Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
2. The Evidence of the Secretary
“Why,yes,Iseemtorememberitwas.Atleasttherewasakindofbarthatfittedacrossthehandle.Isthatwhatyoumean?”
“Yes.Ongettingbackintothetraindidyoureplacethatbar?”
“Why,no—Idon’tthinkIdid.Igotinlast.No,Idon’tseemtorememberdoingso.”
Headdedsuddenly:
“Isthatanimportantpoint?”
“Itmaybe.Now,Ipresume,Monsieur,thatwhileyouandColonelArbuthnotweresittingtalkingthedoorofyourcompartmentintothecorridorwasopen?”
HectorMacQueennodded.
“Iwantyou,ifyoucan,totellmeifanyonepassedalongthatcorridorafterthetrainleftVincovciuntilthetimeyoupartedcompanyforthenight.”
MacQueendrewhisbrowstogether.
“Ithinktheconductorpassedalongonce,”hesaid,“comingfromthedirectionofthediningcar.Andawomanpassedtheotherway,goingtowardsit.”
“Whichwoman?”
“Icouldn’tsay.Ididn’treallynotice.Yousee,IwasjustarguingapointwithArbuthnot.Ijustseemtorememberaglimpseofsomescarletsilkaffairpassingthedoor.Ididn’tlook,andanywayIwouldn’thaveseentheperson’sface.Asyouknow,mycarriagefacesthediningcarendofthetrain,soawomangoingalongthecorridorinthatdirectionwouldhaveherbacktomeassoonasshepassed.”
Poirotnodded.
“Shewasgoingtothetoilet,Ipresume?”
“Isupposeso.”
“Andyousawherreturn?”
“Well,no,nowthatyoumentionit,Ididn’tnoticeherreturning,butIsupposeshemusthavedoneso.”
“Onemorequestion.Doyousmokeapipe,M.MacQueen?”
“No,sir,Idonot.”
Poirotpausedamoment
