Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Paragraph in the Paper
Everylittleirrelevancyhadabearinguponthewhole.
"Ihaveacommissionforyou,myfriend,"hesaidatlast.
"Tonight,atmyhouse.Idesiretohavealittleconference.
Youwillattend,willyounot?""Certainly,"Isaid.
"Good.Ineedalsothoseinthehouse–thatistosay:Mrs.Ackroyd,MademoiselleFlora,MajorBlunt,Mr.Raymond.Iwantyoutobemyambassador.Thislittlereunionisfixedfornineo’clock.Youwillaskthem–yes?""Withpleasure;butwhynotaskthemyourself?""Becausetheywillthenputthequestions:Why?Whatfor?Theywilldemandwhatmyideais.And,asyouknow,myfriend,Imuchdisliketohavetoexplainmylittleideasuntilthetimecomes."Ismiledalittle.
"MyfriendHastings,heofwhomItoldyou,usedtosayofmethatIwasthehumanoyster.Buthewasunjust.Offacts,Ikeepnothingtomyself.Buttoeveryonehisowninterpretationofthem.""Whendoyouwantmetodothis?""Now,ifyouwill.Weareclosetothehouse.""Aren’tyoucomingin?""No,me,Iwillpromenademyselfinthegrounds.Iwillrejoinyoubythelodgegatesinaquarterofanhour’stime."Inodded,andsetoffonmytask.TheonlymemberofthefamilyathomeprovedtobeMrs.Ackroyd,whowassippinganearlycupoftea.Shereceivedmeverygraciously.
"Sogratefultoyou,doctor,"shemurmured,"forclearingupthatlittlematterwithM.Poirot.Butlifeisonetroubleafteranother.
