Убийство Роджера Экройда

           ButIwasafool,really,becauseBluntandIwereinthebilliardroomfromaquartertotenonwards,soI’vegotawatertightalibiandnothingtofear.Still,whenyouthunderedoutthatstuffaboutconcealingthings,Ifeltanastyprickofconscience,andIthoughtI’dliketogetitoffmymind."Hegotupagainandstoodsmilingatus.

           "Youareaverywiseyoungman,"saidPoirot,noddingathimwithapproval."Seeyou,whenIknowthatanyoneishidingthingsfromme,Isuspectthatthethinghiddenmaybesomethingverybadindeed.Youhavedonewell.""I’mgladI’mclearedfromsuspicion,"laughedRaymondTilbeoffnow.""Sothatisthat,"Iremarked,asthedoorclosedbehindtheyoungsecretary.

           "Yes,"agreedPoirot."Amerebagatelle–butifhehadnotbeeninthebilliardroom–whoknows?Afterall,manycrimeshavebeencommittedforthesakeoflessthanfivehundredpounds.Italldependsonwhatsumissufficienttobreakaman.

           Aquestionofrelativity,isitnotso?Haveyoureflected,myfriend,thatmanypeopleinthathousestoodtobenefitbyMr.Ackroyd’sdeath?Mrs.Ackroyd,MissFlora,youngMr.Raymond,thehousekeeper,MissRussell.Onlyone,infact,doesnot.MajorBlunt."HistoneinutteringthatnamewassopeculiarthatIlookedup,puzzled.

           "Idon’tunderstandyou,"Isaid.

           "TwoofthepeopleIaccusedhavegivenmethetruth.