Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Parlourmaid
"Ican’thelpfeelingalittlehurt,"shemurmured,producingahandkerchiefofthekindobviouslynotmeanttobecriedinto."Hurt,Imean,byRoger’slackofconfidenceinme.Thattwentythousandpoundsoughttohavebeenlefttome–nottoFlora.Amothercouldbetrustedtosafeguardtheinterestsofherchild.Alackoftrust,Icallit.""Youforget,Mrs.Ackroyd,"Isaid,"FlorawasAckroyd’sownniece,abloodrelation.Itwouldhavebeendifferenthadyoubeenhissisterinsteadofhissister-in-law.""AspoorCecil’swidow,Ithinkmyfeelingsoughttohavebeenconsidered,"saidthelady,touchinghereyelashesgingerlywiththehandkerchief."ButRogerwasalwaysmostpeculiar–nottosaymean–aboutmoneymatters.IthasbeenamostdifficultpositionforbothFloraandmyself.Hedidnotevengivethepoorchildanallowance.Hewouldpayherbills,youknow,andeventhatwithagooddealofreluctanceandaskingwhatshewantedallthosefal-lalsforsolikeaman–but–nowI’veforgottenwhatitwasIwasgoingtosay!Oh,yes,notapennywecouldcallourown,youknow.Floraresentedit–yes,Imustsaysheresentedit–verystrongly.Thoughdevotedtoheruncle,ofcourse.
Butanygirlwouldhaveresentedit.Yes,ImustsayRogerhadverystrangeideasaboutmoney.Hewouldn’tevenbuynewfacetowels,thoughItoldhimtheoldoneswereinboles.Andthen,"proceededMrs.