Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
"Idonotmeanreaditaloudtome.ButreaditthroughwhilstIamstillhere."Ackroydshookhishead.
"No,I’dratherwait."Butforsomereason,obscuretomyself,Icontinuedtourgehim.
"Atleast,readthenameoftheman,"Isaid.
NowAckroydisessentiallypig-headed.Themoreyouurgehimtodoathing,themoredeterminedheisnottodoit.Allmyargumentswereinvain.
Theletterhadbeenbroughtinattwentyminutestonine.
ItwasjustontenminutestoninewhenIlefthim,theletterstillunread.Ihesitatedwithmyhandonthedoorhandle,lookingbackandwonderingiftherewasanythingIhadleftundone.Icouldthinkofnothing.WithashakeoftheheadIpassedoutandclosedthedoorbehindme.
IwasstartledbyseeingthefigureofParkercloseathand.
Helookedembarrassed,anditoccurredtomethathemighthavebeenlisteningatthedoor.
Whatafat,smug,oilyfacethemanhad,andsurelytherewassomethingdecidedlyshiftyinhiseye.
"Mr.Ackroydparticularlydoesnotwanttobedisturbed,"Isaidcoldly."Hetoldmetotellyouso.""Quiteso,sir.I–IfanciedIheardthebellring."ThiswassuchapalpableuntruththatIdidnottroubletoreply.Precedingmetothehall,Parkerhelpedmeonwithmyovercoat,andIsteppedoutintothenight.Themoonwasovercast,andeverythingseemedverydarkandstill.
