Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
What’sthematterwithyou,Ackroyd?"ThedoorhadjustclosedbehindParker,orIwouldnothaveputthequestion.
Ackroydwaitedjustaminutebeforereplying.
"I’minhell,"hesaidslowly,afteraminute."No,don’tbotherwiththosedamntablets.IonlysaidthatforParker.Servantsaresocurious.Comehereandsitdown.Thedoor’sclosedtoo,isn’tit?""Yes.Nobodycanoverhear;don’tbeuneasy.""Sheppard,nobodyknows?whatI’vegonethroughinthelasttwenty-fourhours.Ifahouseeverfellinruinabouthim,minehasabout.ThisbusinessofRalph’sisthelaststraw.Butwewon’ttalkaboutthatnow.It’stheother–theother–Idon’tknowwhattodoaboutit.AndI’vegottomakeupmymind""What’sthetrouble?"Ackroydremainedsilentaminuteortwo.Heseemedcuriouslyaversetobegin.Whenhedldthequestionheaskedcameasacompleteuprise.ItwasthelastthingIexpected.
"Sheppard,youattendedAshieyFerrarsinhislastillness,didn’tyou?""Yes,Idid."Heseemedtofindevengreaterdifficultyinframinghisnextquestion.
"Didyoueversuspect–diditeverenteryourhead–thatwell,thathemighthavebeenmurdered?
"I’lltellyouthetruth,"Isald"AtthetimeIhadnosuspicionwhatever,butsince–well,itwasmereidletalkonmysister’spartthatfirstputtheideaintomyhead–SincethenIhaven’tbeenabletostartoutagain–ButI’venofoundationwhateverifforthatsuspicion.
