Agatha christie
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Armstrong
on
He paused, looking at the passengers. There was complete silence. the burnt letter, and told the others. It was their second piece of bad luck. The position of Countess Andrenyi became worrying, and the Count changed her name on the passport. ‘The plan was impossible without the help of Michel, the conductor. But if he was one of the group, then there were thirteen people, not twelve. I believe that the Countess, who had the strongest reason to kill Cassetti, was probably the one who did not do it. Her husband has promised me that she did not leave her compartment. I believe him. ‘But why was honest Michel in this? He was a good man who had worked on the train for many years. Then I remembered Susanne, the Armstrongs’ French maid. Perhaps the unlucky girl was Michel’s daughter. And the others? Arbuthnot was probably an army friend of Armstrong’s, Hildegarde Schmidt the family’s cook. Hardman probably worked as a detective on the case, or perhaps he had been in love with Susanne. And then there was Mrs Hubbard. She had a difficult job, because she was in the compartment through which everyone reached Ratchett. No one could say that they were with her. To play the part of this foolish old woman, a true actress was needed - Mrs Armstrong’s mother, Linda Arden.’ He stopped. Then, in a soft rich dreamy voice, very unlike the one she had used on the journey, Mrs Hubbard said, ‘I always liked playing amusing characters. That mistake with the sponge bag was silly, though. We tried it on the journey east, but I was in an even numbered compartment then, I suppose.’ She moved slightly and looked straight at Poirot. ‘You have guessed so much, M. Poirot. But even you can’t imagine what it was like — that terrible day in New York when Hector MacQueen told us that Cassetti had walked free from the court. I was crazy with sadness and anger - and the servants were too. Colonel Arbuthnot was there. He was Robert Armstrong’s best friend.’
‘He saved my life in the war,’ said Arbuthnot. ‘We decided then and there to give him the punishment that the court had failed to give him — death. Perhaps we were mad - I don’t know. There were twelve of us - well, eleven, because Susanne’s father was in France, of course. Mary planned all the details with Hector. ‘It took a long time to perfect our plan. Hardman managed to find Ratchett. Then Masterman and Hector had to get jobs with him. We had a meeting with Susanne’s father. For Colonel Arbuthnot, it was important that there were twelve of us — it made it more correct, he thought. Michel was willing. We knew that Ratchett would come back from the East on the Orient Express, so this seemed the perfect opportunity. ‘We tried to book every compartment in the carriage, but unfortunately one had been booked long before for someone from the train company.’ She smiled at M. Bouc. ‘Mr Harris, of course, was invented — we didn’t want a stranger in Hector’s compartment. Then, at the last minute, you came, M. Poirot.’ She stopped. ‘Well,’ she said, ‘you know everything now. But what are you going to do about it? If someone must be punished, can’t you blame me and
me for the crime? It’s unnecessary to bring trouble to all these other good people — poor Michel - and Mary and Colonel Arbuthnot — they love each other so much - ’ Poirot looked at his friend. ‘What do you say, M. Bouc?’ M. Bouc coughed and said, ‘In my opinion, the first solution was the correct one — definitely. The murderer left the train at Vincovci. I suggest that we give that solution to the Yugoslav police when they arrive. Do you agree, Doctor?’ ‘Certainly I agree,’ said Dr Constantine. ‘I think I made some - er - rather silly suggestions about the medical evidence.’ ‘Then,’ said Poirot, ‘we have solved the case. My work here is done.’ 69
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