Убийство Роджера Экройда
An Evening at Mah Jong
IshouldhavehadtopayCarolineanenormousamountifshehadgoneMahJong.MissGannett’sMahJongwasofthepoorestvarietypossible,asCarolinedidnotfailtopointouttoher.
EastWindpassed,andwestartedanewhandinsilence.
"WhatIwasgoingtotellyoujustnowwasthis,"saidCaroline.
"Yes?"saidMissGannettencouragingly.
"MyideaaboutRalphPaton,Imean.""Yes,dear,"saidMissGannett,stillmoreencouragingly."Chow!""It’sasignofweaknesstoChowsoearly,"saidCarolineseverely."Youshouldgoforabighand.""Iknow,"saidMissGannett."Youweresaying–aboutRalphPaton,youknow?""Yes.Well,I’veaprettyshrewdideawhereheis."Weallstoppedtostareather.
"Thisisveryinteresting.MissCaroline,"saidColonelCarter."Allyourownidea,eh?""Well,notexactly.I’lltellyouaboutit.Youknowthatbigmapofthecountywehaveinthehall?"WeallsaidYes.
"AsM.Poirotwasgoingouttheotherday,hestoppedandlookedatit,andhemadesomeremark–Ican’trememberexactlywhatitwas.SomethingaboutCranchesterbeingtheonlybigtownanywherenearuswhichistrue,ofcourse.Butafterhehadgone–itcametomesuddenly.""Whatcametoyou?""Hismeaning.OfcourseRalphisinCranchester."ItwasatthatmomentthatIknockeddowntherackthatheldmypieces.Mysisterimmediatelyreprovedmeforclumsiness,buthalf-heartedly.Shewasintentonhertheory.
