Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Goose Quill
"ThesefourpointsgotoshowthatthepersonwithMr.Ackroydatnine-thirtywasRalphPaton.ButweknowthatMr.Ackroydwasaliveataquartertoten,thereforeitwasnotRalphwhokilledhim.Ralphleftthewindowopen.Afterwardsthemurderercameinthatway.""Andwhowasthemurderer?"inquiredPoirot.
"TheAmericanstranger.HemayhavebeeninleaguewithParker,andpossiblyinParkerwehavethemanwhoblackmailedMrs.Ferrars.Ifso,Parkermayhaveheardenoughtorealizethegamewasup,havetoldhisaccomplices0,andthelatterdidthecrimewiththedaggerwhichParkergavehim.""Itisatheorythat,"admittedPoirot."Decidedlyyouhavetellsofakind.Butitleavesagooddealunaccountedfor.""Suchas""Thetelephonecall,thepushed-outchair""Doyoureallythinkthatlatterimportant?"Iinterrupted.
"Perhapsnot,"admittedmyfriend."Itmayhavebeenpulledoutbyaccident,andRaymondorBluntmayhaveshoveditintoplaceunconsciouslyunderthestressofemotion.Thenthereisthemissingfortypounds.""GivenbyAckroydtoRalph,"Isuggested."Hemayhavereconsideredhisfirstrefusal.""Thatstillleavesonethingunexplained.""What?""WhywasBluntsocertaininhisownmindthatitwasRaymondwithMr.Ackroydatnine-thirty?""Heexplainedthat,"Isaid.
"Youthinkso?Iwillnotpressthepoint.Tellme,instead,whatwereRalphPaton’sreasonsfordisappearing?""That’srathermoredifficult,"Isaidslowly.
