Убийство Роджера Экройда

           Itookitforgranted,yousee.""Naturally.Well,yougotuphere,brokeinthedoor,andfoundpoorMr.Ackroydlikethis.Howlongshouldyousayhehadbeendead,doctor?""Halfanhouratleast–perhapslonger,"Isaid.

           "Thedoorwaslockedontheinside,yousay?Whataboutthewindow?""ImyselfclosedandbolteditearlierintheeveningatMr.Ackroyd’srequest."Theinspectorstrodeacrosstoitandthrewbackthecurtains.

           "Well,it’sopennow,anyway,"heremarked,Trueenough,thewindowwasopen,thelowersashbeingraisedtoitsfullestextent.

           Theinspectorproducedapockettorchandflasheditalongthesilloutside.

           "Thisisthewayhewentallright,"heremarked,"andgotin.

           Seehere."Inthelightofthepowerfultorch,severalclearlydefinedfootmarkscouldbeseen.Theyseemedtobethoseofshoeswithrubberstudsinthesoles.Oneparticularlyclearonepointedinwards,another,slightlyoverlappingit,pointedoutwards.

           "Plainasapikestaff,"saidtheinspector."Anyvaluablesmissing?"GeoffreyRaymondshookhishead.

           "Notsofarthatwecandiscover.Mr.Ackroydneverkeptanythingofparticularvalueinthisroom.""H’m,"saidtheinspector."Manfoundanopenwindow,climbedin,sawMr.Ackroydsittingthere–maybehe’dfallenasleep.Manstabbedhimfrombehind,thenlosthisnerveandmadeoff.Buthe’slefthistracksprettyclearly.Weoughttogetholdofhimwithoutmuchdifficulty.