Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
2. The Evidence of the Secretary
Ratchettand,asItoldyou,tookdownsomememorandaoflettershewantedwritten.Isaidgoodnighttohimandlefthim.ColonelArbuthnotwasstillstandinginthecorridor.Hiscompartmentwasalreadymadeupforthenight,soIsuggestedthatheshouldcomealongtomine.Iorderedacoupleofdrinksandwegotrightdowntoit.DiscussedworldpoliticsandtheGovernmentofIndiaandourowntroubleswiththefinancialsituationandtheWallStreetcrisis.Idon’tasarulecottontoBritishers—they’reastiff-neckedlot—butIlikedthisone.”
“Doyouknowwhattimeitwaswhenheleftyou?”
“Prettylate.Gettingonfortwoo’clock,Ishouldsay.”
“Younoticedthatthetrainhadstopped?”
“Oh,yes.Wewonderedabit.Lookedoutandsawthesnowlyingverythick,butwedidn’tthinkitwasserious.”
“WhathappenedwhenColonelArbuthnotfinallysaidgoodnight?”
“HewentalongtohiscompartmentandIcalledtotheconductortomakeupmybed.”
“Wherewereyouwhilsthewasmakingit?”
“Standingjustoutsidethedoorinthecorridorsmokingacigarette.”
“Andthen?”
“AndthenIwenttobedandslepttillmorning.”
“Duringtheeveningdidyouleavethetrainatall?”
“ArbuthnotandIthoughtwe’dgetoutat—whatwasthenameoftheplace?—Vincovcitostretchourlegsabit.Butitwasbitterlycold—ablizzardon.Wesoonhoppedbackagain.”
“Bywhichdoordidyouleavethetrain?”
“Bytheonenearesttoourcompartment.”
“Theonenexttothediningcar?”
“Yes.”
“Doyourememberifitwasbolted?”
MacQueenconsidered.
