Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions
SupposingthatthatunfortunategirlhadbeenPierreMichel’sdaughter.Thatwouldexplaineverything—itwouldalsoexplaintheplacechosenforthestagingofthecrime.Werethereanyotherswhosepartinthedramawasnotclear?ColonelArbuthnotIputdownasafriendoftheArmstrongs.Theyhadprobablybeenthroughthewartogether.Themaid,HildegardeSchmidt,IcouldguessherplaceintheArmstronghousehold.Iam,perhaps,overgreedy,butIsenseagoodcookinstinctively.Ilaidatrapforher—shefellintoit.IsaidIknewshewasagoodcook.Sheanswered,‘Yes,indeed,allmyladieshavesaidso.’Butifyouareemployedasalady’smaidyouremployersseldomhaveachanceoflearningwhetherornotyouareagoodcook.
“ThentherewasHardman.HeseemedquitedefinitelynottobelongtotheArmstronghousehold.IcouldonlyimaginethathehadbeeninlovewiththeFrenchgirl.Ispoketohimofthecharmofforeignwomen—andagainIobtainedthereactionIwaslookingfor.Suddentearscameintohiseyes,whichhepretendedweredazzledbythesnow.
“ThereremainsMrs.Hubbard.NowMrs.Hubbard,letmesay,playedthemostimportantpartinthedrama.ByoccupyingthecompartmentcommunicatingwiththatofRatchettshewasmoreopentosuspicionthananyoneelse.Inthenatureofthingsshecouldnothaveanalibitofallbackupon.Toplaythepartsheplayed—theperfectlynatural,slightlyridiculousAmericanfondmother—anartistwasneeded.ButtherewasanartistconnectedwiththeArmstrongfamily—Mrs.Armstrong’smother—LindaArden,theactress…”
Hestopped.
