7. The Body

           FollowedbyDr.Constantine,Poirotmadehiswaytothenextcoachandthecompartmentoccupiedbythemurderedman.Theconductorcameandunlockedthedoorforthemwithhiskey.

           Thetwomenpassedinside.Poirotturnedinquiringlytohiscompanion.

           “Howmuchhasbeendisarrangedinthiscompartment?”

           “Nothinghasbeentouched.Iwascarefulnottomovethebodyinmakingmyexamination.”

           Poirotnodded.Helookedroundhim.

           Thefirstthingthatstruckthesenseswastheintensecold.Thewindowwaspusheddownasfarasitwouldgoandtheblindwasdrawnup.

           “Brrr,”observedPoirot.

           Theothersmiledappreciatively.

           “Ididnotliketocloseit,”hesaid.

           Poirotexaminedthewindowcarefully.

           “Youareright,”heannounced.“Nobodyleftthecarriagethisway.Possiblytheopenwindowwasintendedtosuggestthefact,but,ifso,thesnowhasdefeatedthemurderer’sobject.”

           Heexaminedtheframeofthewindowcarefully.Takingasmallcasefromhispocketheblewalittlepowderoverit.

           “Nofingerprintsatall,”hesaid.“Thatmeansithasbeenwiped.Well,iftherehadbeenfingerprintsitwouldhavetoldusverylittle.TheywouldhavebeenthoseofM.Ratchettorhisvaletortheconductor.Criminalsdonotmakemistakesofthatkindnowadays.

           “Andthatbeingso,”headdedcheerfully,“wemightaswellshutthewindow.Positivelyitisthecoldstorageinhere!”

           Hesuitedtheactiontothewordandthenturnedhisattentionforthefirsttimetothemotionlessfigurelyinginthebunk.

           Ratchettlayonhisback.