Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Ileftthesummer-houseaboutnineforty-five,andtrampedaboutthelanes,tryingtomakeupmymindastowhattodonext–whatlinetotake.I’mboundtoadmitthatI’venottheshadowofanalibi,butIgiveyoumysolemnwordthatIneverwenttothestudy,thatIneversawmystepfatheralive–ordead.Whatevertheworldthinks,I’dlikeallofyoutobelieveme.""Noalibi,"murmuredRaymond."That’sbad.Ibelieveyou,ofcourse,but–it’sabadbusiness.""Itmakesthingsverysimple,though,"saidPoirot,inacheerfulvoice."Verysimpleindeed."Weallstaredathim.

           "YouseewhatImean?No?Justthis–tosaveCaptainPatontherealcriminalmustconfess."Hebeamedroundatusall.

           "Butyes–ImeanwhatIsay.Seenow,IdidnotinviteInspectorRaglantobepresent.Thatwasforareason.IdidnotwanttotellhimallthatIknew–atleastIdidnotwanttotellhimtonight."Heleanedforward,andsuddenlyhisvoiceandhiswholepersonalitychanged.Hesuddenlybecamedangerous.

           "Iwhospeaktoyou–IknowthemurdererofMr.Ackroydisinthisroomnow.ItistothemurdererIspeak.

           TomorrowthetruthgoestoInspectorRaglan.Youunderstand?’

           Therewasatensesilence.IntothemidstofitcametheoldBretonwomanwithatelegramonasalver.Poirottoreitopen.

           Blunt’svoiceroseabruptandresonant