Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Naturally,withtherighthandbroughtupovertheshoulderbackwards,itwouldhavebeendifficulttoputitinexactlytherightposition."InspectorRaglanstaredatthelittleman.Poirot,withanairofgreatunconcern,fleckedaspeckofdustfromhiscoatsleeve.

           "Well,"saidtheinspector."It’sanidea.I’lllookintoitallright,butdon’tyoubedisappointedifnothingcomesofit."Heendeavouredtomakehistonekindlyandpatronising.

           Poirotwatchedhimgooff.Thenheturnedtomewithtwinklingeyes.

           "Anothertime,"heobserved,"Imustbemorecarefulofhisamourpropre.Andnowthatwearelefttoourowndevices,whatdoyouthink,mygoodfriend,ofalittlereunionofthefamily?"The"littlereunion,"asPoirotcalledit,tookplaceabouthalfanhourlater.WesatroundthetableinthediningroomatFernly.Poirotattheheadofthetable,likethechairmanofsomeghastlyboardmeeting.Theservantswerenotpresent,soweweresixinall.Mrs.Ackroyd,Flora,MajorBlunt,youngRaymond,Poirot,andmyself.

           Wheneveryonewasassembled,Poirotroseandbowed.

           "Messieurs,mesdames,Ihavecalledyoutogetherforacertainpurpose."Hepaused."Tobeginwith,Iwanttomakeaveryspecialpleatomademoiselle.""Tome?"saidFlora.

           "Mademoiselle,youareengagedtoCaptainRalphPaton.Ifanyoneisinhisconfidence,youare.Ibegyou,mostearnestly,ifyouknowofhiswhereabouts,topersuadehimtocomeforward.