Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Atthat,too,sheisamazinglyexpert.

           Itwasreallythislastnamedtraitofherswhichwascausingmethesepangsofindecision.WhateverItoldCarolinenowconcerningthedemiseofMrs.Ferrarswouldbecommonknowledgealloverthevillagewithinthespaceofanhourandahalf.Asaprofessionalman,Inaturallyaimatdiscretion.ThereforeIhavegotintothehabitofcontinuallywithholdingallinformationpossiblefrommysister.

           Sheusuallyfindsoutjustthesame,butIhavethemoralsatisfactionofknowingthatIaminnowaytoblame.

           Mrs.Ferrars"husbanddiedjustoverayearago,andCarolinehasconstantlyasserted,withouttheleastfoundationfortheassertion,thathiswifepoisonedhim.

           ShescornsmyinvariablerejoinderthatMr.Ferrarsdiedofacutegastritis,helpedonbyhabitualoverindulgenceinalcoholicbeverages.Thesymptomsofgastritisandarsenicalpoisoningarenot,Iagree,unlike,butCarolinebasesheraccusationonquitedifferentlines.

           "You’veonlygottolookather,"Ihaveheardhersay.

           Mrs.Ferrars,thoughnotinherfirstyouth,wasaveryattractivewoman,andherclothes,thoughsimple,alwaysseemedtofitherverywell,butallthesame,lotsofwomenbuytheirclothesinParis,andhavenot,onthataccount,necessarilypoisonedtheirhusbands.

           AsIstoodhesitatinginthehall,withallthispassingthroughmymind,Caroline’svoicecameagain,withasharpernoteinit.