Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Whole Truth
Icouldhardlysupposethathewouldbringthreepairsofshoesallalike–thethirdpairoffootwearweremorelikelytobeboots.Igotyoursistertomakeinquiriesonthispoint–layingsomestressonthecolour,inorder–Iadmititfrankly–toobscuretherealreasonformyasking.
"Youknowtheresultofherinvestigations.RalphPatonhadhadapairofbootswithhim.ThefirstquestionIaskedhimwhenhecametomyhouseyesterdaymorningwaswhathewaswearingonhisfeetonthefatalnight.Herepliedatoncethathehadwornboots–hewasstillwearingthem,infact–havingnothingelsetoputon.
"Sowegetastepfurtherinourdescriptionofthemurderer–apersonwhohadtheopportunitytotaketheseshoesofRalphPaton’sfromtheThreeBoarsthatday."Hepaused,andthensaid,withaslightlyraisedvoice:"Thereisonefurtherpoint.Themurderermusthavebeenapersonwhohadtheopportunitytopurlointhatdaggerfromthesilvertable.Youmightarguethatanyoneinthehousemighthavedoneso,butIwillrecalltoyouthatFloraAckroydwasverypositivethatthedaggerwasnottherewhensheexaminedthesilvertable."Hepausedagain.
"Letusrecapitulate–nowthatallisclear
