Убийство Роджера Экройда
I Learn My Neighbour’s Profession
""Thefingerprints?"Ihinted.
"NothinglikeParker’s."Hegaveafaintsmile,andadded:"AndyoursandMr.Raymond’sdon’tfiteither,doctor.""WhataboutthoseofCaptainRalphPaton?"askedPoirotquietly.
Ifeltasecretadmirationofthewayhetookthebullbythehorns.Isawalookofrespectcreepintotheinspector’seye.
"Iseeyoudon’tletthegrassgrowunderyourfeet,Mr.Poirot.Itwillbeapleasuretoworkwithyou,I’msure.
We’regoingtotakethatyounggentleman’sfingerprintsassoonaswecanlayhandsuponhim.""Ican’thelpthinkingyou’remistaken.Inspector,"saidColonelMelrosewarmly."I’veknownRalphPatonfromaboyupward.He’dneverstooptomurder.""Maybenot,"saidtheinspectortonelessly.
"Whathaveyougotagainsthim?"Iasked.
"Wentoutjustonnineo’clocklastnight.WasseenintheneighbourhoodofFernlyParksomewhereaboutnine-thirty.Notbeenseensince.Believedtobeinseriousmoneydifficulties.I’vegotapairofhisshoeshere–shoeswithrubberstudsinthem.Hehadtwopairs,almostexactlyalike.I’mgoingupnowtocomparethemwiththosefootmarks.Theconstableisupthereseeingthatnoonetamperswiththem.""We’llgoatonce,"saidColonelMelrose."YouandM.
Poirotwillaccompanyus,willyounot?"Weassented,andalldroveupinthecolonel’scar.
