Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
4. The Evidence of the American Lady
Hubbardmurmured:
“Pleasetomeetyou,I’msure,”toallthreeoftheminanabstractedmanner,andthenplungedoncemoreintoherrecital.
“NowI’mjustnotgoingtopretendIwasasbrightasImighthavebeen.Igotitintomyheadthatitwasthemanfromnextdoor—thepoorfellowwho’sbeenkilled.Itoldtheconductortolookatthedoorbetweenthecompartments,andsureenoughitwasn’tbolted.Well,Isoonsawtothat,Itoldhimtoboltitthenandthere,andafterhe’dgoneoutIgotupandputasuitcaseagainstittomakesure.”
“Whattimewasthis,Mrs.Hubbard?”
“Well,I’msureIcan’ttellyou.Ineverlookedtosee.Iwassoupset.”
“Andwhatisyourtheorynow?”
“Why,Ishouldsayitwasjustasplainasplaincouldbe.Themaninmycompartmentwasthemurderer.Whoelsecouldhebe?”
“Andyouthinkhewentbackintotheadjoiningcompartment?”
“HowdoIknowwherehewent?Ihadmyeyestightshut.”
“Hemusthaveslippedoutthroughthedoorintothecorridor.”
“Well,Icouldn’tsay.Yousee,Ihadmyeyestightshut.”
Mrs.Hubbardsighedconvulsively.
“Mercy,Iwasscared!Ifmydaughteronlyknew—”
“Youdonotthink,Madame,thatwhatyouheardwasthenoiseofsomeonemovingaboutnextdoor—inthemurderedman’scompartment?”
“No,Idonot,Mr.—whatisit?—Poirot.Themanwasrightthereinthesamecompartmentwithme.And,what’smore,I’vegotproofofit.”
Triumphantlyshehauledalargehandbagintoviewandproceededtoburrowinitsinterior.
