Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie [43]
His good-natured childish face beamed with satisfaction as with a last eloquent gesture, he paused and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
‘So you see,’ he said, ‘I do big business. I am up to date. I understand salesmanship!’
‘You have been in the United States, then, for the last ten years on and off?’
‘Yes, Monsieur. Ah! well do I remember the day I first took the boat—to go to America, so far away! My mother, my little sister—’
Poirot cut short the flood of reminiscence.
‘During your sojourn in the United States did you ever come across the deceased?’
‘Never. But I know the type. Oh, yes.’ He snapped his fingers expressively. ‘It is very respectable, very well dressed, but underneath it is all wrong. Out of my experience, I should say he was the big crook. I give you my opinion for what it is worth.’
‘Your opinion is quite right,’ said Poirot dryly. ‘Ratchett was Cassetti, the kidnapper.’
‘What did I tell you? I have learned to be very acute—to read the face. It is necessary. Only in America do they teach you the proper way to sell.’
‘You remember the Armstrong case?
‘I do not quite remember. The name, yes? It was a little girl—a baby—was it not?’
‘Yes, a very tragic affair.’
The Italian seemed the first person to demur to this view.
‘Ah, well, these things they happen,’ he said philosophically, ‘in a great civilization such as America—’
Poirot cut him short.
‘Did you ever come across any members of the Armstrong family?’
‘No, I do not think so. It is difficult to say. I will give you some figures. Last year alone I sold—’
‘Monsieur, pray confine yourself to the point.’
The Italian’s hands flung themselves out in a gesture of apology.
‘A thousand pardons.’
‘Tell me, if you please, your exact movements last night from dinner onwards.’
‘With pleasure. I stay here as long as I can. It is more amusing. I talk to the American gentleman at my table. He sells typewriter ribbons. Then I go back to my compartment. It is empty. The miserable John Bull who shares it with me is away attending to his master. At last he comes back—very long face as usual. He will not talk—says yes and no. A miserable race, the English—not sympathetic. He sits in the corner, very stiff, reading a book. Then the conductor comes and makes our beds.’
‘Nos. 4 and 5,’ murmured Poirot.
‘Exactly—the end compartment. Mine is the upper berth. I get up there. I smoke and read. The little Englishman has, I think, the toothache. He gets out a little bottle of stuff that smells very strong. He lies in bed and groans. Presently I sleep. Whenever I wake I hear him groaning.’
‘Do you know if he left the carriage at all during the night?’
‘I do not think so. That, I should hear. The light from the corridor—one wakes up automatically thinking it is the Customs examination at some frontier.’
‘Did he ever speak of his master? Ever express any animus against him?’
‘I tell you he did not speak. He was not sympathetic. A fish.’
‘You smoke, you say—a pipe, cigarettes, cigars?’
‘Cigarettes only.’
Poirot proffered him one which he accepted.
‘Have you ever been in Chicago?’ inquired M. Bouc.
‘Oh, yes—a fine city—but I know best New York, Washington, Detroit. You have been to the States? No? You should go, it—’
Poirot pushed a sheet of paper across to him.
‘If you will sign this, and put your permanent address, please.’
The Italian wrote with a flourish. Then he rose—his smile was as engaging as ever.
‘That is all? You do not require me further? Good-day to you, Messieurs. I wish we could get out of the snow. I have an appointment in Milan—’ He shook his head sadly. ‘I shall lose the business.’
He departed.
Poirot looked at his friend.
‘He has been a long time in America,’ said M. Bouc, ‘and he is an Italian, and Italians use the knife! And they are great liars! I do not like Italians.’
‘Ça se voit,’ said