Убийство Роджера Экройда

           WhenInspectorRaglanshowedmehislistofthepeopleinthehouse,Inoticedatoncethatoneofthemaids–UrsulaBourne,theparlourmaid–hadnorealalibi.

           Accordingtoherownstory,shewasinherbedroomfromnine-thirtyuntilten.Butsupposingthatinsteadshewasinthesummer-house?Ifso,shemusthavegonetheretomeetsomeone.NowweknowfromDrSheppardthatsomeonefromoutsidedidcometothehousethatnight–thestrangerwhomhemetjustbythegate.Atfirstglanceitwouldseemthatourproblemwassolved,andthatthestrangerwenttothesummer-housetomeetUrsulaBourne.Itwasfairlycertainthathedidgotothesummer-housebecauseofthegoosequill.Thatsuggestedatoncetomymindatakerofdrugs–andonewhohadacquiredthehabitontheothersideoftheAtlanticwheresniffing"snow"ismorecommonthaninthiscountry.ThemanwhomDrSheppardmethadanAmericanaccent,whichfittedinwiththatsupposition.

           "ButIwasheldupbyonepoint.Thetimesdidnotfit.UrsulaBournecouldcertainlynothavegonetothesummer-housebeforenine-thirty,whereasthemanmusthavegottherebyafewminutespastnine.Icould,ofcourse,assumethathewaitedthereforhalfanhour.Theonlyalternativesuppositionwasthattherehadbeentwoseparatemeetingsinthesummer-housethatnight.Ehbien,assoonasIwentintothatalternativeIfoundseveralsignificantfacts.