Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Goldfish Pond
MajorBlunt?""There’ssomethingbrightdownthere.Wonderedwhatitwas–lookslikeagoldbrooch.NowI’vestirredupthemudandit’sgone.""Perhapsit’sacrown,"suggestedFlora."LiketheoneMelisandesawinthewater.""Melisande,"saidBluntreflectively–"she’sinanopera,isn’tshe?""Yes,youseemtoknowalotaboutoperas.""Peopletakemesometimes,"saidBluntsadly."Funnyideaofpleasure–worseracketthanthenativesmakewiththeirtom-toms."Floralaughed.
"IrememberMelisande,"continuedBlunt,"marriedanoldchapoldenoughtobeherfather."Hethrewasmallpieceofflintintothegoldfishpond.
Then,withachangeofmanner,heturnedtoFlora.
"MissAckroyd,canIdoanything?AboutPaton,Imean.
Iknowhowdreadfullyanxiousyoumustbe.""Thankyou,"saidFlorainacoldvoice."Thereisreallynothingtobedone.Ralphwillbeallright.I’vegotholdofthemostwonderfuldetectiveintheworld,andhe’sgoingtofindoutallaboutit."ForsometimeIhadfeltuneasyastoourposition.Wewerenotexactlyeavesdropping,sincethetwointhegardenbelowhadonlytolifttheirheadstoseeus.Nevertheless,Ishouldhavedrawnattentiontoourpresencebeforenow,hadnotmycompanionputawarningpressureonmyarm.
Clearlyhewishedmetoremainsilent.Now,however,heactedbriskly.
Herosequicklytohisfeet,clearinghisthroat.
"Idemandpardon,"hecried.
