Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
9. Poirot Propounds Two Solutions
ThenwehadaconsultationwithSusanne’sfather.ColonelArbuthnotwasverykeenonhavingtwelveofus.Heseemedtothinkitmadeitmoreinorder.Hedidn’tlikethestabbingideamuch,butheagreedthatitdidsolvemostofourdifficulties.Well,Susanne’sfatherwaswilling.Susannewashisonlychild.WeknewfromHectorthatRatchettwouldbecomingbackfromtheEastsoonerorlaterbytheOrientExpress.WithPierreMichelactuallyworkingonthattrain,thechancewastoogoodtobemissed.Besides,itwouldbeagoodwayofnotincriminatinganyoutsiders.
“Mydaughter’shusbandhadtoknow,ofcourse,andheinsistedoncomingonthetrainwithher.HectorwangleditsothatRatchettselectedtherightdayfortravellingwhenMichelwouldbeonduty.WemeanttoengageeverycarriageintheStamboul-Calaiscoach,butunfortunatelytherewasonecarriagewecouldn’tget.Itwasreservedlongbeforehandforadirectorofthecompany.Mr.Harris,ofcourse,wasamyth.ButitwouldhavebeenawkwardtohaveanystrangerinHector’scompartment.Andthen,atthelastminute,youcame….”
Shestopped.
“Well,”shesaid.“Youknoweverythingnow,M.Poirot.Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit?Ifitmustallcomeout,can’tyoulaytheblameuponmeandmeonly?Iwouldhavestabbedthatmantwelvetimeswillingly.Itwasn’tonlythathewasresponsibleformydaughter’sdeathandherchild’s,andthatoftheotherchildwhomighthavebeenaliveandhappynow.Itwasmorethanthat.TherehadbeenotherchildrenbeforeDaisy—theremightbeothersinthefuture
