Убийство в Восточном экспрессе
6. The Evidence of the Russian Princess
ShemassagedmeandthenreadaloudtillIfeltsleepy.Icannotsayexactlywhensheleftme.Itmayhavebeenhalfanhour,itmayhavebeenlater.”
“Thetrainhadstoppedthen?”
“Thetrainhadstopped.”
“Youheardnothing—nothingunusualduringthetime,Madame?”
“Iheardnothingunusual.”
“Whatisyourmaid’sname?”
“HildegardeSchmidt.”
“Shehasbeenwithyoulong?”
“Fifteenyears.”
“Youconsiderhertrustworthy?”
“Absolutely.Herpeoplecomefromanestateofmylatehusband’sinGermany.”
“YouhavebeeninAmerica,Ipresume,Madame?”
Theabruptchangeofsubjectmadetheoldladyraisehereyebrows.
“Manytimes.”
“WereyouatanytimeacquaintedwithafamilyofthenameofArmstrong—afamilyinwhichatragedyoccurred?”
Withsomeemotioninhervoicetheoldladysaid:
“Youspeakoffriendsofmine,Monsieur.”
“YouknewColonelArmstrongwell,then?”
“Iknewhimslightly;buthiswife,SoniaArmstrong,wasmygod-daughter.Iwasontermsoffriendshipwithhermother,theactress,LindaArden.LindaArdenwasagreatgenius,oneofthegreatesttragicactressesintheworld.AsLadyMacbeth,asMagda,therewasnoonetotouchher.Iwasnotonlyanadmirerofherart,Iwasapersonalfriend.”
“Sheisdead?”
“No,no,sheisalive,butshelivesincompleteretirement.Herhealthisverydelicate,shehastolieonasofamostofthetime.”
“Therewas,Ithink,aseconddaughter?”
“Yes,muchyoungerthanMrs.Armstrong.”
“Andsheisalive?”
“Certainly.”
“Whereisshe?”
Theoldwomanbentanacuteglanceathim.
