Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
5. The Crime
Liebackandthink—use(asIhaveheardyousaysooften)thelittlegreycellsofthemind—andyouwillknow!”
Heleanedforward,lookingaffectionatelyathisfriend.
“Yourfaithtouchesme,myfriend,”saidPoirotemotionally.“Asyousay,thiscannotbeadifficultcase.Imyself,lastnight—butwewillnotspeakofthatnow.Intruth,thisproblemintriguesme.Iwasreflecting,nothalfanhourago,thatmanyhoursofboredomlayaheadwhilstwearestuckhere.Andnow—aproblemliesreadytomyhand.”
“Youacceptthen?”saidM.Bouceagerly.
“C’estentendu.Youplacethematterinmyhands.”
“Good—weareallatyourservice.”
“Tobeginwith,IshouldlikeaplanoftheIstanbul-Calaiscoach,withanoteofthepeoplewhooccupiedtheseveralcompartments,andIshouldalsoliketoseetheirpassportsandtheirtickets.”
“Michelwillgetyouthose.”
TheWagonLitconductorleftthecompartment.
“Whatotherpassengersarethereonthetrain?”askedPoirot.
“InthiscoachDr.ConstantineandIaretheonlytravellers.InthecoachfromBucharestisanoldgentlemanwithalameleg.Heiswellknowntotheconductor.Beyondthataretheordinarycarriages,butthesedonotconcernus,sincetheywerelockedafterdinnerhadbeenservedlastnight.ForwardoftheIstanbul-Calaiscoachthereisonlythediningcar.”
“Thenitseems,”saidPoirotslowly,“asthoughwemustlookforourmurdererintheIstanbul-Calaiscoach.”Heturnedtothedoctor.“Thatiswhatyouwerehinting,Ithink?”
TheGreeknodded
