The A B C Murders / Убийство по алфавиту. Книга для чтения на английском языке

’

�But there weren’t any on it.’

�That is what I mean. What was yesterday evening? A warm June night. Does a man stroll about on such an evening in gloves? Such a man would certainly have attracted attention. Therefore since there are no fingerprints on the A В C, it must have been carefully wiped. An innocent man would have left prints—a guilty man would not. So our murderer left it there for a purpose—but for all that it is none the less a clue. That ABC was bought by someone—it was carried by someone—there is a possibility there.

’

�You think we may learn something that way?’

�Frankly, Hastings, I am not particularly hopeful. This man, this unknown X, obviously prides himself on his abilities[114 - to pride oneself on smth. – гордиться чем-то]. He is not likely to blaze a trail[115 - to blaze a trail – оставлять след] that can be followed straight away.’

�So that really the ABC isn’t helpful at all.’

�Not in the sense you mean.

’

�In any sense?’

Poirot did not answer at once. Then he said slowly:

�The answer to that is yes. We are confronted here by an unknown personage. He is in the dark and seeks to remain in the dark. But in the very nature of things be cannot help throwing light upon himself. In one sense we know nothing about him—in another sense we know already a good deal. I see his figure dimly taking shape—a man who prints clearly and well—who buys good-quality paper—who is at great needs to express his personality.

I see him as a child possibly ignored and passed over[116 - passed over – оставленный без внимания]—I see him growing up with an inward sense of inferiority—warring with a sense of injustice… I see that inner urge—to assert himself—to focus attention on himself ever becoming stronger, and events, circumstances—crushing it down—heaping, perhaps, more humiliations on him. And inwardly the match is set to the powder train…’

�That’s all pure conjecture,’ I objected.

�It doesn’t give you any practical help.’

�You prefer the match end, the cigarette ash, the nailed boots! You always have. But at least we can ask ourselves some practical questions. Why the ABC? Why Mrs Ascher? Why Andover?’

�The woman’s past life seems simple enough,’ I mused. �The interviews with those two men were disappointing. They couldn’t tell us anything more than we knew already.