Убийство Роджера Экройда
Flora Ackroyd
ThetruthisasIsaid,andIampreparedtogointothewitness-boxandsweartoit."Hemadeakindofjerkybow,thenturningabruptlyhelefttheroom.
Poirotwasafterhiminaflash.Hecaughttheotherupinthehall.
"Monsieur–amoment,Ibegofyou,ifyouwillbesogood.""Well,sir?"Bluntwasobviouslyimpatient.HestoodfrowningdownonPoirot.
"Itisthis,"saidPoirotrapidly:"Iamnotdeceivedbyyourlittlefantasy.No,indeed.ItwastrulyMissFlorawhotookthemoney.Allthesameitiswellimaginedwhatyousay–itpleasesme.Itisverygoodwhatyouhavedonethere.Youareamanquicktothinkandtoact.""I’mnotintheleastanxiousforyouropinion,thankyou,"saidBluntcoldly.
Hemadeoncemoreasthoughtopasson,butPoirot,notatalloffended,laidadetaininghandonhisarm.
"Ah!butyouaretolistentome.Ihavemoretosay.TheotherdayIspokeofconcealments.Verywell,allalongIhaveseenwhatyouareconcealing.MademoiselleFlora,youloveherwithallyourheart.Fromthefirstmomentyousawher,isitnotso?Oh!letusnotmindsayingthesethings–whymustoneinEnglandthinkitnecessarytomentionloveasthoughitweresomedisgracefulsecret?YouloveMademoiselleFlora.Youseektoconcealthatfactfromalltheworld.Thatisverygood–thatisasitshouldbe.ButtaketheadviceofHerculePoirot–donotconcealitfrommademoiselleherself.
