Убийство Роджера Экройда
Poirot’s Little Reunion
IdiscoveredthatMissRussell,thehousekeeper,hadvisitedDrSheppardthatmorning,andhaddisplayedagooddealofinterestincuresforvictimsofthedrughabit.Takingthatinconjunctionwiththegoosequill,IassumedthatthemaninquestioncametoFernlytomeetthehousekeeper,andnotUrsulaBourne.Who,then,didUrsulaBournecometotherendezvoustomeet?Iwasnotlongindoubt.FirstIfoundaring–aweddingring–with"FromR."andadateinsideit.ThenIlearntthatRalphPatonhadbeenseencomingupthepathwhichledtothesummer-houseattwenty-fiveminutespastnine,andIalsoheardofacertainconversationwhichhadtakenplaceinthewoodnearthevillagethatveryafternoon–aconversationbetweenRalphPatonandsomeunknowngirl.SoIhadmyfactssucceedingeachotherinaneatandorderlymanner.Asecretmarriage,anengagementannouncedonthedayofthetragedy,thestormyinterviewinthewood,andthemeetingarrangedforthesummer-housethatnight.
"Incidentallythisprovedtomeonething,thatbothRalphPatonandUrsulaBourne(orPaton)hadthestrongestmotivesforwishingMr.Ackroydoutoftheway.Anditalsomadeoneotherpointunexpectedlyclear.ItcouldnothavebeenRalphPatonwhowaswithMr.Ackroydinthestudyatnine-thirty.
"Sowecometoanotherandmostinterestingaspectofthecrime.WhowasitintheroomwithMr.Ackroydatnine-thirty?
NotRalphPaton,whowasinthesummer-housewithhiswife.
