Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
1. The Evidence of the Wagon Lit Conductor
“Andafterthat?”
“Afterthat,Monsieur?Iansweredyourbellandbroughtyousomemineralwater.Then,abouthalfanhourlater,Imadeupthebedinoneoftheothercompartments—thatoftheyoungAmericangentleman,M.Ratchett’ssecretary.”
“WasM.MacQueenaloneinhiscompartmentwhenyouwenttomakeuphisbed?”
“TheEnglishColonelfromNo.15waswithhim.Theyhadbeensittingtalking.”
“WhatdidtheColoneldowhenheleftM.MacQueen?”
“Hewentbacktohisowncompartment.”
“No.15—thatisquiteclosetoyourseat,isitnot?”
“Yes,Monsieur,itisthesecondcompartmentfromthatendofthecorridor.”
“Hisbedwasalreadymadeup?”
“Yes,Monsieur.Ihadmadeitupwhilehewasatdinner.”
“Whattimewasallthis?”
“Icouldnotsayexactly,Monsieur.Notlaterthantwoo’clock,certainly.”
“Andafterthat?”
“Afterthat,Monsieur,Isatinmyseattillmorning.”
“YoudidnotgoagainintotheAthenscoach?”
“No,Monsieur.”
“Perhapsyouslept?”
“Idonotthinkso,Monsieur.ThetrainbeingatastandstillpreventedmefromdozingoffasIusuallydo.”
“Didyouseeanyofthepassengersmovingupordownthecorridor?”
Themanreflected.
“Oneoftheladieswenttothetoiletatthefarend,Ithink.”
“Whichlady?”
“Idonotknow,Monsieur.Itwasfardownthecorridor,andshehadherbacktome.Shehadonakimonoofscarletwithdragonsonit.”
Poirotnodded.
“Andafterthat?”
“Nothing,Monsieur,untilthemorning.
