Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions
Ithinkyouheardthemanpassthrough—butunconsciously;lateryouhadanightmareofamanbeinginyourcompartmentandwokeupwithastartandrangfortheconductor.”
“Well,Isupposethat’spossible,”admittedMrs.Hubbard.
PrincessDragomiroffwaslookingatPoirotwithaverydirectglance.
“Howdoyouexplaintheevidenceofmymaid,Monsieur?”
“Verysimply,Madame.YourmaidrecognizedthehandkerchiefIshowedherasyours.Shesomewhatclumsilytriedtoshieldyou.Shedidencountertheman—butearlier—whilethetrainwasatVincovcistation.Shepretendedtohaveseenhimatalaterhourwithaconfusedideaofgivingyouawatertightalibi.”
ThePrincessbowedherhead.
“Youhavethoughtofeverything,Monsieur.I—Iadmireyou.”
Therewasasilence.
TheneveryonejumpedasDr.Constantinesuddenlyhitthetableablowwithhisfist.
“Butno,”hesaid.“No,no,andagainno!Thatisanexplanationthatwillnotholdwater.Itisdeficientinadozenminorpoints.Thecrimewasnotcommittedso—M.Poirotmustknowthatperfectlywell.”
Poirotturnedacuriousglanceonhim.
“Isee,”hesaid,“thatIshallhavetogivemysecondsolution.Butdonotabandonthisonetooabruptly.Youmayagreewithitlater.”
Heturnedbackagaintofacetheothers.
“Thereisanotherpossiblesolutionofthecrime.ThisishowIarrivedatit.
“WhenIhadheardalltheevidence,Ileanedbackandshutmyeyesandbegantothink.Certainpointspresentedthemselvestomeasworthyofattention.Ienumeratedthesepointstomytwocolleagues.
