Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "Ehbien,"hesaid,"Icongratulateyou–onyourmodesty!""Oh!"Isaid,rathertakenaback.

           "Andonyourreticence,"headded.

           Isaid"Oh!"again.

           "NotsodidHastingswrite,"continuedmyfriend."Oneverypage,many,manytimeswastheword"I."Whathethought–whathedid.Butyou–youhavekeptyourpersonalityinthebackground;onlyonceortwicedoesitobtrude–inscenesofhomelife,shallwesay?"Iblushedalittlebeforethetwinkleofhiseye.

           "Whatdoyoureallythinkofthestuff?"Iaskednervously.

           "Youwantmycandidopinion?""Yes."Poirotlaidhisjestingmanneraside.

           "Averymeticulousandaccurateaccount,"hesaidkindly.

           "Youhaverecordedallthefactsfaithfullyandexactlythoughyouhaveshownyourselfbecominglyreticentastoyourownshareinthem.""Andithashelpedyou?""Yes.Imaysaythatithashelpedmeconsiderably.Come,wemustgoovertomyhouseandsetthestageformylittleperformance."Carolinewasinthehall.Ithinkshehopedthatshemightbeinvitedtoaccompanyus.Poirotdealtwiththesituationtactfully.

           "Ishouldmuchliketohavehadyoupresent,mademoiselle,"hesaidregretfully,"butatthisjunctureitwouldnotbewise.

           Seeyou,allthesepeopletonightaresuspects.Amongstthem,IshallfindthepersonwhokilledMr.Ackroyd.""Youreallybelievethat?"Isaidincredulously.