Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Goose Quill
"Yes,"Irepeatedencouragingly."OnFridayafternoon.Well?""Everyonewasout,orsoIthought.AndIwentintoRoger’sstudy–Ihadsomerealreasonforgoingthere–Imean,therewasnothingunderhandaboutit.AndasIsawallthepapersheapedonthedesk,itjustcametome,likeaflash:"IwonderifRogerkeepshiswillinoneofthedrawersofthedesk."I’msoimpulsive,alwayswas,fromachild.Idothingsonthespurofthemoment.He’dlefthiskeys–verycarelessofhim–inthelockofthetopdrawer.""Isee,"Isaidhelpfully."Soyousearchedthedesk.Didyoufindthewill?"Mrs.Ackroydgavealittlescream,andIrealizedthatIhadnotbeensufficientlydiplomatic.
"Howdreadfulitsounds.Butitwasn’tatalllikethatreally.""Ofcourseitwasn’t,"Isaidhastily."Youmustforgivemyunfortunatewayofputtingthings.""Ofcourse,menaresopeculiar.IndearRoger’splace,Ishouldhavenotobjectedtorevealingtheprovisionsofmywill.Butmenaresosecretive.Oneisforcedtoadoptlittlesubterfugesinself-defence.""Andtheresultofthelittlesubterfuge?"Iasked.
"That’sjustwhatI’mtellingyou.AsIgottothebottomdrawer.Bournecamein.Mostawkward.OfcourseIshutthedrawerandstoodup,andIcalledherattentiontoafewspecksofdustonthesurface.ButIdidn’tlikethewayshelooked–quiterespectfulinmanner,butaverynastylightinhereyes.Almostcontemptuous,ifyouknowwhatImean.
