Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Andsotherecameyourproverb,thedeathofthegoosethatlaidthegoldeneggs.Butthatisnottheend.Exposurefacedthemanofwhomwearespeaking.

           Andheisnotthesamemanhewas–say,ayearago.Hismoralfibreisblunted.Heisdesperate.Heisfightingalosingbattle,andheispreparedtotakeanymeansthatcometohishand,forexposuremeansruintohim.Andso–thedaggerstrikes!"Hewassilentforamoment.Itwasasthoughhehadlaidaspellupontheroom.Icannottrytodescribetheimpressionhiswordsproduced.Therewassomethinginthemercilessanalysis,andtheruthlesspowerofvisionwhichstruckfearintobothofus.

           "Afterwards,"hewentonsoftly,"thedaggerremoved,hewillbehimselfagain,normal,kindly.Butiftheneedagainarises,thenoncemorehewillstrike."Carolinerousedherselfatlast.

           "YouarespeakingofRalphPaton,"shesaid."Youmayberight,youmaynot,butyouhavenobusinesstocondemnamanunheard."Thetelephonebellrangsharply.Iwentoutintothehall,andtookoffthereceiver.

           "What?"Isaid."Yes.DrSheppardspeaking."Ilistenedforaminuteortwo,thenrepliedbriefly.Replacingthereceiver,Iwentbackintothedrawing-room.

           "Poirot,"Isaid,"theyhavedetainedamanatLiverpool.

           HisnameisCharlesKent,andheisbelievedtobethestrangerwhovisitedFemlythatnight.TheywantmetogotoLiverpoolatonceandidentifyhim.’