Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
1. An Important Passenger on the Taurus Express
LieutenantDuboscmanagedtocastasurreptitiousglanceathiswatch.Fiveminutestofive—onlyfiveminutesmore!
Fancyingthattheothermanhadnoticedhissurreptitiousglance,hehastenedoncemoreintospeech.
“Therearefewpeopletravellingthistimeofyear,”hesaid,glancingupatthewindowsofthesleepingcarabovethem.
“Thatisso,”agreedM.Poirot.
“LetushopeyouwillnotbesnowedupintheTaurus!”
“Thathappens?”
“Ithasoccurred,yes.Notthisyear,asyet.”
“Letushope,then,”saidM.Poirot.“TheweatherreportsfromEurope,theyarebad.”
“Verybad.IntheBalkansthereismuchsnow.”
“InGermanytoo,Ihaveheard.”
“Ehbien,”saidLieutenantDuboschastilyasanotherpauseseemedtobeabouttooccur.“Tomorroweveningatseven-fortyyouwillbeinConstantinople.”
“Yes,”saidM.Poirot,andwentondesperately,“LaSainteSophie,Ihavehearditisveryfine.”
“Magnificent,Ibelieve.”
Abovetheirheadstheblindofoneofthesleepingcarcompartmentswaspushedasideandayoungwomanlookedout.
MaryDebenhamhadhadlittlesleepsincesheleftBaghdadontheprecedingThursday.NeitherinthetraintoKirkuk,norintheRestHouseatMosul,norlastnightonthetrainhadshesleptproperly.Now,wearyoflyingwakefulinthehotstuffinessofheroverheatedcompartment,shegotupandpeeredout.
ThismustbeAleppo.Nothingtosee,ofcourse.Justalong,poor-lightedplatformwithloudfuriousaltercationsinArabicgoingonsomewhere.TwomenbelowherwindowweretalkingFrench.
