Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Goose Quill
Therewas,forinstance,thequestionoftheblackboots.Butthatcomeslater…Totakethingsstrictlyinchronologicalorder,ImustbeginwiththesummonsfromMrs.Ackroyd.
ShesentformeearlyonTuesdaymorning,andsincethesummonssoundedanurgentone,Ihastenedthere,expectingtofindherinextremis.
Theladywasinbed.Somuchdidsheconcedetotheetiquetteofthesituation.Shegavemeherbonyhand,andindicatedachairdrawnuptothebedside.
"Well,Mrs.Ackroyd,"Isaid,"andwhat’sthematterwithyou?"Ispokewiththatkindofspuriousgenialitywhichseemstobeexpectedofgeneralpractitioners.
"I’mprostrated,"saidMrs.Ackroydinafaintvoice."Absolutelyprostrated.It’stheshockofpoorRoger’sdeath.
Theysaythesethingsoftenaren’tfeltatthetime,youknow.
It’sthereactionafterwards."Itisapitythatadoctorisprecludedbyhisprofessionfrombeingablesometimestosaywhathereallythinks.
Iwouldhavegivenanythingtobeabletoanswer"Bunkum!"Instead,Isuggestedatonic.Mrs.Ackroydacceptedthetonic.Onemoveinthegameseemednowtobeconcluded.
NotforamomentdidIimaginethatIhadbeensentforbecauseoftheshockoccasionedbyAckroyd’sdeath.ButMrs.Ackroydistotallyincapableofpursuingastraightforwardcourseonanysubject.Shealwaysapproachesherobjectbytortuousmeans.Iwonderedverymuchwhyitwasshehadsentforme.
