Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Heroseandgreetedusinhisdry,precisemanner.

           Poirotcameatoncetothepoint.

           "Monsieur,Idesirefromyoucertaininformation,thatis,ifyouwillbesogoodastogiveittome.Youacted,Iunderstand,forthelateMrs.FerrarsofKing’sPaddock?"Inoticedtheswiftgleamofsurprisewhichshowedinthelawyer’seyes,beforehisprofessionalreservecamedownoncemorelikeamaskoverhisface.

           "Certainly.Allheraffairspassedthroughourhands.""Verygood.Now,beforeIaskyoutotellmeanything,IshouldlikeyoutolistentothestoryDrSheppardwillrelatetoyou.Youhavenoobjection,haveyou,myfriend,torepeatingtheconversationyouhadwithMr.AckroydlastFridaynight?""Notintheleast,"Isaid,andstraightwaybegantherecitalofthatstrangeevening.

           Hammondlistenedwithcloseattention.

           "Thatisall,"Isaid,whenIhadfinished.

           "Blackmail,"saidthelawyerthoughtfully.

           "Youaresurprised?"askedPoirot.

           Thelawyertookoffhispince-nezandpolishedthemwithhishandkerchief.

           "No,"hereplied,"IcanhardlysaythatIamsurprised.Ihavesuspectedsomethingofthekindforsometime.""Thatbringsus,"saidPoirot,"totheinformationforwhichIamasking.Ifanyonecangiveusanideaoftheactualsumspaid,youaretheman,monsieur.""Iseenoobjectinwithholdingtheinformation,"saidHammond,afteramomentortwo."Duringthepastyear,Mrs.