Убийство Роджера Экройда

           "Howdidyouknowitwasthesilvertablelid?"Iwasforcedtoexplainindetail–along,tediousexplanationwhichIwouldinfinitelyrathernothavehadtomake.

           Theinspectorheardmetotheend.

           "Wasthedaggerinitsplacewhenyouwerelookingoverthecontents?"heasked.

           "Idon’tknow,"Isaid."Ican’tsayIremembernoticingit–but,ofcourse,itmayhavebeenthereallthetime.""We’dbettergetholdofthehousekeeper,"remarkedtheinspector,andpulledthebell.

           AfewminuteslaterMissRussell,summonedbyParker,enteredtheroom.

           "Idon’tthinkIwentnearthesilvertable,"shesaid,whentheinspectorhadposedhisquestion."Iwaslookingtoseethatalltheflowerswerefresh.Oh!yes,Iremembernow.

           Thesilvertablewasopen–whichithadnobusinesstobe,andIshuttheliddownasIpassed."Shelookedathimaggressively.

           "Isee,"saidtheinspector."Canyoutellmeifthisdaggerwasinitsplacethen?"MissRusselllookedattheweaponcomposedly.

           "Ican’tsayI’msure,"shereplied."Ididn’tstoptolook.Iknewthefamilywouldbedownanyminute,andIwantedtogetaway.""Thankyou,"saidtheinspector.

           Therewasjustatraceofhesitationinhismanner,asthoughhewouldhavelikedtoquestionherfurther,butMissRussellclearlyacceptedthewordsasadismissal,andglidedfromtheroom.