Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions
Supposingwhathehadmeanttosaywas,‘Butsurelythatwasburnt!’Inwhichcase,MacQueenknewofthenoteandofitsdestruction—inotherwords,hewaseitherthemurdereroranaccompliceofthemurderer.Verygood.
“Thenthevalet.Hesaidhismasterwasinthehabitoftakingasleepingdraughtwhentravellingbytrain.Thatmightbetrue,butwouldRatchetthavetakenonelastnight?Theautomaticunderhispillowgavethelietothatstatement.Ratchettintendedtobeonthealertlastnight.Whatevernarcoticwasadministeredtohimmusthavebeendonesowithouthisknowledge.Bywhom?ObviouslybyMacQueenorthevalet.
“NowwecometotheevidenceofMr.Hardman.Ibelievedallthathetoldmeabouthisownidentity,butwhenitcametotheactualmethodshehademployedtoguardMr.Ratchett,hisstorywasneithermorenorlessthanabsurd.TheonlywayeffectivelytohaveprotectedRatchettwastohavepassedthenightactuallyinhiscompartmentorinsomespotwherehecouldwatchthedoor.TheonlythingthathisevidencedidshowplainlywasthatnooneinanyotherpartofthetraincouldpossiblyhavemurderedRatchett.ItdrewaclearcircleroundtheStamboul-Calaiscarriage.Thatseemedtomearathercuriousandinexplicablefact,andIputitasidetothinkover.
“YouprobablyhaveallheardbynowofthefewwordsIoverheardbetweenMissDebenhamandColonelArbuthnot.TheinterestingthingtomymindwasthefactthatColonelArbuthnotcalledherMaryandwasclearlyontermsofintimacywithher.
