Убийство Роджера Экройда
I Learn My Neighbour’s Profession
"Nowexactlywhywasthat?"Ipausedamomenttochoosemywordscarefully.
"Ithoughtsomeoneoughttoinformtheyoungmanofhisuncle’sdeath.ItoccurredtomeafterIhadleftFernlythatpossiblynoonebutmyselfandMr.Ackroydwereawarethathewasstayinginthevillage."Poirotnodded.
"Quiteso.Thatwasyouronlymotiveingoingthere,eh?""Thatwasmyonlymotive,"Isaidstiffly.
"Itwasnotto–shallwesay–reassureyourselfaboutcejeunehomme.""Reassuremyself?""Ithink,M.ledocteur,thatyouknowverywellwhatImean,thoughyoupretendnottodoso.IsuggestthatitwouldhavebeenarelieftoyouifyouhadfoundthatCaptainPatonhadbeenathomealltheevening.""Notatall,"Isaidsharply.
Thelittledetectiveshookhisheadatmegravely.
"YouhavenotthetrustinmeofMissFlora,"hesaid."Butnomatter.Whatwehavetolookatisthis–CaptainPatonismissing,undercircumstanceswhichcallforanexplanation.
Iwillnothidefromyouthatthematterlooksgrave.Still,itmayadmitofaperfectlysimpleexplanation.""That’sjustwhatIkeepsaying,"criedFloraeagerly.
Poirottouchednomoreuponthattheme.Insteadhesuggestedanimmediatevisittothelocalpolice.HethoughtitbetterforFloratoreturnhome,andformetobetheonetoaccompanyhimthereandintroducehimtotheofficerinchargeofthecase.
Wecarriedoutthisplanforthwith.
