Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
4. A Cry in the Night
“IguessI’llgorighttobedandread,”shesaid.“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,Madame.”
Poirotpassedintohisowncompartment,whichwasthenextonebeyondRatchett’s.Heundressedandgotintobed,readforabouthalfanhourandthenturnedoutthelight.
Heawokesomehourslater,andawokewithastart.Heknewwhatitwasthathadwakenedhim—aloudgroan,almostacry,somewherecloseathand.Atthesamemomentthetingofabellsoundedsharply.
Poirotsatupandswitchedonthelight.Henoticedthatthetrainwasatastandstill—presumablyatastation.
Thatcryhadstartledhim.HerememberedthatitwasRatchettwhohadthenextcompartment.HegotoutofbedandopenedthedoorjustastheWagonLitconductorcamehurryingalongthecorridorandknockedonRatchett’sdoor.Poirotkepthisdooropenacrackandwatched.Theconductortappedasecondtime.Abellrangandalightshowedoveranotherdoorfartherdown.Theconductorglancedoverhisshoulder.
Atthesamemomentavoicefromwithinthenext-doorcompartmentcalledout:
“Cen’estrien.Jemesuistrompé.”
“Bien,Monsieur.”Theconductorscurriedoffagain,toknockatthedoorwherethelightwasshowing.
Poirotreturnedtobed,hismindrelieved,andswitchedoffthelight.Heglancedathiswatch.Itwasjusttwenty-threeminutestoone.
