Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows
"Istoppedhim,ofcourse,butheseemedinagreathurry,andanxioustogetaway."Ihavenodoubtbutthatthatwasthecase.HewouldfeeltowardsCarolinemuchashehadfelttowardsMissGannettearlierintheday–perhapsmoreso.Carolineislesseasytoshakeoff.
"IaskedhimatonceaboutRalph.Hewasabsolutelyastonished.Hadnoideatheboywasdownhere.HeactuallysaidhethoughtImusthavemadeamistake.I!Amistake!""Ridiculous,"Isaid."Heoughttohaveknownyoubetter.""ThenhewentontotellmethatRalphandFloraareengaged.""Iknewthat,too,"Iinterrupted,withmodestpride.
"Whotoldyou?""Ournewneighbour."Carolinevisiblywaveredforasecondortwo,muchasifarouletteballmightcoylyhoverbetweentwonumbers.
Thenshedeclinedthetemptingredherring.
"ItoldMr.AckroydthatRalphwasstayingattheThreeBoars.""Caroline,"Isaid,"doyouneverreflectthatyoumightdoalotofharmwiththishabitofyoursofrepeatingeverythingindiscriminately?""Nonsense,"saidmysister."Peopleoughttoknowthings.Iconsideritmydutytotellthem.Mr.Ackroydwasverygratefultome.""Well,"Isaid,fortherewasclearlymoretocome.
"IthinkhewentstraightofftotheThreeBoars,butifsohedidn’tfindRalphthere.""No?""No.BecauseasIwascomingbackthroughthewood""Comingbackthroughthewood?"Iinterrupted.
Carolinehadthegracetoblush.
