The Murder of Roger Ackroyd / Убийство Роджера Экройда

Occasionally of an imbecility to make one afraid, nevertheless he was very dear to me. figure to yourself that I miss even his stupidity. his na?vetе, his honest outlook, the pleasure of delighting and surprising him by my superior gifts – all these I miss more than I can tell you.’

‘He died?’ I asked sympathetically.

‘Not so. he lives and flourishes – but on the other side of the world. He is now in the Argentine.’

‘In the Argentine,’ I said enviously.

I have always wanted to go to South America.

‘Will you go there, yes?’ he asked.

‘I could have gone,’ I said. ‘A year ago. But I was foolish- and worse than foolish – greedy. I risked the substance for the shadow.’

‘I comprehend,’ said Mr Porrott. ‘You speculated?’

I nodded mournfully, but in spite of myself I felt secretly entertained. This ridiculous little man was so portentously solemn.

‘Not the Porcupine oilfields?’ he asked suddenly.

I stared.

‘I thought of them, as a matter of fact, but in the end I plumped for a gold mine in Western Australia.’

My neighbour was regarding me with a strange expression which I could not fathom.

‘It is fate,’ he said at last.

‘What is fate?’ I asked irritably.

‘That I should live next to a man who seriously considers Porcupine oilfields, and also West Australian gold Mines. Tell me, have you also a penchant for auburn hair?’

I stared at him open-mouthed, and he burst out laughing.

‘No, no, it is not the insanity that I suffer from. Make your mind easy. It was a foolish question that I put to you there, for, you see, my friend of whom I spoke was a young man, a man who thought all women good, and most of them beautiful. But you are a man of middle age, a doctor, a man who knows the folly and the vanity of most things in this life of ours. Well, well, we are neighbours. I beg of you to accept and present to your excellent sister my best marrow.

He stooped, and with a flourish produced an immense specimen of the tribe, which I duly accepted in the spirit in which it was offered.

‘Indeed,’ said the little man cheerfully, ‘this has not been a wasted morning. I have made the acquaintance of a man who in some ways resembles my far-off friend. By the way, I should like to ask you a question. you doubtless know everyone in this tiny village.