Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "YouwillrememberthatMrs.AckroydandherdaughtercameoverfromCanadatolivehere?""Isthatwhatyoumeanttodaywhenyouaccusedthemofhidingthetruth?""Perhaps.Nowanotherpoint.Whatdidyouthinkoftheparlourmaid’sstory?""Whatstory?""Thestoryofherdismissal.Doesittakehalfanhourtodismissaservant?Wasthestoryofthoseimportantpapersalikelyone?Andremember,thoughshesaysshewasinherbedroomfromnine-thirtyuntilteno’clock,thereisnoonetoconfirmherstatement.""Youbewilderme,"Isaid.

           "Tomeitgrowsclearer.Buttellmenowyourownideasandtheories."Idrewapieceofpaperfrommypocket.

           "Ijustscribbleddownafewsuggestions,"Isaidapologetically.

           "Butexcellent–youhavemethod.Letushearthem."Ireadoutinasomewhatembarrassedvoice.

           "Tobeginwith,onemustlookatthethinglogically""JustwhatmypoorHastingsusedtosay,"interruptedPoirot,"butalas!heneverdidso.""PointNo.1.–Mr.Ackroydwasheardtalkingtosomeoneathalf-pastnine.

           "PointNo.2.–AtsometimeduringtheeveningRalphPatonmusthavecomeinthroughthewindow,asevidencedbytheprintsofhisshoes.

           "PointNo.3.–Mr.Ackroydwasnervousthatevening,andwouldonlyhaveadmittedsomeoneheknew.

           "PointNo.4.–ThepersonwithMr.Ackroydatnine-thirtywasaskingformoney.WeknowRalphPatonwasinascrape.