9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions

           Thepassengerscamecrowdingintotherestaurantcarandtooktheirseatsroundthetables.Theyallboremoreorlessthesameexpression,oneofexpectancymingledwithapprehension.TheSwedishladywasstillweepingandMrs.Hubbardwascomfortingher.

           “Nowyoumustjusttakeaholdonyourself,mydear.Everything’sgoingtobeperfectlyallright.Youmustn’tloseyourgriponyourself.Ifoneofusisanastymurdererweknowquitewellitisn’tyou.Why,anyonewouldbecrazyeventothinkofsuchathing.YousithereandI’llstayrightbyyou;anddon’tyouworryany.”

           HervoicediedawayasPoirotstoodup.

           TheWagonLitconductorwashoveringinthedoorway.

           “YoupermitthatIstay,Monsieur?”

           “Certainly,Michel.”

           Poirotclearedhisthroat.

           “MessieursetMesdames,IwillspeakinEnglish,sinceIthinkallofyouknowalittleofthatlanguage.WeareheretoinvestigatethedeathofSamuelEdwardRatchett—aliasCassetti.Therearetwopossiblesolutionsofthecrime.Ishallputthembothbeforeyou,andIshallaskM.BoucandDr.Constantineheretojudgewhichsolutionistherightone.

           “Nowyouallknowthefactsofthecase.Mr.Ratchettwasfoundstabbedthismorning.Hewaslastknowntobealiveat12:37lastnight,whenhespoketotheWagonLitconductorthroughthedoor.Awatchinhispyjamapocketwasfoundtobebadlydentedandithadstoppedataquarterpastone.Dr.Constantine,whoexaminedthebodywhenfound,putsthetimeofdeathashavingoccurredbetweenmidnightandtwointhemorning.