Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "Icanexistcomfortablywithoutknowingexactlywhatmyneighboursaredoingandthinking.""Stuffandnonsense,James,"saidmysister."YouwanttoknowjustasmuchasIdo.You’renotsohonest,that’sall.

           Youalwayshavetopretend.""Really,Caroline,"Isaid,andretiredintomysurgery.

           TenminuteslaterCarolinetappedatthedoorandentered.

           Inherhandsheheldwhatseemedtobeapotofjam.

           "Iwonder,James,"shesaid,"ifyouwouldmindtakingthispotofmedlarjellyacrosstoM.Poirot?Ipromisedittohim.

           Hehasnevertastedanyhome-mademedlarjelly.""Whycan’tAnniego?"Iaskedcoldly.

           "She’sdoingsomemending.Ican’tspareher."CarolineandIlookedateachother.

           "Verywell,"Isaid,rising."ButifItakethebeastlything,Ishalljustleaveitatthedoor.Youunderstandthat?"Mysisterraisedhereyebrows.

           "Naturally,"shesaid."Whosuggestedyoushoulddoanythingelse?"ThehonourswerewithCaroline.

           "IfyoudohappentoseeM.Poirot,"shesaid,asIopenedthefrontdoor,"youmighttellhimabouttheboots."Itwasamostsubtlepartingshot.Iwanteddreadfullytounderstandtheenigmaoftheboots.WhentheoldladywiththeBretoncapopenedthedoortome,IfoundmyselfaskingifM.Poirotwasin,quiteautomatically.

           Poirotspranguptomeetme,witheveryappearanceofpleasure.