Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "Yes,sir.""Iunderstandyouareleaving?""Yes,sir.""Whyisthat?""IdisarrangedsomepapersonMr.Ackroyd’sdesk.Hewasveryangryaboutit,andIsaidIhadbetterleave.Hetoldmetogoassoonaspossible.""WereyouinMr.Ackroyd’sbedroomatalllastnight?

           Tidyinguporanything?""No,sir.ThatisElsie’swork.Ineverwentnearthatpartofthehouse.""Imusttellyou,mygirl,thatalargesumofmoneyismissingfromMr.Ackroyd’sroom."AtlastIsawherroused.Awaveofcoloursweptoverherface.

           "Iknownothingaboutanymoney.IfyouthinkItookit,andthatthatiswhyMr.Ackroyddismissedme,youarewrong.""I’mnotaccusingyouoftakingit,mygirl,"saidtheinspector."Don’tflareupso."Thegirllookedathimcoldly.

           "Youcansearchmythingsifyoulike,"shesaiddisdainfully.

           "Butyouwon’tfindanything."Poirotsuddenlyinterposed.

           "ItwasyesterdayafternoonthatMr.Ackroyddismissedyou–oryoudismissedyourself,wasitnot?"heasked.

           Thegirlnodded.

           "Howlongdidtheinterviewlast?""Theinterview?""Yes,theinterviewbetweenyouandMr.Ackroydinthestudy?""I–Idon’tknow.""Twentyminutes?Halfanhour?""Somethinglikethat.""Notlonger?""Notlongerthanhalfanhour,certainly.""Thankyou,mademoiselle."Ilookedcuriouslyathim.Hewasrearrangingafewobjectsonthetable,settingthemstraightwithprecisefingers.