Убийство Роджера Экройда

           WhenImethimandheseemedsoagitated,Ithoughtthatperhapsheknewthetruth,butthathecouldn’tbringhimselftobelieveit,andwasgoingtogivemethechanceofrefutingit.

           SoIwenthomeandtookmyprecautions.IfthetroublewereafterallonlysomethingtodowithRalph–well,noharmwouldhavebeendone.Thedictaphonehehadgivenmetwodaysagotoadjust.Somethinghadgonealittlewrongwithit,andIpersuadedhimtoletmehaveagoatit,insteadofsendingitback.IdidwhatIwantedto,andtookitupwithmeinmybagthatevening.

           Iamratherpleasedwithmyselfasawriter.Whatcouldbeneater,forinstance,thanthefollowing:"Theletterswerebroughtinattwentyminutestonine.ItwasjustontenminutestoninewhenIlefthim,theletterstillunread.

           Ihesitatedwithmyhandonthedoorhandle,lookingbackandwonderingiftherewasanythingIhadleftundone."Alltrue,yousee.ButsupposeIhadputarowofstarsafterthefirstsentence!Wouldsomebodythenhavewonderedwhatexactlyhappenedinthatblanktenminutes?

           WhenIlookedroundtheroomfromthedoor,Iwasquitesatisfied.Nothinghadbeenleftundone.Thedictaphonewasonthetablebythewindow,timedtogooffatninethirty(themechanismofthatlittledevicewasratherclever–basedontheprincipleofanalarmclock),andthearmchairwaspulledoutsoastohideitfromthedoor.