Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
Thevillagechurchclockchimednineo’clockasIpassedthroughthelodgegates.Iturnedtothelefttowardsthevillage,andalmostcannonedintoamancomingintheoppositedirection.
"ThisthewaytoFernlyPark,mister?"askedthestrangerinahoarsevoice.
Ilookedathim.Hewaswearingahatpulleddownoverhiseyes,andhiscoatcollarturnedup.Icouldseelittleornothingofhisface,butheseemedayoungfellow.Thevoicewasroughanduneducated.
"Thesearethelodgegateshere,"Isaid.
"Thankyou,mister."Hepaused,andthenadded,quiteunnecessarily,"I’mastrangerintheseparts,yousee."Hewenton,passingthroughthegatesasIturnedtolookafterhim.
Theoddthingwasthathisvoiceremindedmeofsomeone’svoicethatIknew,butwhoseitwasIcouldnotthink.
TenminuteslaterIwasathomeoncemore.CarolinewasfullofcuriositytoknowwhyIhadreturnedsoearly.Ihadtomakeupaslightlyfictitiousaccountoftheeveninginordertosatisfyher,andIhadanuneasyfeelingthatshesawthroughthetransparentdevice.
Atteno’clockIrose,yawned,andsuggestedbed,Carolineacquiesced.
ItwasFridaynight,andonFridaynightIwindtheclocks.Ididitasusual,whilstCarolinesatisfiedherselfthattheservantshadlockedupthekitchenproperly.
Itwasaquarterpasttenaswewentupthestairs.
