Убийство Роджера Экройда
Who’s Who in King’s Abbot
Hisbigredcheeksseemedtohavefallenin,andhelookedapositivewreckofhisusualjolly,healthyself.
"It’sworsethanyouknow,"hesaidquietly."Lookhere,Sheppard,I’vegottotalktoyou.Canyoucomebackwithmenow?""Hardly.I’vegotthreepatientstoseestill,andImustbebackbytwelvetoseemysurgerypatients.""Thenthisafternoon–no,betterstill,dinetonight.At7.30.Willthatsuityou?""Yes,Icanmanagethatallright.What’swrong?IsitRalph?"IhardlyknewwhyIsaidthat–except,perhaps,thatithadsooftenbeenRalph.
Ackroydstaredblanklyatmeasthoughhehardlyunderstood.
IbegantorealizethattheremustbesomethingveryI’msureMissRussellknowsfarmoreabouthighsocietythanIdo.Ididn’tattempttoarguewithher.
"Justtellmethis,doctor,"saidMissRussell."Supposeyouarereallyaslaveofthedrughabit,isthereanycure?"Onecannotansweraquestionlikethatoff-hand.Igaveherashortlectureonthesubject,andshelistenedwithcloseattention.IstillsuspectedherofseekinginformationaboutMrs.Ferrars.
"Now,veronal,forinstance-"Iproceeded.
But,strangelyenough,shedidn’tseeminterestedinveronal.Insteadshechangedthesubject,andaskedmeifitwastruethattherewerecertainpoisonssorareastobaffledetection.
"Ah!"Isaid."You’vebeenreadingdetectivestories."Sheadmittedthatshehad
