Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "Idon’tquitegetyou,Mr.Poirot.""Youhavetakentheprintsofeveryoneinthehouse,yousay,"murmuredPoirot."Isthattheexacttruthyouaretellingmethere,M.l’Inspecteur?""Certainly.""Withoutoverlookinganyone?""Withoutoverlookinganyone.""Thequickorthedead?"Foramomenttheinspectorlookedbewilderedatwhathetooktobeareligiousobservation.Thenhereactedslowly.

           "Youmean-?""Thedead,M.1’Inspecteur."Theinspectorstilltookaminuteortwotounderstand.

           "Iamsuggesting,"saidPoirotplacidly,"thatthefingerprintsonthedaggerhandlearethoseofMr.Ackroydhimself.Itisaneasymattertoverify.Hisbodyisstillavailable.""Butwhy?Whatwouldbethepointofit?You’resurelynotsuggestingsuicide,Mr.Poirot?"Ah!no.Mytheoryisthatthemurdererworeglovesorwrappedsomethingroundhishand.Aftertheblowwasstruck,hepickedupthevictim’shandandcloseditroundthedaggerhandle.""Butwhy?"Poirotshruggedhisshouldersagain.

           "Tomakeaconfusingcaseevenmoreconfusing.""Well,"saidtheinspector."I’lllookintoit.Whatgaveyoutheideainthefirstplace?""Whenyouweresokindastoshowmethedaggeranddrawattentiontothefingerprints.Iknowverylittleofloopsandwhorls–see,Iconfessmyignorancefrankly.Butitdidoccurtomethatthepositionoftheprintswassomewhatawkward.NotsowouldIhaveheldadaggerinordertostrike.