Убийство Роджера Экройда

           AndwiththesoundofitIsawarippleofsomethinglikeuneasinesspassoverallthosefacesgroupedattheotherendoftheroom.

           Therewasasuggestioninallthisasofatrap–atrapthathadclosed.

           Poirotreadfromalistinanimportantmanner.

           "Mrs.Ackroyd,MissFloraAckroyd,MajorBlunt,Mr.GeoffreyRaymond,Mrs.RalphPaton,JohnParker,ElizabethRussell."Helaidthepaperdownonthetable.

           "What’sthemeaningofallthis?"beganRaymond.

           "ThelistIhavejustread,"saidPoirot,"isalistofsupectedpersons.EveryoneofyoupresenthadtheopportunitytokillMr.Ackroyd-"WithacryMrs.Ackroydsprangup,herthroatworking.

           "Idon’tlikeit,"shewailed."Idon’tlikeit.Iwouldmuchprefertogohome.""Youcannotgohome,madame,"saidPoirotsternly,"untilyouhaveheardwhatIhavetosay."Hepausedamoment,thenclearedhisthroat.

           "Iwillstartatthebeginning.WhenMissAckroydaskedmetoinvestigatethecase,IwentuptoFernlyParkwiththegoodDoctorSheppard.Iwalkedwithhimalongtheterrace,whereIwasshownthefootprintsonthewindowsill.

           FromthereInspectorRaglantookmealongthepathwhichleadstothedrive.Myeyewascaughtbyalittlesummer-house,andIsearcheditthoroughly.Ifoundtwothings–ascrapofstarchedcambricandanemptygoosequill.Thescrapofcambricimmediatelysuggestedtomeamaid’sapron.