Убийство Роджера Экройда

           IlookedatPoirot,fullofmydiscovery,andhegavemeanimperceptiblenod.

           InanswertoMissRussell’squestion,hethrewouthishandsinathoroughlyFrenchgesture.

           "Ithoughtyoumightbeinterested,thatisall,"hesaidmildly.

           "WellI’mnotparticularly,"saidMissRussell."WhoisthisCharlesKentanyway?""Heisaman,mademoiselle,whowasatFernlyonthenightofthemurder.""Really?""Fortunatelyforhim,hehasanalibi.Ataquartertotenhewasatapublic-houseamilefromhere.""Luckyforhim,"commentedMissRussell.

           "ButwestilldonotknowwhathewasdoingatFernlywhoitwashewenttomeet,forinstance.""I’mafraidIcan’thelpyouatall,"saidthehousekeeperpolitely."Nothingcametomyears.Ifthatisall"Shemadeatentativemovementasthoughtorise.Poirotstoppedher.

           "Itisnotquiteall,"hesaidsmoothly."Thismorningfreshdevelopmentshavearisen.ItseemsnowthatMr.Ackroydwasmurdered,notataquartertoten,butbefore.Betweentenminutestonine,whenDrSheppardleft,andaquartertoten."Isawthecolourdrainfromthehousekeeper’sface,leavingitdeadwhite.Sheleanedforward,herfigureswaying.

           "ButMissAckroydsaid–MissAckroydsaid""MissAckroydhasadmittedthatshewaslying.Shewasneverinthestudyatallthatevening."Then-""ThenitwouldseemthatinthisCharlesKentwehavethemanwearelookingfor.