Убийство Роджера Экройда
I Learn My Neighbour’s Profession
"Areyouquitesureitisthetruthwewant?"Shelookedatme,noddingherheadgravely.
"You’renotsure,"shesaid."Iam.IknowRalphbetterthanyoudo.""Ofcoursehedidn’tdoit,"saidCaroline,whohadbeenkeepingsilentwithgreatdifficulty."Ralphmaybeextravagant,buthe’sadearboy,andhasthenicestmanners."IwantedtotellCarolinethatlargenumbersofmurderershavehadnicemanners,butthepresenceofFlorarestrainedme.Sincethegirlwasdetermined,Iwasforcedtogiveintoherandwestartedatonce,gettingawaybeforemysisterwasabletofireoffanymorepronouncementsbeginningwithherfavouritewords,"Ofcourse."AnoldwomanwithanimmenseBretoncapopenedthedoorofTheLarchestous.M.Poirotwasathome,itseemed.
Wewereusheredintoalittlesitting-roomarrangedwithformalprecision,andthere,afteralapseofaminuteorso,myfriendofyesterdaycametous.
"Monsieurledocteur,"hesaid,smiling."Mademoiselle."HebowedtoFlora.
"Perhaps,"Ibegan,"youhaveheardofthetragedywhichoccurredlastnight."Hisfacegrewgrave.
"ButcertainlyIhaveheard.Itishorrible.Ioffermademoiselleallmysympathy.InwhatwaycanIserveyou?""MissAckroyd,"Isaid,"wantsyouto–to""Tofindthemurderer,"saidFlorainaclearvoice.
"Isee,"saidthelittleman."Butthepolicewilldothat,willtheynot?""Theymightmakeamistake,"saidFlora.
