Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions
)ThenHardman’sstoryofbeingcalledinbyRatchett—alie,ofcourse,frombeginningtoend—thedescriptionofthemythical‘smalldarkmanwithawomanishvoice,’aconvenientdescription,sinceithadthemeritofnotincriminatinganyoftheactualWagonLitconductorsandwouldapplyequallywelltoamanorawoman.
“Theideaofstabbingisatfirstsightacuriousone,butonreflectionnothingwouldfitthecircumstancessowell.Adaggerwasaweaponthatcouldbeusedbyeveryone—strongorweak—anditmadenonoise.Ifancy,thoughImaybewrong,thateachpersoninturnenteredRatchett’sdarkenedcompartmentthroughthatofMrs.Hubbard—andstruck!Theythemselveswouldneverknowwhichblowactuallykilledhim.
“ThefinalletterwhichRatchetthadprobablyfoundonhispillowwascarefullyburnt.WithnocluepointingtotheArmstrongcase,therewouldbeabsolutelynoreasonforsuspectinganyofthepassengersonthetrain.Itwouldbeputdownasanoutsidejob,andthe‘smalldarkmanwiththewomanishvoice’wouldactuallyhavebeenseenbyoneormoreofthepassengersleavingthetrainatBrod.
“Idonotknowexactlywhathappenedwhentheconspiratorsdiscoveredthatthatpartoftheirplanwasimpossibleowingtotheaccidenttothetrain.Therewas,Iimagine,ahastyconsultation,andthentheydecidedtogothroughwithit.Itwastruethatnowoneandallofthepassengerswereboundtocomeundersuspicion,butthatpossibilityhadalreadybeenforeseenandprovidedfor.Theonlyadditionalthingtobedonewastoconfusetheissueevenfurther.
