Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
6. A Woman?
Iam—was—hissecretary.”
“Forhowlonghaveyouheldthatpost?”
“Justoverayear.”
“Pleasegivemealltheinformationyoucan.”
“Well,ImetMr.RatchettjustoverayearagowhenIwasinPersia—”
Poirotinterrupted.
“Whatwereyoudoingthere?”
“IhadcomeoverfromNewYorktolookintoanoilconcession.Idon’tsupposeyouwanttohearallaboutthat.MyfriendsandIhadbeenletinratherbadlyoverit.Mr.Ratchettwasinthesamehotel.Hehadjusthadarowwithhissecretary.HeofferedmethejobandItookit.Iwasatalooseend,andgladtofindawell-paidjobreadymade,asitwere.”
“Andsincethen?”
“We’vetravelledabout.Mr.Ratchettwantedtoseetheworld.Hewashamperedbyknowingnolanguages.Iactedmoreasacourierthanasasecretary.Itwasapleasantlife.”
“Nowtellmeasmuchasyoucanaboutyouremployer.”
Theyoungmanshruggedhisshoulders.Aperplexedexpressionpassedoverhisface.
“That’snotsoeasy.”
“Whatwashisfullname?”
“SamuelEdwardRatchett.”
“HewasanAmericancitizen?”
“Yes.”
“WhatpartofAmericadidhecomefrom?”
“Idon’tknow.”
“Well,tellmewhatyoudoknow.”
“Theactualtruthis,Mr.Poirot,thatIknownothingatall!Mr.Ratchettneverspokeofhimself,orofhislifeinAmerica.”
“Whydoyouthinkthatwas?”
“Idon’tknow.Iimaginedthathemighthavebeenashamedofhisbeginnings.Somemenare.”
“Doesthatstrikeyouasasatisfactorysolution?”
“Frankly,itdoesn’t.”
“Hasheanyrelations?”
“Henevermentionedany.
