Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Goose Quill
Ackroyd,"Isaidbrusquely,"Ishouldmakeacleanbreastofthings."Shegavealittlescream.
"Oh!doctor,howcanyoubesoabrupt.Itsoundsasthough–asthough–AndIcanexplaineverythingsosimply.""Thenwhynotdoso?"Isuggested.
Mrs.Ackroydtookoutafrilledhandkerchief,andbecametearful.
"Ithought,doctor,thatyoumightputittoM.Poirotexplainit,youknow–becauseit’ssodifficultforaforeignertoseeourpointofview.Andyoudon’tknow–nobodycouldknow–whatI’vehadtocontendwith.Amartyrdom–alongmartyrdom.That’swhatmylifehasbeen.Idon’tliketospeakillofthedead–butthereitis.Notthesmallestbillbutithadalltobegoneover–justasthoughRogerhadhadafewmiserlyhundredsayearinsteadofbeing(asMr.Hammondtoldmeyesterday)oneofthewealthiestmenintheseparts."Mrs.Ackroydpausedtodabhereyeswiththefrilledhandkerchief.
"Yes,"Isaidencouragingly."Youweretalkingaboutbills?""Thosedreadfulbills.AndsomeIdidn’tliketoshowRogeratall.Theywerethingsamanwouldn’tunderstand.
Hewouldhavesaidthethingsweren’tnecessary.Andofcoursetheymountedup,youknow,andtheykeptcomingon"Shelookedatmeappealingly,asthoughaskingmetocondolewithheronthisstrikingpeculiarity.
"It’sahabittheyhave,"Iagreed.
Andthetonealtered–becamequiteabusive.
