Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
8. Further Surprising Revelations
“Ofthetwelvepassengersinthatcoach,ninehavebeenprovedtohavehadaconnectionwiththeArmstrongcase.Whatnext,Iaskyou?Or,shouldIsay,whonext?”
“Icanalmostgiveyoutheanswertoyourquestion,”saidPoirot.“HerecomesourAmericansleuth,M.Hardman.”
“Ishe,too,comingtoconfess?”
BeforePoirotcouldreply,theAmericanhadreachedtheirtable.Hecockedanalerteyeatthemand,sittingdown,hedrawledout:
“Justexactlywhat’suponthistrain?Itseemsbughousetome.”
Poirottwinkledathim:
“Areyouquitesure,Mr.Hardman,thatyouyourselfwerenotthegardenerattheArmstronghome?”
“Theydidn’thaveagarden,”repliedMr.Hardmanliterally.
“Orthebutler?”
“Haven’tgotthefancymannerforaplacelikethat.No,IneverhadanyconnectionwiththeArmstronghouse—butI’mbeginningtobelieveI’mabouttheonlyoneonthistrainwhohadn’t!Canyoubeatit—that’swhatIsay?Canyoubeatit?”
“Itiscertainlyalittlesurprising,”saidPoirotmildly.
“C’estrigolo,”burstfromM.Bouc.
“Haveyouanyideasofyourownaboutthecrime,M.Hardman?”inquiredPoirot.
“No,sir.It’sgotmebeat.Idon’tknowhowtofigureitout.Theycan’tallbeinit;butwhichoneistheguiltypartyisbeyondme.Howdidyougetwisetoallthis,that’swhatIwanttoknow?”
“Ijustguessed.”
“Then,believeme,you’reaprettyslickguesser.Yes,I’lltelltheworldyou’reaslickguesser.”
Mr.HardmanleanedbackandlookedatPoirotadmiringly.
