Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
3. The Evidence of the Valet
”
“DoyourememberreadinginthepaperoftheArmstrongkidnappingcase?”
Alittlecolourcameintotheman’scheeks.
“Yes,indeed,sir.Alittlebabygirl,wasn’tit?Averyshockingaffair.”
“Didyouknowthatyouremployer,M.Ratchett,wastheprincipalinstigatorinthataffair?”
“No,indeed,sir.”Thevalet’stoneheldpositivewarmthandfeelingforthefirsttime.“Icanhardlybelieveit,sir.”
“Nevertheless,itistrue.Now,topasstoyourownmovementslastnight.Amatterofroutine,youunderstand.Whatdidyoudoafterleavingyourmaster?”
“ItoldMr.MacQueen,sir,thatthemasterwantedhim.ThenIwenttomyowncompartmentandread.”
“Yourcompartmentwas—?”
“Theendsecond-classone,sir.Nexttothediningcar.”
Poirotwaslookingathisplan.
“Isee—andyouhadwhichberth?”
“Thelowerone,sir.”
“ThatisNo.4?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Isthereanyoneinwithyou?”
“Yes,sir.AbigItalianfellow.”
“DoeshespeakEnglish?”
“Well,akindofEnglish,sir.”Thevalet’stonewasdeprecating.“He’sbeeninAmerica—Chicago—Iunderstand.”
“Doyouandhetalktogethermuch?”
“No,sir.Iprefertoread.”
Poirotsmiled.Hecouldvisualizethescene—thelargevolubleItalian,andthesnubdirectadministeredbythegentleman’sgentleman.
“Andwhat,mayIask,areyoureading?”heinquired.
“Atpresent,sir,IamreadingLove’sCaptive,byMrs.ArabellaRichardson.”
“Agoodstory?”
“Ifindithighlyenjoyable,sir.”
“Well,letuscontinue.
