Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
8. The Armstrong Kidnapping Case
Armstrongwasexpectinganotherchild.Followingtheshockofthediscovery,shegavebirthtoadeadchildbornprematurely,andherselfdied.Herbroken-heartedhusbandshothimself.”
“MonDieu,whatatragedy.Iremembernow,”saidM.Bouc.“Therewasalsoanotherdeath,ifIrememberrightly?”
“Yes—anunfortunateFrenchorSwissnursemaid.Thepolicewereconvincedthatshehadsomeknowledgeofthecrime.Theyrefusedtobelieveherhystericaldenials.Finally,inafitofdespair,thepoorgirlthrewherselffromawindowandwaskilled.Itwasprovedafterwardsthatshewasabsolutelyinnocentofanycomplicityinthecrime.”
“Itisnotgoodtothinkof,”saidM.Bouc.
“Aboutsixmonthslater,thismanCassettiwasarrestedastheheadofthegangwhohadkidnappedthechild.Theyhadusedthesamemethodsinthepast.Ifthepoliceseemedlikelytogetontheirtrail,theyhadkilledtheirprisoner,hiddenthebody,andcontinuedtoextractasmuchmoneyaspossiblebeforethecrimewasdiscovered.
“Now,Iwillmakecleartoyouthis,myfriend.Cassettiwastheman!Butbymeansoftheenormouswealthhehadpiledupandbythesecretholdhehadovervariouspersons,hewasacquittedonsometechnicalinaccuracy.Notwithstandingthat,hewouldhavebeenlynchedbythepopulacehadhenotbeencleverenoughtogivethemtheslip.Itisnowcleartomewhathappened.HechangedhisnameandleftAmerica.Sincethenhehasbeenagentlemanofleisure,travellingabroadandlivingonhisrentes.”
“Ah!quelanimal!”M.Bouc’stonewasredolentofheartfeltdisgust.
