A Perfect Alibi

At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8 o'clock train to London, said the man.

Do you always catch such an early train? asked the inspector.

Of course I do, answered the man. I must be at work at 10 o'clock. My employer will confirm that I was there on time.

Would a later train get you to work on time? asked the inspector.

I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.

At what time did you arrive at the station?

At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.

And you didn't notice anything unusual?

Of course not.

I suggest, said the inspector, that you are not telling the truth. I suggest that you did not catch the 8 o'clock train, but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time. You see, on the morning of the murder, the 8 o'clock train did not run at all. It had broken down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.

“在凶杀发生的时候，我正坐在8点钟开往伦敦的火车上。”那人说。

“您总是赶这样早的火车吗？”探长问。

“当然是的，”那人回答。“我必须在10点钟上班，我的雇主会证明我是按时到了那儿的。”

“晚一点儿的车也能送您按时上班吗？”

“我认为可以，但我从来不乘晚一点儿的车。”

“您几点钟到的火车站？”

“7点50分。我买了张报纸，等着车来。”

“您没有注意到有什么异常情况发生吗？”

“当然没有。”

“我提醒您，”探长说，“您讲的不是实话。您没有赶上8点钟的火车，而是赶上了8点25分的，这趟车同样能使您按时上班。您看，在凶杀发生的那天早晨，8点钟的那次火车根本就没有发。它在芬格林车站出了故障而被取消了。”