Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "Icannotallowmademoisellethusextravagantlytocomplimentme,andnotdrawattentiontomypresence.Theysaythelistenerhearsnogoodofhimself,butthatisnotthecasethistime.

           Tosparemyblushes,Imustjoinyouandapologize."Hehurrieddownthepathwithmeclosebehindhim,andjoinedtheothersbythepond.

           "ThisisM.HerculePoirot,"saidFlora."Iexpectyou’veheardofhim."Poirotbowed.

           "IknowMajorBluntbyreputation,"hesaidpolitely."Iamgladtohaveencounteredyou,monsieur.Iaminneedofsomeinformationthatyoucangiveme."Bluntlookedathiminquiringly.

           "WhendidyoulastseeM.Ackroydalive?""Atdinner.""Andyouneithersawnorheardanythingofhimafterthat?""Didn’tseehim.Heardhisvoice.""Howwasthat?""Istrolledoutontheterrace""Pardonme,whattimewasthat?""Abouthalf-pastnine.Iwaswalkingupanddownsmokinginfrontofthedrawing-roomwindow.IheardAckroydtalkinginhisstudy-"Poirotstoppedandremovedamicroscopicweed.

           "Surelyyoucouldn’thearvoicesinthestudyfromthatpartoftheterrace,"hemurmured.

           HewasnotlookingatBlunt,butIwas,andtomyintensesurprise,Isawthelatterflush.

           "Wentasfarasthecorner,"heexplainedunwillingly.

           "Ah!indeed?"saidPoirot.

           Inthemildestmannerheconveyedanimpressionthatmorewaswanted.