Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Whole Truth
Butadictaphonehasacertainbulk–itcannotbeslippedcasuallyintoapocket.Theremusthavebeenareceptacleofsomekindcapableofholdingit.
"YouseewhereIamarriving?Thefigureofthemurdereristakingshape.Apersonwhowasonthescenestraightaway,butwhomightnothavebeenifthecrimehadbeendiscoveredthefollowingmorning.Apersoncarryingareceptacleintowhichthedictaphonemightbefitted"Iinterrupted.
"Bywhyremovethedictaphone?Whatwasthepoint?""YouarelikeMr.Raymond.Youtakeitforgrantedthatwhatwasheardatnine-thirtywasMr.Ackroyd’svoicespeakingintoadictaphone.Butconsiderthisusefulinventionforalittleminute.Youdictateintoit,doyounot?
Andatsomelatertimeasecretaryoratypistturnsiton,andthevoicespeaksagain.""Youmean-?"Igasped.
Poirotnodded.
"Yes,Imeantthat.Atnine-thirtyMr.Ackroydwasalreadydead.Itwasthedictaphonespeaking–nottheman.""Andthemurdererswitchediton.Thenhemusthavebeenintheroomatthatminute?""Possibly.Butwemustnotexcludethelikelihoodofsomemechanicaldevicehavingbeenapplied–somethingafterthenatureofatimelock,orevenofasimplealarmclock.
Butinthatcasewemustaddtwoqualificationstoourimaginaryportraitofthemurderer.ItmustbesomeonewhoknewofMr.Ackroyd’spurchaseofthedictaphoneandalsosomeonewiththenecessarymechanicalknowledge.
