Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
Atthethirdblowitgave,andwestaggeredintotheroom.
AckroydwassittingasIhadlefthiminthearmchairbeforethefire.Hisheadhadfallensideways,andclearlyvisible,justbelowthecollarofhiscoat,wasashiningpieceoftwistedmetalwork.
ParkerandIadvancedtillwestoodovertherecumbentfigure.Iheardthebutlerdrawinhisbreathwithasharphiss.
"Stabbedfrombe’ind,"hemurmured.""Orrible!"Hewipedhismoistbrowwithhishandkerchief,thenstretchedoutagingerlyhandtowardsthehiltofthedagger.
"Youmustn’ttouchthat,"Isaidsharply."Goatoncetothetelephoneandringupthepolicestation.Informthemofwhathashappened.ThentellMr.RaymondandMajorBlunt.""Verygood,sir."Parkerhurriedaway,stillwipinghisperspiringbrow.
Ididwhatlittlehadtobedone.Iwascarefulnottodisturbthepositionofthebody,andnottohandlethedaggeratall.Noobjectwastobeattainedbymovingit.
Ackroydhadclearlybeendeadsomelittletime.
ThenIheardyoungRaymond’svoice,horrorstrickenandincredulous,outside.
"Whatdoyousay?Oh!impossible!Where’sthedoctor?"Heappearedimpetuouslyinthedoorway,thenstoppeddead,hisfaceverywhite.Ahandputhimaside,andHectorBluntcamepasthimintotheroom.
"MyGod!"saidRaymondfrombehindhim;"it’strue,then."Bluntcamestraightontillhereachedthechair.
