Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows
"Itwassuchalovelyday,"sheexclaimed."IthoughtIwouldmakealittleround.Thewoodswiththeirautumnaltintsaresoperfectatthistimeofyear."Carolinedoesnotcareahangforwoodsatanytimeofyear.Normallysheregardsthemasplaceswhereyougetyourfeetdamp,andwhereallkindsofunpleasantthingsmaydroponyourhead.No,itwasgoodsoundmongooseinstinctwhichtookhertoourlocalwood.ItistheonlyplaceadjacenttothevillageofKing’sAbbotwhereyoucantalkwithayoungwomanunseenbythewholeofthevillage.
ItadjoinstheParkofFernly.
"Well,"Isaid,"goon.""AsIsay,IwasjustcomingbackthroughthewoodwhenIheardvoices."Carolinepaused.
"Yes?""OnewasRalphPaton’s–Iknewitatonce.Theotherwasagirl’s.OfcourseIdidn’tmeantolisten""Ofcoursenot,"Iinterjected,withpatentsarcasmwhichwas,however,wastedonCaroline.
"ButIsimplycouldn’thelpoverhearing.Thegirlsaidsomething–Ididn’tquitecatchwhatitwas,andRalphanswered.Hesoundedveryangry."Mydeargirl,"hesaid.
"Don’tyourealizethatitisquiteonthecardstheoldmanwillcutmeoffwithashilling?He’sbeenprettyfedupwithmeforthelastfewyears.Alittlemorewoulddoit.Andweneedthedibs,mydear.Ishallbeaveryrichmanwhentheoldfellowpopsoff.He’smeanastheymake’em,buthe’srollinginmoneyreally.Idon’twanthimtogoalteringhiswill.
