Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
4. The Evidence of the American Lady
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“Yes,well,Ijustlaytherewithmyeyesclosed,andIthoughtwhatevershouldIdo,andIthought,‘Well,I’mjustthankfulthatmydaughterdoesn’tknowtheplightI’min.’Andthen,somehow,IgotmywitsaboutmeandIfeltaboutwithmyhandandIpressedthebellfortheconductor.IpresseditandIpressedit,butnothinghappened,andIcantellyouIthoughtmyheartwasgoingtostopbeating.‘Mercy,’Isaidtomyself,‘maybethey’vemurderedeverysinglesoulonthetrain.’Itwasatastandstill,anyhow,andanastyquietfeelintheair.ButIjustwentonpressingthatbell,andoh!thereliefwhenIheardfootstepscomingrunningdownthecorridorandaknockonthedoor.‘Comein,’Iscreamed,andIswitchedonthelightsatthesametime.And,wouldyoubelieveit,therewasn’tasoulthere.”
ThisseemedtoMrs.Hubbardtobeadramaticclimaxratherthanananticlimax.
“Andwhathappenednext,Madame?”
“Why,Itoldthemanwhathadhappened,andhedidn’tseemtobelieveme.SeemedtoimagineI’ddreamtthewholething.Imadehimlookundertheseat,thoughhesaidtherewasn’troomforamantosqueezehimselfinthere.Itwasplainenoughthemanhadgotaway,buttherehadbeenamanthereanditjustmadememadthewaytheconductortriedtosoothemedown!I’mnotonetoimaginethings,Mr.—Idon’tthinkIknowyourname?”
“Poirot,Madame,andthisisM.Bouc,adirectorofthecompany,andDr.Constantine.”
Mrs.
