Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows
"Mr.Ackroyd.Aboutaweekago.Heisverypleasedaboutit–haslongdesiredthatsuchathingshouldcometopass,orsoIunderstoodfromhim.Ievenbelievethathebroughtsomepressuretobearupontheyoungman.Thatisneverwise.Ayoungmanshouldmarrytopleasehimself–nottopleaseastepfatherfromwhomhehasexpectations."Myideaswerecompletelyupset.IcouldnotseeAckroydtakingahairdresserintohisconfidence,anddiscussingthemarriageofhisnieceandstepsonwithhim.Ackroydextendsagenialpatronagetothelowerorders,buthehasaverygreatsenseofhisowndignity.IbegantothinkthatPorrottcouldn’tbeahairdresserafterall.
Tohidemyconfusion,Isaidthefirstthingthatcameintomyhead.
"WhatmadeyounoticeRalphPaton?Hisgoodlooks?""No,notthatalone–thoughheisunusuallygood-lookingforanEnglishman–whatyourladynovelistswouldcallaGreekGod.No,therewassomethingaboutthatyoungmanthatIdidnotunderstand."Hesaidthelastsentenceinamusingtoneofvoicewhichmadeanindefinableimpressionuponme.ItwasasthoughhewassumminguptheboybythelightofsomeinnerknowledgethatIdidnotshare.Itwasthatimpressionthatwasleftwithme,foratthatmomentmysister’svoicecalledmefromthehouse.
Iwentin.Carolinehadherhaton,andhadevidentlyjustcomeinfromthevillage.Shebeganwithoutpreamble.
"ImetMr.Ackroyd.""Yes?"Isaid.
