Убийство Роджера Экройда
Ralph Paton’s Story
Iinventanephewwithmentaltrouble.IconsultMademoiselleSheppardastosuitablehomes.ShegivesmethenamesoftwonearCranchestertowhichherbrotherhassentpatients.Imakeinquiries.Yes,atoneofthemapatientwasbroughttherebythedoctorhimselfearlyonSaturdaymorning.
Thatpatient,thoughknownbyanothername,IhadnodifficultyinidentifyingasCaptainPaton.Aftercertainnecessaryformalities,Iwasallowedtobringhimaway.Hearrivedatmyhouseintheearlyhoursofyesterdaymorning."Ilookedathimruefully.
"Caroline’sHomeOfficeexpert,"Imurmured."AndtothinkIneverguessed!""YouseenowwhyIdrewattentiontothereticenceofyourmanuscript,"murmuredPoirot."Itwasstrictlytruthfulasfarasitwent–butitdidnotgoveryfar,eh,myfriend?"Iwastooabashedtoargue.
"DrSheppardhasbeenveryloyal,"saidRalph."Hehasstoodbymethroughthickandthin.Hedidwhathethoughtwasbest.Iseenow,fromwhatM.Poirothastoldme,thatitwasnotreallythebest.Ishouldhavecomeforwardandfacedthemusic.Yousee,inthehome,weneversawanewspaper.Iknewnothingofwhatwasgoingon.""DrSheppardhasbeenamodelofdiscretion,"saidPoirotdrily."Butme,Idiscoverallthelittlesecrets.Itismybusiness.""Nowwecanhaveyourstoryofwhathappenedthatnight,"saidRaymondimpatiently.
"Youknowitalready,"saidRalph."There’sverylittleformetoall.
