Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
1. An Important Passenger on the Taurus Express
Inthecourseofconversationtheydiscoveredsomemutualfriendswhichhadtheimmediateeffectofmakingthemmorefriendlyandlessstiff.TheydiscussedoldTommySomebodyandJerrySomeoneElse.TheColonelinquiredwhethershewasgoingstraightthroughtoEnglandorwhethershewasstoppinginStamboul.
“No,I’mgoingstraighton.”
“Isn’tthatratherapity?”
“IcameoutthiswaytwoyearsagoandspentthreedaysinStamboulthen.”
“Oh,Isee.Well,ImaysayI’mverygladyouaregoingrightthrough,becauseIam.”
Hemadeakindofclumsylittlebow,flushingalittleashedidso.
“Heissusceptible,ourColonel,”thoughtHerculePoirottohimselfwithsomeamusement.“Thetrain,itisasdangerousasaseavoyage!”
MissDebenhamsaidevenlythatthatwouldbeverynice.Hermannerwasslightlyrepressive.
TheColonel,HerculePoirotnoticed,accompaniedherbacktohercompartment.LatertheypassedthroughthemagnificentsceneryoftheTaurus.AstheylookeddowntowardstheCilicianGates,standinginthecorridorsidebyside,asighcamesuddenlyfromthegirl.Poirotwasstandingnearthemandheardhermurmur:
“It’ssobeautiful!Iwish—Iwish—”
“Yes?”
“Iwish,Icouldenjoyit!”
Arbuthnotdidnotanswer.Thesquarelineofhisjawseemedalittlesternerandgrimmer.
“IwishtoHeavenyouwereoutofallthis,”hesaid.
“Hush,please.Hush.”
“Oh!it’sallright.”HeshotaslightlyannoyedglanceinPoirot’sdirection.
