Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
1. An Important Passenger on the Taurus Express
OnewasaFrenchofficer,theotherwasalittlemanwithenormousmoustaches.Shesmiledfaintly.Shehadneverseenanyonequitesoheavilymuffledup.Itmustbeverycoldoutside.Thatwaswhytheyheatedthetrainsoterribly.Shetriedtoforcethewindowdownlower,butitwouldnotgo.
TheWagonLitconductorhadcomeuptothetwomen.Thetrainwasabouttodepart,hesaid.Monsieurhadbettermount.Thelittlemanremovedhishat.Whatanegg-shapedheadhehad.InspiteofherpreoccupationsMaryDebenhamsmiled.Aridiculous-lookinglittleman.Thesortoflittlemanonecouldnevertakeseriously.
LieutenantDuboscwassayinghispartingspeech.Hehadthoughtitoutbeforehandandhadkeptittillthelastminute.Itwasaverybeautiful,polishedspeech.
Nottobeoutdone,M.Poirotrepliedinkind.
“Envoiture,Monsieur,”saidtheWagonLitconductor.
WithanairofinfinitereluctanceM.Poirotclimbedaboardthetrain.Theconductorclimbedafterhim.M.Poirotwavedhishand.LieutenantDubosccametothesalute.Thetrain,withaterrificjerk,movedslowlyforward.
“Enfin!”murmuredM.HerculePoirot.
“Brrrrr,”saidLieutenantDubosc,realizingtothefullhowcoldhewas….
II
“Voilà,Monsieur.”TheconductordisplayedtoPoirotwithadramaticgesturethebeautyofhissleepingcompartmentandtheneatarrangementofhisluggage.“ThelittlevaliseofMonsieur,Ihaveplacedithere.”
Hisoutstretchedhandwassuggestive.HerculePoirotplacedinitafoldednote.
“Merci,Monsieur.”Theconductorbecamebriskandbusinesslike.“IhavetheticketsofMonsieur.
