Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
7. The Body
Onthesmalltableformedbythelidofthewashingbasinwerevariousobjects—falseteethinaglassofwater;anotherglass,empty;abottleofmineralwater,alargeflaskandanashtraycontainingthebuttofacigarandsomecharredfragmentsofpaper;alsotwoburntmatches.
Thedoctorpickeduptheemptyglassandsniffedit.
“Hereistheexplanationofthevictim’sinertia,”hesaidquietly.
“Drugged?”
“Yes.”
Poirotnodded.Hepickedupthetwomatchesandscrutinizedthemcarefully.
“Youhaveacluethen?”demandedthelittledoctoreagerly.
“Thosetwomatchesareofadifferentshape,”saidPoirot.“Oneisflatterthantheother.Yousee?”
“Itisthekindyougetonatrain,”saidthedoctor,“inpapercovers.”
PoirotwasfeelinginthepocketsofRatchett’sclothing.Presentlyhepulledoutaboxofmatches.Hecomparedthemcarefully.
“TherounderoneisamatchstruckbyMr.Ratchett,”hesaid.“Letusseeifhehadalsotheflatterkind.”
Butafurthersearchshowednoothermatches.
Poirot’seyesweredartingaboutthecompartment.Theywerebrightandsharplikeabird’s.Onefeltthatnothingcouldescapetheirscrutiny.
Withalittleexclamationhebentandpickedupsomethingfromthefloor.
Itwasasmallsquareofcambric,verydainty.“Ourfriendthechefdetrainwasright.Thereisawomanconcernedinthis.”
“Andmostconvenientlysheleavesherhandkerchiefbehind!”saidPoirot.“Exactlyasithappensinthebooksandonthefilms—andtomakethingseveneasierforusitismarkedwithaninitial.
