Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Paragraph in the Paper
YouhaveheardaboutFlora,ofcourse?""Whatexactly?"Iaskedcautiously.
"Thisnewengagement.FloraandHectorBlunt.OfcoursenotsuchagoodmatchasRalphwouldhavebeen.
Butafterall,happinesscomesfirst.WhatdearFloraneedsisanolderman–someonesteadyanndreliable,andthenHectorisreallyaverydistinguishedmaninhisway.YousawthenewsofRalph’sarrestinthepaperthismorning?""Yes,"Isaid,"Idid.""Horrible."Mrs.Ackroydclosedhereyesandshuddered.
"GeoffreyRaymondwasinaterribleway.RangupLiverpool.Buttheywouldn’ttellhimanythingatthepolicestationthere.Infact,theysaidtheyhadn’tarrestedRalphatall.Mr.Raymondinsiststhatit’sallamistake–a~whatdotheycallit?–canardofthenewspaper’s.I’veforbiddenittobementionedbeforetheservants.Suchaterribledisgrace.
FancyifFlorahadactuallybeenmarriedtohim."Mrs.Ackroydshuthereyesinanguish.IbegantowonderhowsoonIshouldbeabletodeliverPoirot’sinvitation.
BeforeIhadtimetospeak,Mrs.Ackroydwasoffagain.
"Youwerehereyesterday,weren’tyou,withthatdreadfulInspectorRaglan?Bruteofaman–heterrifiedFloraintosayingshetookthatmoneyfrompoorRoger’sroom.Andthematterwassosimple,really.Thedearchildwantedtoborrowafewpounds,didn’tliketodisturbherunclesincehe’dgivenstrictordersagainstit.
