Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
5. The Crime
Everythingwasdeathlyquiet.
“DecidedlyIsufferfromthenerves,”saidPoirotandretiredtobedagain.Thistimeheslepttillmorning.
Whenheawokethetrainwasstillatastandstill.Heraisedablindandlookedout.Heavybanksofsnowsurroundedthetrain.
Heglancedathiswatchandsawthatitwaspastnineo’clock.
Ataquartertoten,neat,spruce,anddandifiedasever,hemadehiswaytotherestaurantcar,whereachorusofwoewasgoingon.
Anybarrierstheremighthavebeenbetweenthepassengershadnowquitebrokendown.Allwereunitedbyacommonmisfortune.Mrs.Hubbardwasloudestinherlamentations.
“Mydaughtersaiditwouldbetheeasiestwayintheworld.JustsitinthetrainuntilIgottoParrus.Andnowwemaybeherefordaysanddays,”shewailed.“Andmyboatsailsthedayaftertomorrow.HowamIgoingtocatchitnow?Why,Ican’tevenwiretocancelmypassage.Ifeeltoomadtotalkaboutit.”
TheItaliansaidthathehadurgentbusinesshimselfinMilan.ThelargeAmericansaidthatthatwas“toobad,Ma’am,”andsoothinglyexpressedahopethatthetrainmightmakeuptime.
“Mysister—herchildrenwaitme,”saidtheSwedishladyandwept.“Igetnowordtothem.Whattheythink?Theywillsaybadthingshavehappentome.”
“Howlongshallwebehere?”demandedMaryDebenham.“Doesn’tanybodyknow?”
Hervoicesoundedimpatient,butPoirotnotedthattherewerenosignsofthatalmostfeverishanxietywhichshehaddisplayedduringthechecktotheTaurusExpress.
Mrs.Hubbardwasoffagain.
