Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Always,whenIhavehadabigcase,hehasbeenbymyside.

           Andhehashelpedme–yes,oftenhehashelpedme.Forhehadaknack,thatone,ofstumblingoverthetruthunawares–withoutnoticingithimself,bienentendu.Attimes,hehassaidsomethingparticularlyfoolish,andbeholdthatfoolishremarkhasrevealedthetruthtome!Andthen,too,itwashispracticetokeepawrittenrecordofthecasesthatprovedinteresting."Igaveaslightlyembarrassedcough.

           "Asfarasthatgoes,"Ibegan,andthenstopped.

           Poirotsatuprightinhischair.Hiseyessparkled.

           "Butyes?Whatisitthatyouwouldsay?""Well,asamatteroffact,I’vereadsomeofCaptainHastings’snarratives,andIthought,whynottrymyhandatsomethingofthesamekind.Seemedapitynottouniqueopportunity–probablytheonlytimeI’llbemixedupwithanythingofthiskind."Ifeltmyselfgettinghotterandhotter,andmoreandmoreincoherent,asIflounderedthroughtheabovespeech.

           Poirotsprangfromhischair.Ihadamoment’sterrorthathewasgoingtoembracemeFrenchfashion,butmercifullyherefrained.

           "Butthisismagnificent–youhavethenwrittendownyourimpressionsofthecaseasyouwentalong?"Inodded.

           "Epatant!"criedPoirot."Letmeseethem–thisinstant."Iwasnotquitepreparedforsuchasuddendemand.Irackedmybrainstoremembercertaindetails.