Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
Quiteidly,andmoretodistractmymindfrompainfulthoughtsthanforanyotherreason,Iamusedmyselfbytryingtoguesswhatcouldhavecausedthesoundinquestion.
Coalsonthefire?No,thatwasnotthekindofnoiseatall.
Adrawerofabureaupushedin?No,notthat.
Thenmyeyewascaughtbywhat,Ibelieve,iscalledasilvertable,thelidofwhichlifts,andthroughtheglassofwhichyoucanseethecontents.Icrossedovertoit,studyingthecontents.Therewereoneortwopiecesofoldsilver,ababyshoebelongingtoKingCharlestheFirst,someChinesejadefigures,andquiteanumberofAfricanimplementsandcurios.Wantingtoexamineoneofthejadefiguresmoreclosely,Iliftedthelid.Itslippedthroughmyfingersandfell.
AtonceIrecognizedthesoundIhadheard.Itwasthissametablelidbeingshutdowngentlyandcarefully.Irepeatedtheactiononceortwiceformyownsatisfaction.
ThenIliftedthelidtoscrutinizethecontentsmoreclosely.
IwasstillbendingovertheopensilvertablewhenFloraAckroydcameintotheroom.
QuitealotofpeopledonotlikeFloraAckroyd,butnobodycanhelpadmiringher.Andtoherfriendsshecanbeverycharming.Thefirstthingthatstrikesyouaboutherisherextraordinaryfairness.ShehastherealScandinavianpalegoldhair.Hereyesareblue–blueasthewatersofaNorwegianfiord,andherskiniscreamandroses.
