Убийство Роджера Экройда
Flora Ackroyd
""Buthangitall,man,Parkersawhercomingoutofthedoor.""No."Poirot’svoicerangoutwithsuddensharpness.
"Thatisjustwhathedidnotsee.Isatisfiedmyselfofthatbyalittleexperimenttheotherday–youremember,doctor?
Parkersawheroutsidethedoor,withherhandonthehandle.Hedidnotseehercomeoutoftheroom.""But–whereelsecouldshehavebeen?""Perhapsonthestairs.""Thestairs?""Thatismylittleidea–yes.""ButthosestairsonlyleadtoMr.Ackroyd’sbedroom.""Precisely."Andstilltheinspectorstared.
"Youthinkshe’dbeenuptoheruncle’sbedroom?Well,whynot?Whyshouldshelieaboutit?""Ah!thatisjustthequestion.Itdependsonwhatshewasdoingthere,doesitnot?""Youmean–themoney?Hangitall,youdon’tsuggestthatitwasMissAckroydwhotookthatfortypounds?""Isuggestnothing,"saidPoirot."ButIwillremindyouofthis.Lifewasnotveryeasyforthatmotheranddaughter.
Therewerebills–therewasconstanttroubleoversmallsumsofmoney.RogerAckroydwasapeculiarmanovermoneymatters.Thegirlmightbeatherwits"endforacomparativelysmallsum.Figuretoyourselfthenwhathappens.Shehastakenthemoney,shedescendsthelittlestaircase.Whensheishalf-waydownshehearsthechinkofglassfromthehall.Shehasnotadoubtofwhatitis–Parkercomingtothestudy.Atallcostsshemustnotbefoundonthestairs–Parkerwillnotforgetit,hewillthinkitodd.
