Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
Ackroydknowsnothingabouthorticulture,butsheisthekindofwomanwholikestoappearwell-informedaboutthetopicsoftheday,andshe,too,readstheDailyMail.WewereabletoconversequiteintelligentlyuntilAckroydandhissecretaryjoinedus,andimmediatelyafterwardsParkerannounceddinner.
MyplaceattablewasbetweenMrs.AckroydandFlora.
BluntwasonMrs.Ackroyd’sotherside,andGeoffreyRaymondnexttohim.
Dinnerwasnotacheerfulaffair.Ackroydwasvisiblypreoccupied.Helookedwretched,andatenexttonothing.
Mrs.Ackroyd,Raymond,andIkepttheconversationgoing.
Floraseemedaffectedbyheruncle’sdepression,andBluntrelapsedintohisusualtaciturnity.
ImmediatelyafterdinnerAckroydslippedhisarmthroughmineandledmeofftohisstudy.
"Oncewe’vehadcoffee,weshan’tbedisturbedagain,"heexplained."ItoldRaymondtoseetoitthatweshouldn’tbeinterrupted."Istudiedhimquietlywithoutappearingtodoso.Hewasclearlyundertheinfluenceofsomestrongexcitement.Foraminuteortwohepacedupanddowntheroom,then,asParkerenteredwiththecoffeetray,hesankintoanarmchairinfrontofthefire.
Thestudywasacomfortableapartment.Bookshelveslinedonewallofit.Thechairswerebigandcoveredindarkblueleather.Alargedeskstoodbythewindowandwascoveredwithpapersneatlydocketedandfiled.
