Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "Lookhere,Sheppard,supposeweleaveitlikethis.Ifnowordcomesfromher,we’llletthedeadthingslie.""Whatdoyoumeanbywordcomingfromher?"Iaskedcuriously.

           "Ihavethestrongestimpressionthatsomewhereorsomehowshemusthaveleftamessageforme–beforeshewent.Ican’targueaboutit,butthereitis."Ishookmyhead.

           "Sheleftnoletterorwordofanykind?"Iasked.

           "Sheppard,I’mconvincedthatshedid.Andmore,I’veafeelingthatbydeliberatelychoosingdeath,shewantedthewholethingtocomeout,ifonlytoberevengedonthemanwhodrovehertodesperation.IbelievethatifIcouldhaveseenherthen,shewouldhavetoldmehisnameandbidmegoforhimforallIwasworth."Helookedatme.

           "Youdon’tbelieveinimpressions?""Oh,yes,Ido,inasense.If,asyouputit,wordshouldcomefromher"Ibrokeoff.ThedooropenednoiselesslyandParkerenteredwithasalveronwhichweresomeletters.

           "Theeveningpost,sir,"hesaid,handingthesalvertoAckroyd.

           Thenhecollectedthecoffeecupsandwithdrew.

           Myattention,divertedforamoment,camebacktoAckroyd.Hewasstaringlikeamanturnedtostoneatalongblueenvelope.Theotherlettershehadletdroptotheground.

           "Herwriting,"hesaidinawhisper."Shemusthavegoneoutandposteditlastnight,justbefore–before"Herippedopentheenvelopeanddrewoutathickenclosure.