Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
5. The Crime
”
Dr.Constantinescreweduphisfacethoughtfully.
“Shemusthavebeenaverystrongwoman,”hesaid.“Itisnotmydesiretospeaktechnically—thatisonlyconfusing—butIcanassureyouthatoneortwooftheblowsweredeliveredwithsuchforceastodrivethemthroughhardbeltsofboneandmuscle.”
“Itwasnot,clearly,ascientificcrime,”saidPoirot.
“Itwasmostunscientific,”saidDr.Constantine.“Theblowsseemtohavebeendeliveredhaphazardandatrandom.Somehaveglancedoff,doinghardlyanydamage.Itisasthoughsomebodyhadshuttheireyesandtheninafrenzystruckblindlyagainandagain.”
“C’estunefemme,”saidthechefdetrainagain.“Womenarelikethat.Whentheyareenragedtheyhavegreatstrength.”Henoddedsosagelythateveryonesuspectedapersonalexperienceofhisown.
“Ihave,perhaps,somethingtocontributetoyourstoreofknowledge,”saidPoirot.“M.Ratchettspoketomeyesterday.Hetoldme,asfarasIwasabletounderstandhim,thathewasindangerofhislife.”
“‘Bumpedoff’—thatistheAmericanexpression,isitnot?”saidM.Bouc.“Thenitisnotawoman.Itisa‘Gangster’ora‘gunman.’”
Thechefdetrainlookedpainedathistheoryhavingcometonaught.
“Ifso,”saidPoirot,“itseemstohavebeendoneveryamateurishly.”
Histoneexpressedprofessionaldisapproval.
“ThereisalargeAmericanonthetrain,”saidM.Bouc,pursuinghisidea—“acommon-lookingmanwithterribleclothes.HechewsthegumwhichIbelieveisnotdoneingoodcircles.
