“And now,” went on Poirot, “let us come to the events of Last night.
M. Ratchett retired to bed – when?”
“Almost immediately after dinner, Monsieur.
Actually before we leftBelgrade.
So he did on the previous night.
He had directed me to make up the bed while he was at dinner, and I did so.”
“Did anybody go into his compartment afterwards?”
“His valet, Monsieur, and the young American gentleman, his secretary.”
“Anyone else?”
“No, Monsieur, not that I know of.”
“Good.
And that is the last you saw or heard of him?”
“No, Monsieur.
You forget he rang his bell about twenty to one – soon after we had stopped.”
“What happened exactly?”
“I knocked at the door, but he called out and said he had made a mistake.”
“In English or in French?”
“In French.”
“What were his words exactly?”
“Ce n’est rien. Je me suis trompe.”
“Quite right,” said Poirot. “That is what I heard.
And then you went away?”
“Yes, Monsieur.”
“Did you go back to your seat?”
“No, Monsieur, I went first to answer another bell that had just rung.”
“Now, Michel, I am going to ask you an important question. Where were you at a quarter past one?’
“I, Monsieur?
I was at my little seat at the end – facing up the corridor.”
“You are sure?”
“Mais oui – at least–”
“I went into the next coach, the Athens coach, to speak to my colleague there.
We spoke about the snow.
That was at some time soon after one o’clock.
I cannot say exactly.”
“And you returned – when?”
“One of my bells rang, Monsieur – I remember – I told you.
It was the American lady.
She had rung several times.”
“I recollect,” said Poirot. “And after that?”
“After that, Monsieur?
I answered your bell and brought you some mineral water.
Then, about half an hour later, I made up the bed in one of the other compartments – that of the young American gentleman, Mr. Ratchett’s secretary.”
“Was Mr. MacQueen alone in his compartment when you went to make up his bed?”
“The English Colonel from No. 15 was with him.
They had been sitting talking.”
“What did the Colonel do when he left Mr. MacQueen?”
“He went back to his own compartment.”
“No. 15 – that is quite close to your seat, is it not?”
“Yes, Monsieur, it is the second compartment from that end of the corridor.”
“His bed was already made up?”