Убийство Роджера Экройда
Who’s Who in King’s Abbot
Heishandandglovewiththevicar,subscribesliberallytoparishfunds(thoughrumourhasitthatheisextremelymeaninpersonalexpenditure),encouragescricketmatches,Lads"Clubs,andDisabledSoldiers"Institutes.Heis,infact,thelifeandsoulofourpeacefulvillageofKing’sAbbot.
NowwhenRogerAckroydwasaladoftwenty-one,hefellinlovewith,andmarried,abeautifulwomansomefiveorsixyearshissenior.HernamewasPaton,andshewasawidowwithonechild.Thehistoryofthemarriagewasshortandpainful.Toputitbluntly,Mrs.Ackroydwasadipsomaniac.Shesucceededindrinkingherselfintohergravefouryearsafterhermarriage.
Intheyearsthatfollowed,Ackroydshowednodispositiontomakeasecondmatrimonialadventure.Hiswife’schildbyherfirstmarriagewasonlysevenyearsoldwhenhismotherdied.Heisnowtwenty-five.Ackroydhasalwaysregardedhimashisownson,andhasbroughthimupaccordingly,buthehasbeenawildladandacontinualsourceofworryandtroubletohisstepfather.NeverthelessweareallveryfondofRalphPatoninKing’sAbbot.Heissuchagood-lookingyoungsterforonething.
AsIsaidbefore,wearereadyenoughtogossipinourvillage.EverybodynoticedfromthefirstthatAckroydandMrs.Ferrarsgotonverywelltogether.Afterherhusband’sdeath,theintimacybecamemoremarked.Theywerealwaysseenabouttogether,anditwasfreelyconjecturedthatattheendofherperiodofmourning,Mrs.FerrarswouldbecomeMrs.
