Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Whole Truth
ParkerIeliminatedatonce,sinceatwhatevertimethecrimewasdiscovered,hewastheonepersoncertaintobeonthespot.Alsoitwashewhotoldmeofthepulled-outchair.Parker,then,wascleared(ofthemurder,thatis.IstillthoughtitpossiblethathehadbeenblackmailingMrs.Ferrars).RaymondandBlunt,however,remainedundersuspicionsince,ifthecrimehadbeendiscoveredintheearlyhoursofthemorning,itwasquitepossiblethattheymighthavearrivedonthescenetoolatetopreventtheobjectontheroundtablebeingdiscovered.
"Nowwhatwasthatobject?Youheardmyargumentstonightinreferencetothescrapofconversationoverheard?
AssoonasIlearnedthatarepresentativeofadictaphonecompanyhadcalled,theideaofadictaphonetookrootinmymind.YouheardwhatIsaidinthisroomnothalfanhourago?Theyallagreedwithmytheory–butonevitalfactseemstohaveescapedthem.GrantedthatadictaphonewasbeingusedbyMr.Ackroydthatnight–whywasnodictaphonefound?""Ineverthoughtofthat,"Isaid.
"WeknowthatadictaphonewassuppliedtoMr.Ackroyd.
Butnodictaphonehasbeenfoundamongsthiseffects.So,ifsomethingwastakenfromthetable–whyshouldnotthatsomethingbethedictaphone?Buttherewerecertaindifficultiesintheway.Theattentionofeveryonewas,ofcourse,focusedonthemurderedman.Ithinkanyonecouldhavegonetothetableunnoticedbytheotherpeopleintheroom.
