Убийство Роджера Экройда
Dinner at Fernly
Nosuspiciousstrangersbeenhangingaboutanywhere?""Oh!"Isaidsuddenly.
"Whatisit,doctor?""Imetamanthisevening–justasIwasturningoutofthegate.HeaskedmethewaytoFernlyPark.""Whattimewouldthatbe?""Justnineo’clock.IhearditchimethehourasIwasturningoutofthegate.""Canyoudescribehim?"Ididsotothebestofmyability.
Theinspectorturnedtothebutler.
"Anyoneansweringthatdescriptioncometothefrontdoor?""No,sir.Noonehasbeentothehouseatallthisevening.""Whatabouttheback?""Idon’tthinkso,sir,butI’llmakeinquiries."Hemovedtowardsthedoor,buttheinspectorheldupalargehand.
"No,thanks.I’lldomyowninquiring.ButfirstofallIwanttofixthetimesalittlemoreclearly.WhenwasMr.Ackroydlastseenalive?""Probablybyme,"Isaid,"whenIleftat–letmeseeabouttenminutestonine.Hetoldmethathedidn’twishtobedisturbed,andIrepeatedtheordertoParker.""Justso,sir,"saidParkerrespectfully.
"Mr.Ackroydwascertainlyaliveathalf-pastnine,"putinRaymond,"forIheardhisvoiceinheretalking.""Whowashetalkingto?""ThatIdon’tknow.Ofcourse,atthetimeItookitforgrantedthatitwasDrSheppardwhowaswithhim.IwantedtoaskhimaquestionaboutsomepapersIwasengagedupon,butwhenIheardthevoicesI-rememberedthathehadsaidhewantedtotalktoDrSheppardwithoutbeingdisturbed,andIwentawayagain.
