Убийство Роджера Экройда
Miss Russell
Ididn’twanttheservantstoseeme,soIslippedoutthroughthedrawing-roomwindow.AsIcameback,ImetDrSheppard,andIfanciedthathewouldthinkitqueer.Iwasoutofbreath,forIhadbeenrunning.Ihadnoideathathewasexpectedtodinnerthatnight."Shepaused.
"Goon,"saidPoirot."Youwentouttomeethimattenminutespastnine.Whatdidyousaytoeachother?""It’sdifficult.Yousee-""Mademoiselle,"saidPoirot,interruptingher,"inthismatterImusthavethewholetruth.Whatyoutellusneednevergobeyondthesefourwalls.DrSheppardwillbediscreet,andsoshallI.See,Iwillhelpyou.ThisCharlesKent,heisyourson,ishenot?"Shenodded.Thecolourhadflamedintohercheeks.
"Noonehaseverknown.Itwaslongago–longago–downinKent.Iwasnotmarried…""Soyoutookthenameofthecountyasasurnameforhim.Iunderstand.""Igotwork.Imanagedtopayforhisboardandlodging.InevertoldhimthatIwashismother.Butheturnedoutbadly,hedrank,thentooktodrugs.ImanagedtopayhispassageouttoCanada.Ididn’thearofhimforayearortwo.
Then,somehoworother,hefoundoutthatIwashismother.
Hewroteaskingmeformoney.Finally,Iheardfromhimbackinthiscountryagain.HewascomingtoseemeatFernly,hesaid.Idarednotlethimcometothehouse.Ihavealwaysbeenconsideredso–soveryrespectable.Ifanyonegotaninkling–itwouldhavebeenallupwithmypostashousekeeper.
