Убийство Роджера Экройда
Who’s Who in King’s Abbot
Idon’tknowexactlywhata"properplace"constitutes–itsoundschillyandunpleasant–butIknowthatMissRussellgoesaboutwithpinchedlips,andwhatIcanonlydescribeasanacidsmile,andthatsheprofessestheutmostsympathyfor"poorMrs.Ackroyd–dependentonthecharityofherhusband’sbrother.Thebreadofcharityissobitter,isitnot?IshouldbequitemiserableifIdidnotworkformyliving."Idon’tknowwhatMrs.CecilAckroydthoughtoftheFerrarsaffairwhenitcameonthetapis.ItwasclearlytoheradvantagethatAckroydshouldremainunmarried.Shewasalwaysverycharming–nottosaygushing–toMrs.Ferrarswhentheymet.Carolinesaysthatproveslessthannothing.
SuchhavebeenourpreoccupationsinKing’sAbbotforthelastfewyears.WehavediscussedAckroydandhisaffairsfromeverystandpoint.Mrs.Ferrarshasfittedintoherplaceinthescheme.
Nowtherehasbeenarearrangementofthekaleidoscope.
Fromamilddiscussionofprobableweddingpresents,wehadbeenjerkedintothemidstoftragedy.
Revolvingtheseandsundryothermattersinmymind,Iwentmechanicallyonmyround.Ihadnocasesofspecialinteresttoattend,whichwas,perhaps,aswell,formythoughtsreturnedagainandagaintothemysteryofMrs.Ferrars’sdeath.
