Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Goose Quill
"Ishallhavetospeakasamedicalman.Ralph’snervesmusthavegonephut!Ifhesuddenlyfoundoutthathisunclehadbeenmurderedwithinafewminutesofhisleavinghim–after,perhaps,aratherstormyinterview–well,hemightgetthewindupandclearrightout.Menhavebeenknowntodothat–actguiltilywhenthey’reperfectlyinnocent.""Yes,thatistrue,"saidPoirot."Butwemustnotlosesightofonething.""Iknowwhatyou’regoingtosay,"Iremarked:"motive.RalphPatoninheritsagreatfortunebyhisuncle’sdeath.""Thatisonemotive,"agreedPoirot.
"One?""Maisoui.Doyourealizethattherearethreeseparatemotivesstaringusintheface.Somebodycertainlystoletheblueenvelopeanditscontents.Thatisonemotive.
Blackmail!RalphPatonmayhavebeenthemanwhoblackmailedMrs.Ferrars.Remember,asfarasHammondknew,RalphPatonhadnotappliedtohisuncleforhelpoflate.Thatlooksasthoughhewerebeingsuppliedwithmoneyelsewhere.Thenthereisthefactthathewasinsome–howdoyousay–scrape?–whichhefearedmightgettohisuncle’sears.Andfinallythereistheoneyouhavejustmentioned.""Dearme,"Isaid,rathertakenaback."Thecasedoesseemblackagainsthim.""Doesit?"saidPoirot."Thatiswherewedisagree,youandI.Threemotives–itisalmosttoomuch.Iaminclinedtobelievethat,afterall,RalphPatonisinnocent."AftertheeveningtalkIhavejustchronicled,theaffairseemedtometoenteronadifferentphase.
