Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
5. The Evidence of the Swedish Lady
”
“Didyouyourselfleavethecompartment?”
“Notuntilthismorning.”
“Haveyouascarletsilkkimono,Mademoiselle?”
“No,indeed.IhaveagoodcomfortabledressinggownofJaegermaterial.”
“ApalemauveabbasuchasyoubuyintheEast.”
Poirotnodded.Thenhesaidinafriendlytone:
“Whyareyoutakingthisjourney?Aholiday?”
“Yes,Iamgoinghomeforaholiday.ButfirstIgotoLausannetostaywithasisterforaweekorso.”
“Perhapsyouwillbesoamiableastowritemedownthenameandaddressofyoursister?”
“Withpleasure.”
Shetookthepaperandpencilhegaveherandwrotedownthenameandaddressasrequested.
“HaveyoueverbeeninAmerica,Mademoiselle?”
“No.Verynearlyonce.Iwastogowithaninvalidlady,butitwascancelledatthelastmoment.Imuchregretted.Theyareverygood,theAmericans.Theygivemuchmoneytofoundschoolsandhospitals.Theyareverypractical.”
“DoyourememberhearingoftheArmstrongkidnappingcase?”
“No,whatwasthat?”
Poirotexplained.
GretaOhlssonwasindignant.Heryellowbunofhairquiveredwithheremotion.
“Thatthereareintheworldsuchevilmen!Ittriesone’sfaith.Thepoormother.Myheartachesforher.”
TheamiableSwededeparted,herkindlyfaceflushed,hereyessuffusedwithtears.
Poirotwaswritingbusilyonasheetofpaper.
“Whatisityouwritethere,myfriend?”askedM.Bouc.
“Moncher,itismyhabittobeneatandorderly.Imakeherealittletableofchronologicalevents.”
HefinishedwritingandpassedthepapertoM.Bouc.
9:15TrainleavesBelgrade.
