Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Paragraph in the Paper
ItwasPoirot’svoicespeaking,andIknewfromthegravityofhistonethathe,too,wasfullyalivetotheimplicationsoftheposition.
"Mademoiselle,Imustaskyouonequestion,andyoumustanswerittruthfully,foroniteverythingmayhang:WhattimewasitwhenyoupartedfromCaptainRalphPatoninthesummer-house?Now,takealittleminutesothatyouranswermaybeveryexact."Thegirlgaveahalflaugh,bitterenoughinallconscience.
"DoyouthinkIhaven’tgoneoverthatagainandagaininmyownmind?Itwasjusthalf-pastninewhenIwentouttomeethim.MajorBluntwaswalkingupanddowntheterrace,soIhadtogoroundthroughthebushestoavoidhim.Itmusthavebeenabouttwenty-sevenminutestotenwhenIreachedthesummer-house.Ralphwaswaitingforme.Iwaswithhimtenminutes–notlonger,foritwasjustaquartertotenwhenIgotbacktothehouse."Isawnowtheinsistenceofherquestiontheotherday.IfonlyAckroydcouldhavebeenprovedtohavebeenkilledbeforeaquartertoten,andnotafter.
IsawthereflectionofthatthoughtinPoirot’snextquestion.
"Wholeftthesummer-housefirst?""Idid.""LeavingRalphPatoninthesummerhouse?""Yes–butyoudon’tthink""Mademoiselle,itisofnoimportancewhatIthink.Whatdidyoudowhenyougotbacktothehouse?""Iwentuptomyroom.""Andstayedthereuntilwhen?""Untilaboutteno’clock.""Isthereanyonewhocanprovethat?""Prove?ThatIwasinmyroom,youmean?Oh!no.
