Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Idothinkhemighthavetrustedmewiththesecret,though.Iwouldn’thavelethimdown."Poirotrappedgentlyonatableandclearedhisthroatsignificantly.

           "Theboardmeeting’sgoingtobegin,"saidFlora."M.Poirothintsthatwemustn’ttalk.Butjusttellmeonething.

           WhereisRalph?Youmustknowifanyonedoes.""ButIdon’t,"criedUrsula,almostinawail."That’sjustit,Idon’t.""Isn’thedetainedatLiverpool?"askedRaymond."Itsaidsointhepaper.""HeisnotatLiverpool,"saidPoirotshortly.

           "Infact,"Iremarked,"nooneknowswhereheis.""ExceptHerculePoirot,eh?"saidRaymond.

           Poirotrepliedseriouslytotheother’sbanter.

           "Me,Iknoweverything.Rememberthat."GeoffreyRaymondliftedhiseyebrows.

           "Everything?"Hewhistled."Whew!that’satallorder.""DoyoumeantosayyoucanreallyguesswhereRalphPatonishiding?"Iaskedincredulously.

           "Youcallitguessing.Icallitknowing,myfriend.""InCranchester?"Ihazarded.

           "No,"repliedPoirotgravely,"notinCranchester."Hesaidnomore,butatagesturefromhimtheassembledpartytooktheirseats.Astheydidso,thedooropenedoncemoreandtwootherpeoplecameinandsatdownnearthedoor.TheywereParkerandthehousekeeper.

           "Thenumberiscomplete,"saidPoirot."Everyoneishere."Therewasaringofsatisfactioninhistone.