日期：2023-08-07 Mrs. Ferrars died on the night of the 16th17th Septembera Thursday. I was sent for at eight oclock on the morning of Friday the 17th. There was nothing to be done. She had been dead some hours. It was just a few minutes after nine when I reached hom... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 Before I proceed further with what I said to Caroline and what Caroline said to me, it might be as well to give some idea of what I should describe as our local geography. Our village, Kings Abbot, is, I imagine, very much like any other village. Ou... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 I told Caroline at lunch time that I should be dining at Fernly. She expressed no objectionon the contrary Excellent, she said. Youll hear all about it. By the way, what is the trouble with Ralph? With Ralph? I said, surprised; theres isnt any. Then... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 It was just a few minutes before half-past seven when I rang the front door bell of Fernly Park. The door was opened with admirable promptitude by Parker, the butler. The night was such a fine one that I had preferred to come on foot. I stepped into... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 I got out the car in next to no time, and drove rapidly to Fernly. Jumping out, I pulled the bell impatiently. There was some delay in answering, and I rang again. Then I heard the rattle of the chain and Parker, his impassivity of countenance quite... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 I met the inspector just coming from the door which led into the kitchen quarters. Hows the young lady, doctor? Coming round nicely. Her mothers with her. Thats good. Ive been questioning the servants. They all declare that no one has been to the ba... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 On the following morning I hurried unforgivably over my round. My excuse can be that I had no very serious cases to attend. On my return Caroline came into the hall to greet me. Flora Ackroyd is here, she announced in an excited whisper. What? I con... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 We looked at each other. Youll have inquiries made at the station, of course? I said. Naturally, but Im not over sanguine as to the result. You know what that station is like. I did. Kings Abbot is a mere village, but its station happens to be an im... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 We walked back to the house together. There was no sign of the inspector. Poirot paused on the terrace and stood with his back to the house, slowly turning his head from side to side. Une belle proprit, he said at last appreciatively. Who inherits i... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 We found Mrs. Ackroyd in the hall. With her was a small dried-up little man, with an aggressive chin and sharp gray eyes, and lawyer written all over him. Mr. Hammond is staying to lunch with us, said Mrs. Ackroyd. You know Major Blunt, Mr. Hammond?... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 I was slightly nervous when I rang the bell at Marby Grange the following afternoon. I wondered very much what Poirot expected to find out. He had entrusted the job to me. Why? Was it because, as in the case of questioning Major Blunt, he wished to... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 A joint inquest was held on Monday. I do not propose to give the proceedings in detail. To do so would only be to go over the same ground again and again. By arrangement with the police, very little was allowed to come out. I gave evidence as to the... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 That evening, at Poirots request, I went over to his house after dinner. Caroline saw me depart with visible reluctance. I think she would have liked to have accompanied me. Poirot greeted me hospitably. He had placed a bottle of Irish whisky (which... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 After the evening talk I have just chronicled, the affair seemed to me to enter on a different phase. The whole thing can be divided into two parts, each clear and distinct from the other. Part I. ranges from Ackroyds death on the Friday evening to... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 I was to have a further proof that day of the success of Poirots tactics. That challenge of his had been a subtle touch born of his knowledge of human nature. A mixture of fear and guilt had wrung the truth from Mrs. Ackroyd. She was the first to re... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 That night we had a little Mah Jong party. This kind of simple entertainment is very popular in Kings Abbot. The guests arrive in goloshes and waterproofs after dinner. They partake of coffee and later of cake, sandwiches, and tea. On this particula... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 It occurred to me the next morning that under the exhilaration produced by Tin-ho, or the Perfect Winning, I might have been slightly indiscreet. True, Poirot had not asked me to keep the discovery of the ring to myself. On the other hand, he had sa... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 Half an hour later saw Poirot, myself, and Inspector Raglan in the train on the way to Liverpool. The inspector was clearly very excited. We may get a line on the blackmailing part of the business, if on nothing else, he declared jubilantly. Hes a r... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 As I was returning from my round the following morning, I was hailed by Inspector Raglan. I pulled up, and the inspector mounted on the step. Good-morning, Dr. Sheppard, he said. Well, that alibi is all right enough. Charles Kents? Charles Kents. Th... 阅读全文>>

日期：2023-08-07 Inspector Raglan had received a bad jolt. He was not deceived by Blunts valiant lie any more than we had been. Our way back to the village was punctuated by his complaints. This alters everything, this does. I dont know whether youve realized it, Mo... 阅读全文>>