Убийство Роджера Экройда
Miss Russell
"Decidedly,"saidPoirot,"youshouldbeaninventorbytrade,notadoctor.ButIhearthebell–thatisyourpatient.
Letusgointothesurgery."OncebeforeIhadbeenstruckbytheremnantsofbeautyinthehousekeeper’sface.ThismorningIwasstruckanew.
Verysimplydressedinblack,tall,uprightandindependentasever,withherbigdarkeyesandanunwontedflushofcolourinherusuallypalecheeks,Irealizedthatasagirlshemusthavebeenstartlinglyhandsome.
"Good-morning,mademoiselle,"saidPoirot."Willyoubeseated?DrSheppardissokindastopermitmetheuseofhissurgeryforalittleconversationIamanxioustohavewithyou."MissRussellsatdownwithherusualcomposure.Ifshefeltanyinwardagitation,itdidnotdisplayitselfinanyoutwardmanifestation.
"Itseemsaqueerwayofdoingthings,ifyou’llallowmetosayso,"sheremarked.
"MissRussell–Ihavenewstogiveyou.""Indeed!""CharlesKenthasbeenarrestedatLiverpool."Notamuscleofherfacemoved.Shemerelyopenedhereyesatriflewider,andasked,withatingeofdefiance:"Well,whatofit?"Butatthatmomentitcametome–theresemblancethathadhauntedmeallalong,somethingfamiliarinthedefianceofCharlesKent’smanner.Thetwovoices,oneroughandcoarse,theotherpainfullyladylike–werestrangelythesameintimbre.ItwasofMissRussellthatIhadbeenremindedthatnightoutsidethegatesofFernlyPark.
