Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
AboutonceintwoyearsBluntspendsafortnightatFernly,andanimmenseanimal’shead,withanamazingnumberofhornswhichfixesyouwithaglazedstareassoonasyoucomeinsidethefrontdoor,isapermanentreminderofthefriendship.
Blunthadenteredtheroomnowwithhisownpeculiar,deliberate,yetsoft-footedtread.Heisamanofmediumheight,sturdilyandratherstockilybuilt.Hisfaceisalmostmahoganycoloured,andispeculiarlyexpressionless.Hehasgreyeyesthatgivetheimpressionofalwayswatchingsomethingthatishappeningveryfaraway.Hetalkslittle,andwhathedoessayissaidjerkily,asthoughthewordswereforcedoutofhimunwillingly.
Hesaidnow:"Howareyou,Sheppard?"inhisusualabruptfashion,andthenstoodsquarelyinfrontofthefireplacelookingoverourheadsasthoughhesawsomethingveryinterestinghappeninginTimbuctoo.
"MajorBlunt,"saidFlora,"Iwishyou’dtellmeabouttheseAfricanthings.I’msureyouknowwhattheyallare."IhaveheardHectorBluntdescribedasawomanhater,butInoticedthathejoinedFloraatthesilvertablewithwhatmightbedescribedasalacrity.Theybentoverittogether.
IwasafraidMrs.Ackroydwouldbegintalkingaboutsettlementsagain,soImadeafewhurriedremarksaboutthenewsweetpea.IknewtherewasanewsweetpeabecausetheDailyMailhadtoldmesothatmorning.Mrs.
