Убийство Роджера Экройда

           HerculePoirot,whohadselectedunerringlythecaseofallothersthatwouldmostappealtoanelderlyladylivinginasmallvillage.

           "DidhetellyouifthedancerwasreallyaGrandDuchess?"Iinquired.

           "Hewasnotatlibertytospeak,"saidCarolineimportantly.

           IwonderedhowfarPoirothadstrainedthetruthintalkingtoCaroline–probablynotatall.Hehadconveyedhisinnuendoesbymeansofhiseyebrowsandhisshoulders.

           "Andafterallthis,"Iremarked,"Isupposeyouwerereadytoeatoutofhishand?""Don’tbecoarse,James.Idon’tknowwhereyougetthesevulgarexpressionsfrom.""Probablyfrommyonlylinkwiththeoutsideworld–mypatients.Unfortunately,mypracticedoesnotlieamongstRoyalprincesandinterestingRussianemigres."Carolinepushedherspectaclesupandlookedatme.

           "Youseemverygrumpy,James.Itmustbeyourliver.Abluepill,Ithink,tonight."Toseemeinmyownhome,youwouldneverimaginethatIwasadoctorofmedicine.Carolinedoesthehomeprescribingbothforherselfandme.

           "Damnmyliver,"Isaidirritably."Didyoutalkaboutthemurderatall?""Well,naturally,James.Whatelseistheretotalkaboutlocally?IwasabletosetM.Poirotstraightuponseveralpoints.Hewasverygratefultome.HesaidIhadthemakingsofaborndetectiveinme–andawonderfulPsychologicalinsightintohumannature."Carolinewasexactlylikeacatthatisfulltooverflowingwithrichcream.