Убийство Роджера Экройда

           What’sallthisaboutblackmail?""Blackmail!"Iexclaimed,verymuchstartled.

           "IsitaneffortofParker’simagination?Oristheresomethinginit?""IfParkerheardanythingaboutblackmail,"Isaidslowly,"hemusthavebeenlisteningoutsidethisdoorwithhiseargluedagainstthekeyhole."Davisnodded.

           "Nothingmorelikely.Yousee,I’vebeeninstitutingafewinquiriesastowhatParkerhasbeendoingwithhimselfthisevening.Totellthetruth,Ididn’tlikehismanner.Themanknowssomething.WhenIbegantoquestionhim,hegotthewindup,andplumpedoutsomegarbledstoryofblackmail."Itookaninstantdecision.

           "I’mrathergladyou’vebroughtthematterup,"Isaid."I’vebeentryingtodecidewhethertomakeacleanbreastofthingsornot.I’dalreadypracticallydecidedtotellyoueverything,butIwasgoingtowaitforafavourableopportunity.Youmightaswellhaveitnow."AndthenandthereInarratedthewholeeventsoftheeveningasIhavesetthemdownhere.Theinspectorlistenedkeenly,occasionallyinterjectingaquestion.

           "MostextraordinarystoryIeverheard,"hesaid,whenIhadfinished."Andyousaythatletterhascompletelydisappeared?

           Itlooksbad–itlooksverybadindeed.Itgivesuswhatwe’vebeenlookingfor–amotiveforthemurder."Inodded.

           "Irealizethat.""YousaythatMr.