Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions
Itwastheirsecondpieceofbadluck!
“TheyoneandallagreedtodenyutterlyanyconnectionwiththeArmstrongfamily.TheyknewIhadnoimmediatemeansoffindingoutthetruth,andtheydidnotbelievethatIshouldgointothematterunlessmysuspicionswerearousedagainstoneparticularperson.
“Nowtherewasonefurtherpointtoconsider.Allowingthatmytheoryofthecrimewasthecorrectone,andIbelievethatitmustbethecorrectone,thenobviouslytheWagonLitconductorhimselfmustbeprivytotheplot.Butifso,thatgaveusthirteenpersons,nottwelve.Insteadoftheusualformula,‘Ofsomanypeopleoneisguilty,’Iwasfacedwiththeproblemthatofthirteenpersonsoneandoneonlywasinnocent.Whichwasthatperson?
“Icametoaveryoddconclusion.Icametotheconclusionthatthepersonwhohadtakennopartinthecrimewasthepersonwhowouldbeconsideredthemostlikelytodoso.IrefertoCountessAndrenyi.Iwasimpressedbytheearnestnessofherhusbandwhenhesworetomesolemnlyonhishonourthathiswifeneverlefthercompartmentthatnight.IdecidedthatCountAndrenyitook,sotospeak,hiswife’splace.
“Ifso,thenPierreMichelwasdefinitelyoneofthetwelve.Buthowcouldoneexplainhiscomplicity?HewasadecentmanwhohadbeenmanyyearsintheemployoftheCompany—notthekindofmanwhocouldbebribedtoassistinacrime.ThenPierreMichelmustbeinvolvedintheArmstrongcase.Butthatseemedveryimprobable.ThenIrememberedthatthedeadnurserymaidwasFrench.
