Убийство Роджера Экройда
And Nothing But The Truth
Buttherewasonlyoneman’swordastowhatwasactuallysaid–yourown!"Iyawned.
"Allthis,"Isaid,"isveryinteresting–buthardlyinthesphereofpracticalpolitics.""Youthinknot?RememberwhatIsaid–thetruthgoestoInspectorRaglaninthemorning.But,forthesakeofyourgoodsister,Iamwillingtogiveyouthechanceofanotherwayout.Theremightbe,forinstance,anoverdoseofasleepingdraught.Youcomprehendme?ButCaptainRalphPatonmustbecleared-?avasansdire.Ishouldsuggestthatyoufinishthatveryinterestingmanuscriptofyours–butabandoningyourformerreticence.""Youseemtobeveryprolificofsuggestions,"Iremarked.
"Areyousureyou’vequitefinished?""Nowthatyouremindmeofthefact,itistruethatthereisonethingmore.ItwouldbemostunwiseonyourparttoattempttosilencemeasyousilencedM.Ackroyd.ThatkindofbusinessdoesnotsucceedagainstHerculePoirot,youunderstand.""MydearPoirot,"Isaid,smilingalittle,"whateverelseImaybe,Iamnotafool."Irosetomyfeet.
"Well,well,"Isaid,withaslightyawn,"Imustbeoffhome.
Thankyouforamostinterestingandinstructiveevening."PoirotalsoroseandbowedwithhisaccustomedpolitenessasIpassedoutoftheroom.
