Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows
"Indeed,"saidthelittlemancheerfully,"thishasnotbeenawastedmorning.Ihavemadetheacquaintanceofamanwhoinsomewaysresemblesmyfar-offfriend.Bytheway,Ishouldliketoaskyouaquestion.Youdoubtlessknoweveryoneinthistinyvillage.Whoistheyoungmanwiththeverydarkhairandeyes,andthehandsomeface.Hewalkswithhisheadflungback,andaneasysmileonhislips?"Thedescriptionleftmeinnodoubt.
"ThatmustbeCaptainRalphPaton,"Isaidslowly.
"Ihavenotseenhimaboutherebefore?""No,hehasnotbeenhereforsometime.Butheistheson–adoptedson,rather–ofMr.AckroydofFernlyPark."Myneighbourmadeaslightgestureofimpatience.
"Ofcourse,Ishouldhaveguessed.Mr.Ackroydspokeofhimmanytimes.""YouknowMr.Ackroyd?"Isaid,slightlysurprised.
"Mr.AckroydknewmeinLondon–whenIwasatworkthere.Ihaveaskedhimtosaynothingofmyprofessiondownhere.""Isee,"Isaid,ratheramusedbythispatentsnobbery,asIthoughtit.
Butthelittlemanwentonwithanalmostgrandiloquentsmirk.
"Onepreferstoremainincognito.Iamnotanxiousfornotoriety.Ihavenoteventroubledtocorrectthelocalversionofmyname.""Indeed,"Isaid,notknowingquitewhattosay.
"CaptainRalphPaton,"musedMr.Porrott."AndsoheisengagedtoMr.Ackroyd’sniece,thecharmingMissFlora.""Whotoldyouso?"Iasked,verymuchsurprised.
