Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Howaboutthat?"InspectorRaglanwrotedownsomethinginhisnotebook.

           "Well?"demandedKent.

           "Inquirieswillbemade,"saidtheinspector."Ifyou’vespokenthetruth,youwon’thaveanythingtocomplainabout.WhatwereyoudoingatFernlyParkanyway?""Wenttheretomeetsomeone.""Who?""That’snoneofyourbusiness.""You’dbetterkeepaciviltongueinyourhead,myman,"thesuperintendentwarnedhim.

           "Tohellwithaciviltongue.Iwentthereonmyownbusiness,andthat’sallthereistoit.IfIwasclearawaybeforethemurderwasdone,that’sallthatconcernsthecops.""Yourname,itisCharlesKent,"saidPoirot."Wherewereyouborn?"Themanstaredathim,thenhegrinned.

           "I’mafull-blownBritisherallright,"hesaid.

           "Yes,"saidPoirotmeditatively."Ithinkyouare.IfancyyouwereborninKent."Themanstared.

           "Why’sthat?Becauseofmyname?What’sthattodowithit?IsamanwhosenameisKentboundtobeborninthatparticularcounty?""Undercertaincircumstances,Icanimaginehemightbe,"saidPoirotverydeliberately."Undercertaincircumstances,youcomprehend."Therewassomuchmeaninginhisvoiceastosurprisethetwopoliceofficers.AsforCharlesKent,heflushedabrickred,andforamomentIthoughthewasgoingtospringatPoirot.Hethoughtbetterofit,however,andturnedawaywithakindoflaugh.

           Poirotnoddedasthoughsatisfied,andmadehiswayoutthroughthedoor.