Убийство Роджера Экройда

           ""Yes,"Isaid."Whomdidshegoouttomeet?Andwhy?""Youthinkshewenttomeetsomeone?""Ido."Poirotnodded.

           "SodoI,"hesaidthoughtfully.

           Therewasapause.

           "Bytheway,"Isaid,"I’vegotamessageforyoufrommysister.RalphPaton’sbootswereblack,notbrown."IwaswatchinghimcloselyasIgavethemessage,andIfanciedthatIsawamomentaryflickerofdiscomposure.Ifso,itpassedalmostimmediately.

           "Sheisabsolutelypositivetheyarenotbrown?""Absolutely.""Ah!"saidPoirotregretfully."Thatisapity."Andheseemedquitecrestfallen.

           Heenteredintonoexplanations,butatoncestartedanewsubjectofconversation.

           "Thehousekeeper,MissRussell,whocametoconsultyouonthatFridaymorning–isitindiscreettoaskwhatpassedattheinterview–apartfromthemedicaldetails,Imean?""Notatall,"Isaid."Whentheprofessionalpartoftheconversationwasover,wetalkedforafewminutesaboutpoisons,andtheeaseordifficultyofdetectingthem,andaboutdrug-takinganddrug-takers.""Withspecialreferencetococaine?"askedPoirot.

           "Howdidyouknow?"Iasked,somewhatsurprised.

           Foranswer,thelittlemanroseandcrossedtheroomtowherenewspaperswerefiled.HebroughtmeacopyoftheDailyBudget,datedFriday,16thSeptember,andshowedmeanarticledealingwiththesmugglingofcocaine.Itwasasomewhatluridarticle,writtenwithaneyetopicturesqueeffect.