Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
5. The Crime
YouknowwhomImean?”
TheWagonLitconductortowhomhehadappealednodded.
“Oui,Monsieur,theNo.16.Butitcannothavebeenhe.Ishouldhaveseenhimenterorleavethecompartment.”
“Youmightnot.Youmightnot.Butwewillgointothatpresently.Thequestionis,whattodo?”HelookedatPoirot.
Poirotlookedbackathim.
“Come,myfriend,”saidM.Bouc.“YoucomprehendwhatIamabouttoaskofyou.Iknowyourpowers.Takecommandofthisinvestigation!No,no,donotrefuse.See,tousitisserious—IspeakfortheCompagnieInternationaledesWagonsLits.BythetimetheYugo-Slavianpolicearrive,howsimpleifwecanpresentthemwiththesolution!Otherwisedelays,annoyances,amillionandoneinconveniences.Perhaps,whoknows,seriousannoyancetoinnocentpersons.Instead—yousolvethemystery!Wesay,‘Amurderhasoccurred—thisisthecriminal!’”
“AndsupposeIdonotsolveit?”
“Ah!moncher.”M.Bouc’svoicebecamepositivelycaressing.“Iknowyourreputation.Iknowsomethingofyourmethods.Thisistheidealcaseforyou.Tolookuptheantecedentsofallthesepeople,todiscovertheirbonafides—allthattakestimeandendlessinconvenience.ButhaveInotheardyousayoftenthattosolveacaseamanhasonlytoliebackinhischairandthink?Dothat.Interviewthepassengersonthetrain,viewthebody,examinewhatcluesthereareandthen—well,Ihavefaithinyou!Iamassuredthatitisnoidleboastofyours.
