8. Further Surprising Revelations

           “Nothingwouldsurprisemenow,”saidM.Bouc.“Nothing!EvenifeverybodyinthetrainprovedtohavebeenintheArmstronghouseholdIshouldnotexpresssurprise.”

           “Thatisaveryprofoundremark,”saidPoirot.“Wouldyouliketoseewhatyourfavouritesuspect,theItalian,hastosayforhimself?”

           “Youaregoingtomakeanotherofthesefamousguessesofyours?”

           “Precisely.”

           “Itisreallyamostextraordinarycase,”saidConstantine.

           “No,itismostnatural.”M.Boucflunguphisarmsincomicdespair.

           “Ifthisiswhatyoucallnatural,momami—”

           Wordsfailedhim.

           PoirothadbythistimerequestedthediningcarattendanttofetchAntonioFoscarelli.

           ThebigItalianhadawarylookinhiseyeashecamein.Heshotnervousglancesfromsidetosidelikeatrappedanimal.

           “Whatdoyouwant?”hesaid.“Ihavenothingtotellyou—nothing,doyouhear!PerDio—”Hestruckhishandonthetable.

           “Yes,youhavesomethingmoretotellus,”saidPoirotfirmly.“Thetruth!”

           “Thetruth?”HeshotanuneasyglanceatPoirot.Alltheassuranceandgenialityhadgoneoutofhismanner.

           “Maisoui.ItmaybethatIknowitalready.Butitwillbeapointinyourfavourifitcomesfromyouspontaneously.”

           “YoutalkliketheAmericanpolice.‘Comeclean,’thatiswhattheysay—‘comeclean.’”

           “Ah!soyouhavehadexperienceoftheNewYorkpolice?”

           “No,no,never.Theycouldnotproveathingagainstme—butitwasnotforwantoftrying.