Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
AsIdidsoIalmostcollidedwithMissRussellwhowasjustcomingout.Webothapologized.
ForthefirsttimeIfoundmyselfappraisingthehousekeeperandthinkingwhatahandsomewomanshemustoncehavebeen–indeed,asfarasthatgoes,stillwas.Herdarkhairwasunstreakedwithgrey,andwhenshehadacolour,asshehadatthisminute,thesternqualityofherlookswasnotsoapparent.
QuitesubconsciouslyIwonderedwhethershehadbeenout,forshewasbreathinghard,asthoughshehadbeenrunning.
"I’mafraidI’mafewminutesearly,"Isaid.
"Oh!Idon’tthinkso.It’sgonehalf-pastseven,DrSheppard."Shepausedaminutebeforesaying,"I–didn’tknowyouwereexpectedtodinnertonight.Mr.Ackroyddidn’tmentionit."Ireceivedavagueimpressionthatmydiningtheredispleasedherinsomeway,butIcouldn’timaginewhy.
"How’stheknee?"Iinquired.
"Muchthesame,thankyou,doctor.Imustbegoingnow.Mrs.Ackroydwillbedowninamoment.I–Ionlycameinheretoseeiftheflowerswereallright."Shepassedquicklyoutoftheroom.Istrolledtothewindow,wonderingatherevidentdesiretojustifyherpresenceintheroom.AsIdidso,Isawwhat,ofcourse,ImighthaveknownallthetimehadItroubledtogivemymindtoit,namely,thatthewindowswerelongfrenchonesopeningontheterrace.ThesoundIhadheard,therefore,couldnothavebeenthatofawindowbeingshutdown.
