Убийство Роджера Экройда

           ButsupposingthatyoukilledAckroydbeforeyouleft–asyouwerestandingbesidehischair?Thenyougooutofthefrontdoor,runroundtothesummer-house,takeRalphPaton’sshoesoutofthebagyoubroughtupwithyouthatnight,slipthemon,walkthroughthemudinthem,andleaveprintsonthewindowledge,youclimbin,lockthestudydoorontheinside,runbacktothesummer-house,changebackintoyourownshoes,andracedowntothegate.(Iwentthroughsimilaractionstheotherday,whenyouwerewithMrs.Ackroyd–ittooktenminutesexactly.)Thenhome–andanalibi–sinceyouhadtimedthedictaphoneforhalf-pastnine.""MydearPoirot,"Isaidinavoicethatsoundedstrangeandforcedtomyownears,"you’vebeenbroodingoverthiscasetoolong.WhatonearthhadItogainbymurderingAckroyd?""Safety.ItwasyouwhoblackmailedMrs.Ferrars.WhocouldhavehadabetterknowledgeofwhatkilledMr.Ferrarsthanthedoctorwhowasattendinghim?Whenyouspoketomethatfirstdayinthegarden,youmentionedalegacyreceivedaboutayearago.Ihavebeenunabletodiscoveranytraceofalegacy.YouhadtoinventsomewayofaccountingforMrs.Ferrars’stwentythousandpounds.Ithasnotdoneyoumuchgood.Youlostmostofitinspeculation–thenyouputthescrewontoohard,andMrs.Ferrarstookawayoutthatyouhadnotexpected.IfAckroydhadlearntthetruthhewouldhavehadnomercyonyou–youwereruinedforever.""Andthetelephonecall?"Iasked,tryingtorally.