Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
Onaroundtablewerevariousmagazinesandsportingpapers.
"I’vehadareturnofthatpainafterfoodlately,"remarkedAckroydcalmly,ashehelpedhimselftocoffee."Youmustgivemesomemoreofthosetabletsofyours."Itstruckmethathewasanxioustoconveytheimpressionthatourconferencewasamedicalone.Iplayedupaccordingly.
"Ithoughtasmuch.Ibroughtsomeupwithme.""Goodman.Handthemovernow.""They’reinmybaginthehall.I’llgetthem."Ackroydarrestedme.
"Don’tyoutrouble.Parkerwillgetthem.Bringinthedoctor’sbag,willyou,Parker?""Verygood,sir."Parkerwithdrew.AsIwasabouttospeak,Ackroydthrewuphishand.
"Notyet.Wait.Don’tyouseeI’minsuchastateofnervesthatIcanhardlycontainmyself?"Isawthatplainlyenough.AndIwasveryuneasy.Allsortsofforebodingsassailedme.
Ackroydspokeagainalmostimmediately.
"Makecertainthatwindow’sclosed,willyou,"heasked.
Somewhatsurprised,Igotupandwenttoit.Itwasnotafrenchwindow,butoneoftheordinarysashtype.Theheavybluevelvetcurtainsweredrawninfrontofit,butthewindowitselfwasopenatthetop.
Parkerre-enteredtheroomwithmybagwhileIwasstillatthewindow.
"That’sallright,"Isaid,emergingagainintotheroom.
"You’veputthelatchacross?""Yes,yes.
