Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
5. The Crime
”
Poirotturnedtowardthedoctor,whocontinued:
“ThewindowofM.Ratchett’scompartmentwasfoundwideopen,leadingonetosupposethatthemurdererescapedthatway.Butinmyopinionthatopenwindowisablind.Anyonedepartingthatwaywouldhaveleftdistincttracesinthesnow.Therewerenone.”
“Thecrimewasdiscovered—when?”askedPoirot.
“Michel!”
TheWagonLitconductorsatup.Hisfacestilllookedpaleandfrightened.
“Tellthisgentlemanexactlywhatoccurred,”orderedM.Bouc.
Themanspokesomewhatjerkily.
“ThevaletofthisM.Ratchett,hetappedseveraltimesatthedoorthismorning.Therewasnoanswer.Then,halfanhourago,therestaurantcarattendantcame.HewantedtoknowifMonsieurwastakingdéjeuner.Itwaseleveno’clock,youcomprehend.
“Iopenthedoorforhimwithmykey.Butthereisachain,too,andthatisfastened.Thereisnoansweranditisverystillinthere,andcold—butcold.Withthewindowopenandsnowdriftingin.Ithoughtthegentlemanhadhadafit,perhaps.Igotthechefdetrain.Webrokethechainandwentin.Hewas—Ah!c’étaitterrible!”
Heburiedhisfaceinhishandsagain.
“Thedoorwaslockedandchainedontheinside,”saidPoirotthoughtfully.“Itwasnotsuicide—eh?”
TheGreekdoctorgaveasardoniclaugh.
“Doesamanwhocommitssuicidestabhimselfinten—twelve—fifteenplaces?”heasked.
Poirot’seyesopened.
“Thatisgreatferocity,”hesaid.
“Itisawoman,”saidthechefdetrain,speakingforthefirsttime.“Dependuponit,itwasawoman.Onlyawomanwouldstablikethat.
