东方快车谋杀案 9

Eight,THE ARMSTRONG KIDNAPPING CASE,They found M. Bouc finishing an omelet.,“I thought it best to have lunch served immediately in the restaurant car,” he said. “Afterwardsit will be cleared and M. Poirot can conduct his examination of the passengers there. In themeantime I have ordered them to bring us three some food here. ”,“An excellent idea,” said Poirot.,Neither of the other two men was hungry, and the meal was soon eaten, but not till they weresipping their coffee did M. Bouc mention the subject that was occupying all their minds.,“Eh bien, I have discovered the identity of the victim. I know why it was imperative ¹ he shouldleave America.
”,“Who was he?”,“Do you remember reading of the Armstrong baby? This is the man who murdered little DaisyArmstrong—Cassetti. ”,“I recall it now. A shocking affair—though I cannot remember the details.
”,“Colonel Armstrong was an Englishman—a V.C. He was half American, as his mother was adaughter of W. K. Van der Halt, the Wall Street millionaire. He married the daughter of LindaArden, the most famous tragic ² American actress of her day. They lived in America and had onechild—a girl—whom they idolized. When she was three years old she was kidnapped, and animpossibly high sum demanded as the price of her return. I will not weary you with all theintricacies that followed. I will come to the moment, when, after having paid over the enormoussum of two hundred thousand dollars, the child’s dead body was discovered, it having been deadat least a fortnight. Public indignation rose to fever point. And there was worse to follow. Mrs.,The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。,The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲 。