Убийство Роджера Экройда
An Evening at Mah Jong
EastWindpassed,andwesettooncemore.Anniebroughtintheteathings.CarolineandMissGannettwerebothslightlyruffledasisoftenthecaseduringoneofthesefestiveevenings.
"Ifyouwouldonlyplayaleetlequicker,dear,"saidCaroline,asMissGannetthesitatedoverherdiscard."TheChineseputdownthetilessoquicklyitsoundslikelittlebirdspattering."ForsomeminutesweplayedliketheChinese.
"Youhaven’tcontributedmuchtothesumofinformation,Sheppard,"saidColonelCartergenially."You’reaslydog.Handinglovewiththegreatdetective,andnutahintastothewaythingsaregoing.""Jamesisanextraordinarycreature,"saidCaroline."Hecannotbringhimselftopartwithinformation."Shelookedatmewithsomedisfavour.
"Iassureyou,"Isaid,"thatIdon’tknowanything.Poirotkeepshisowncounsel."Wiseman,"saidthecolonelwithachuckle."Hedoesn’tgivehimselfaway.Butthey’rewonderfulfellows,theseforeigndetectives.Uptoallsortsofdodges,Ibelieve.""Pung,"saidMissGannett,inatoneofquiettriumph.
"AndManJong."Thesituationbecamemorestrained.ItwasannoyanceatMissGannett’sgoingMahJongforthethirdtimerunningwhichpromptedCarolinetosaytomeaswebuiltafreshwall:"Youaretootiresome,James.Yousittherelikeadeadhead,andsaynothingatall!""But,mydear,"Iprotested,"Ihavereallynothingtosaythatis,ofthekindyoumean.
