
“Possiblymoreloyalty.Itmakesthingsalittledifficult.”
“Mafoi,”saidM.Boucwithviolence.“Butdoeseverybodyonthistraintelllies?”
“That,”saidPoirot,“iswhatweareabouttofindout.”
