Убийство Роджера Экройда
Inspector Raglan is Confident
"Yousayitwasnineo’clock,DrSheppard,whenyoumetthisstrangeroutsidethegate?"Heaskedthequestionwithoutturninground.
"Yes,"Ireplied."Iheardthechurchclockchimethehour.""Howlongwouldittakehimtoreachthehouse–toreachthiswindow,forinstance?""Fiveminutesattheoutside.Twoorthreeminutesonlyifhetookthepathattherightofthedriveandcamestraighthere.""Buttodothathewouldhavetoknowtheway.HowcanIexplainmyself?–itwouldmeanthathehadbeenherebefore–thatheknewhissurroundings.""Thatistrue,"repliedColonelMelrose.
"Wecouldfindout,doubtless,ifMr.Ackroydhadreceivedanystrangersduringthepastweek?""YoungRaymondcouldtellusthat,"Isaid.
"OrParker,"suggestedColonelMelrose.
"fromtonslesdeux,"suggestedPoirot,smiling.
ColonelMelrosewentinsearchofRaymond,andIrangthebelloncemoreforParker.
ColonelMelrosereturnedalmostimmediately,accompaniedbytheyoungsecretary,whomheintroducedtoPoirot.GeoffreyRaymondwasfreshanddebonairasever.HeseemedsurprisedanddelightedtomakePoirot’sacquaintance.
"Noideayou’dbeenlivingamongusincognito,M.Poirot,"hesaid."Itwillbeagreatprivilegetowatchyouatwork–Hallo,what’sthis?"Poirothadbeenstandingjusttotheleftofthedoor.
