Убийство Роджера Экройда

           But,unluckilyforhim,aspringmusthavewelledupjustlatelyattheendofthepathfromthedrive.Seehere."Asmallgravelledpathjoinedtheterraceafewfeetaway.

           Inonespot,afewyardsfromitstermination,thegroundwaswetandboggy.Crossingthiswetplacetherewereagainthemarksoffootsteps,andamongstthemtheshoeswithrubberstuds.

           Poirotfollowedthepathonalittleway,theinspectorbyhisside.

           "Younoticedthewomen’sfootprints?"hesaidsuddenly.

           Theinspectorlaughed.

           "Naturally.Butseveraldifferentwomenhavewalkedthisway–andmenaswell.It’saregularshortcuttothehouse,yousee.Itwouldbeimpossibletosortoutallthefootsteps.

           Afterall,it’stheonesonthewindow-sillthatarereallyimportant."Poirotnodded.

           "It’snogoodgoingfarther,"saidtheinspector,aswecameinviewofthedrive."It’sallgravelledagainhere,andhardasitcanbe."AgainPoirotnodded,buthiseyeswerefixedonasmallgardenhouse–akindofsuperiorsummer-house.Itwasalittletotheleftofthepathaheadofus,andagravelledwalkranuptoit.

           Poirotlingeredaboutuntiltheinspectorhadgonebacktowardsthehouse.Thenhelookedatme.

           "YoumusthaveindeedbeensentfromthegoodGodtoreplacemyfriendHastings,"hesaid,withatwinkle."Iobservethatyoudonotquitmyside.