Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
1. An Important Passenger on the Taurus Express
Theyspokelittletoeachother.Thegirl,hethought,lookedanxious.Thereweredarkcirclesunderhereyes.
Itwasabouthalf-pasttwointheafternoonwhenthetraincametoahalt.Headswerepokedoutofwindows.Alittleknotofmenwereclusteredbythesideofthelinelookingandpointingatsomethingunderthediningcar.
PoirotleanedoutandspoketotheWagonLitconductorwhowashurryingpast.ThemanansweredandPoirotdrewbackhisheadand,turning,almostcollidedwithMaryDebenhamwhowasstandingjustbehindhim.
“Whatisthematter?”sheaskedratherbreathlesslyinFrench.“Whyarewestopping?”
“Itisnothing,Mademoiselle.Itissomethingthathascaughtfireunderthediningcar.Nothingserious.Itisputout.Theyarenowrepairingthedamage.Thereisnodanger,Iassureyou.”
Shemadealittleabruptgesture,asthoughshewerewavingtheideaofdangerasideassomethingcompletelyunimportant.
“Yes,yes,Iunderstandthat.Butthetime!”
“Thetime?”
“Yes,thiswilldelayus.”
“Itispossible—yes,”agreedPoirot.
“Butwecan’tafforddelay!Thetrainisdueinat6:55andonehastocrosstheBosphorusandcatchtheSimplonOrientExpresstheothersideatnineo’clock.Ifthereisanhourortwoofdelayweshallmisstheconnection.”
“Itispossible,yes,”headmitted.
Helookedathercuriously.Thehandthatheldthewindowbarwasnotquitesteady,herlipstooweretrembling.
“Doesitmattertoyouverymuch,Mademoiselle?”heasked.
“Yes.Yes,itdoes.I—Imustcatchthattrain
