The Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie [31]
“You yourself did not go into the adjoining compartment?”
“No, Monsieur.”
“Then you did not happen to notice if a scarlet morocco case was amongst the luggage there?”
“No, Monsieur, I did not.”
“Would it have been possible for a man to have been concealed in the adjoining compartment?”
The conductor reflected.
“The door was half open,” he said. “If a man had stood behind the door I should not have been able to see him, but he would, of course, have been perfectly visible to Madame when she went in there.”
“Quite so,” said Poirot. “Is there anything more you have to tell us?”
“I think that is all, Monsieur. I can remember nothing else.”
“And now this morning?” prompted Poirot.
“As Madame had ordered, I did not disturb her. It was not until just before Cannes that I ventured to knock at the door. Getting no reply, I opened it. The lady appeared to be in her bed asleep. I took her by the shoulder to rouse her, and then—”
“And then you saw what had happened,” volunteered Poirot. “Très bien. I think I know all I want to know.”
“I hope, Monsieur le Commissaire, it is not that I have been guilty of any negligence,” said the man piteously. “Such an affair to happen on the Blue Train! It is horrible.”
“Console yourself,” said the Commissary. “Everything will be done to keep the affair as quiet as possible, if only in the interests of justice. I cannot think you have been guilty of any negligence.”
“And Monsieur le Commissaire will report as much to the company?”
“But certainly, but certainly,” said M. Caux, impatiently. “That will do now.”
The conductor withdrew.
“According to the medical evidence,” said the Commissary, “the lady was probably dead before the train reached Lyons. Who then was the murderer? From Mademoiselle’s story, it seems clear that somewhere on her journey she was to meet this man of whom she spoke. Her action in getting rid of the maid seems significant. Did the man join the train at Paris, and did she conceal him in the adjoining compartment? If so, they may have quarrelled, and he may have killed her in a fit of rage. That is one possibility. The other, and the more likely to my mind, is that her assailant was a train robber travelling on the train; that he stole along the corridor unseen by the conductor, killed her, and went off with the red morocco case, which doubtless contained jewels of some value. In all probability he left the train at Lyons, and we have already telegraphed to the station there for full particulars of anyone seen leaving the train.”
“Or he might have come on to Nice,” suggested Poirot.
“He might,” agreed the Commissary, “but that would be a very bold course.”
Poirot let a minute or two go by before speaking, and then he said:
“In the latter case you think the man was an ordinary train robber?”
The Commissary shrugged his shoulders.
“It depends. We must get hold of the maid. It is possible that she has the red morocco case with her. If so, then the man of whom she spoke to Mademoiselle may be concerned in the case, and the affair is a crime of passion. I myself think the solution of a train robber is the more plausible. These bandits have become very bold of late.”
Poirot looked suddenly across at Katherine.
“And you, Mademoiselle,” he said, “you heard and saw nothing during the night?”
“Nothing,” said Katherine.
Poirot turned to the Commissary.
“We need detain Mademoiselle no longer, I think,” he suggested.
The latter nodded.
“She will leave us her address?” he said.
Katherine gave him the name of Lady Tamplin’s villa. Poirot made her a little bow.
“You permit that I see you again, Mademoiselle?