Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
6. The Evidence of the Russian Princess
HeaddedthattheconductorfromtheBucharestcoachhadalsobeenthere.Thethreeofthemhadbeendiscussingthesituationcausedbythesnow.TheyhadbeentalkingsometenminuteswhenMichelfanciedheheardabell.Asheopenedthedoorsconnectingthetwocoaches,theyhadallhearditplainly.Abellringingrepeatedly.Michelhadrunposthastetoanswerit.
“Soyousee,Monsieur,Iamnotguilty,”criedMichelanxiously.
“AndthisbuttonfromaWagonLittunic—howdoyouexplainit?”
“Icannot,Monsieur.Itisamysterytome.Allmybuttonsareintact.”
Bothoftheotherconductorsalsodeclaredthattheyhadnotlostabutton.AlsothattheyhadnotbeeninsideMrs.Hubbard’scompartmentatanytime.
“Calmyourself,Michel,”saidM.Bouc,“andcastyourmindbacktothemomentwhenyourantoanswerMrs.Hubbard’sbell.Didyoumeetanyoneatallinthecorridor?”
“No,Monsieur.”
“Didyouseeanyonegoingawayfromyoudownthecorridorintheotherdirection?”
“Again,no.Monsieur.”
“Odd,”saidM.Bouc.
“Notsovery,”saidPoirot.“Itisaquestionoftime.Mrs.Hubbardwakestofindsomeoneinhercompartment.Foraminuteortwosheliesparalysed,hereyesshut.Probablyitwasthenthatthemanslippedoutintothecorridor.Thenshestartsringingthebell.Buttheconductordoesnotcomeatonce.Itisonlythethirdorfourthpealthathehears.Ishouldsaymyselfthattherewasampletime—”
“Forwhat?Forwhat,moncher?Rememberthattherearethickdriftsofsnowallroundthetrain.
