Убийство Роджера Экройда

           ""Wereyoudownherewhenherhusbanddied?"Iasked,tryingtomakethequestionsoundascasualaspossible.

           "No.FromallIhearditwouldbegoodriddance.Uncharitable,perhaps,butthetruth."Iagreed.

           "AshleyFerrarswasbynomeansapatternhusband,"Isaidcautiously.

           "Blackguard,Ithought,"saidBlunt.

           "No,"Isaid,"onlyamanwithmoremoneythanwasgoodforhim.""Oh!money!Allthetroublesintheworldcanbeputdowntomoney–orthelackofit.""Whichhasbeenyourparticulartrouble?"Iasked.

           "EnoughforwhatIwant.I’moneoftheluckyones.""Indeed.""I’mnottooflushjustnow,asamatteroffact.Cameintoalegacyayearago,andlikeafoolletmyselfbepersuadedintoputtingitintosomewild-catscheme."Isympathized,andnarratedmyownsimilartrouble.

           Thenthegongpealedout,andweallwentintolunch.

           Poirotdrewmebackalittle.

           Whyshouldn’the?I’llswearthemanisperfectlysquareandaboveboard.""Withoutdoubt,withoutdoubt,"saidPoirotsoothingly.

           "Donotupsetyourself."Hespokeasthoughtoafractiouschild.

           Wealltroopedintothedining-room.Itseemedincrediblethatlessthantwenty-fourhourshadpassedsinceIlastsatatthattable.

           Afterwards,Mrs.Ackroydtookmeasideandsatdownwithmeonasofa.