Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions
Hubbard,noddingherhead.
“HethrustthedaggerhehadusedintoMrs.Hubbard’sspongebaginpassing.Withoutknowingit,helostabuttonofhisuniform.Thenheslippedoutofthecompartmentandalongthecorridor.Hehastilythrusttheuniformintoasuitcaseinanemptycompartment,andafewminuteslater,dressedinordinaryclothes,heleftthetrainjustbeforeitstartedoff.Againusingthesamemeansofegress—thedoornearthediningcar.”
Everybodygasped.
“Whataboutthatwatch?”demandedMr.Hardman.
“Thereyouhavetheexplanationofthewholething.Mr.RatchetthadommittedtoputhiswatchbackanhourasheshouldhavedoneatTzaribrod.HiswatchstillregisteredEasternEuropeantime,whichisonehouraheadofCentralEuropeantime.ItwasaquarterpasttwelvewhenMr.Ratchettwasstabbed—notaquarterpastone.”
“Butitisabsurd,thatexplanation,”criedM.Bouc.“Whatofthevoicethatspokefromthecompartmentattwenty-threeminutestoone.ItwaseitherthevoiceofRatchett—orelseofhismurderer.”
“Notnecessarily.Itmighthavebeen—well—athirdperson.OnewhohadgoneintospeaktoRatchettandfoundhimdead.Herangthebelltosummontheconductor,then,asyouexpressit,thewindroseinhim—hewasafraidofbeingaccusedofthecrimeandhespokepretendingtobeRatchett.”
“C’estpossible,”admittedM.Boucgrudgingly.
PoirotlookedatMrs.Hubbard.
“Yes,Madame,youweregoingtosay—?”
“Well,Idon’tquiteknowwhatIwasgoingtosay.DoyouthinkIforgottoputmywatchbacktoo?”
“No,Madame.
