Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Thereisinhimsomewhereastrainofweakness–deepdown.Ithassofarneverbeencalledintoplay.Perhapsitneverwillbe–andifsohewillgotohisgravehonouredandrespectedbyeveryone.Butletussupposethatsomethingoccurs.Heisindifficulties–orperhapsnotthateven.Hemaystumblebyaccidentonasecret–asecretinvolvinglifeordeathtosomeone.Andhisfirstimpulsewillbetospeakout–todohisdutyasanhonestcitizen.Andthenthestrainofweaknesstells.Hereisachanceofmoney–agreatamountofmoney.Hewantsmoney–hedesiresit–anditissoeasy.Hehastodonothingforit–justkeepsilence.Thatisthebeginning.Thedesireformoneygrows.Hemusthavemore–andmore!Heisintoxicatedbythegoldminewhichhasopenedathisfeet.

           Hebecomesgreedy.Andinhisgreedheoverreacheshimself.Onecanpressamanasfarasonelikes–butwithawomanonemustnotpresstoofar.Forawomanhasatheartagreatdesiretospeakthetruth.Howmanyhusbandswhohavedeceivedtheirwivesgocomfortablytotheirgraves,carryingtheirsecretwiththem!Howmanywiveswhohavedeceivedtheirhusbandswrecktheirlivesbythrowingthefactinthosesamehusbands"teeth!Theyhavebeenpressedtoofar.Inarecklessmoment(whichtheywillafterwardsregret,bienentendu)theyflingsafetytothewindsandturnatbay,proclaimingthetruthwithgreatmomentarysatisfactiontothemselves.Soitwas,Ithink,inthiscase.Thestrainwastoogreat