Убийство Роджера Экройда
Round the Table
IfyouknowwhereRalphPatonishiding,speakout."Therewasalongsilence.Poirotlookedtoeachinturn.
"Ibegofyou,"hesaidinalowvoice,"speakout."Butstilltherewassilence,brokenatlastbyMrs.Ackroyd.
"Imustsay,"sheobservedinaplaintivevoice,"thatRalph’sabsenceismostpeculiar–mostpeculiarindeed.Nottocomeforwardatsuchatime.Itlooks,youknow,asthoughthereweresomethingbehindit.Ican’thelpthinking.Floradear,thatitwasaveryfortunatethingyourengagementwasneverformallyannounced.""Mother!"criedFloraangrily.
"Providence,"declaredMrs.Ackroyd."IhaveadevoutbeliefinProvidence–adivinitythatshapesourends,asShakespeare’sbeautifullineruns.""Surelyyoudon’tmaketheAlmightydirectlyresponsibleforthickankles,Mrs.Ackroyd,doyou?"askedGeoffreyRaymond,hisirresponsiblelaughringingout.
Hisideawas,Ithink,toloosenthetension,butMrs.Ackroydthrewhimaglanceofreproachandtookoutherhandkerchief.
"Florahasbeensavedaterribleamountofnotorietyandunpleasantness.NotforamomentthatIthinkdearRalphhadanythingtodowithpoorRoger’sdeath.Idon’tthinkso.ButthenIhaveatrustingheart–Ialwayshavehad,eversinceachild.Iamloathtobelievetheworstofanyone.But,ofcourse,onemustrememberthatRalphwasinseveralairraidsasayoungboy.Theresultsareapparentlongafter,sometimes,theysay.
