Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Iriskedthesubstancefortheshadow.""Icomprehend,"saidMr.Porrott."Youspeculated?"Inoddedmournfully,butinspiteofmyselfIfeltsecretlyentertained.Thisridiculouslittlemanwassoportentouslysolemn.

           "NotthePorcupineOilfields?"heaskedsuddenly.

           Istared.

           "Ithoughtofthem,asamatteroffact,butintheendIplumpedforagoldmineinWesternAustralia."MyneighbourwasregardingmewithastrangeexpressionwhichIcouldnotfathom.

           "ItisFate,"hesaidatlast.

           "WhatisFate?"Iaskedirritably.

           "ThatIshouldlivenexttoamanwhoseriouslyconsidersPorcupineOilfields,andalsoWestAustralianGoldMines.

           Tellme,haveyoualsoapenchantforauburnhair?"Istaredathimopen-mouthed,andheburstoutlaughing.

           "No,no,itisnottheinsanitythatIsufferfrom.Makeyourmindeasy.ItwasafoolishquestionthatIputtoyouthere,for,yousee,myfriendofwhomIspokewasayoungman,amanwhothoughtallwomengood,andmostofthembeautiful.Butyouareamanofmiddleage,adoctor,amanwhoknowsthefollyandthevanityofmostthingsinthislifeofours.Well,well,weareneighbours.Ibegofyoutoacceptandpresenttoyourexcellentsistermybestmarrow."Hestooped,andwithaflourishproducedanimmensespecimenofthetribe,whichIdulyacceptedinthespiritinwhichitwasoffered.