Читать книгу The Murder of Roger Ackroyd / Убийство Роджера Экройда онлайн

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‘May I examine the body properly now?’ I asked.

He nodded.

‘Go ahead.’

I made a thorough examination.

‘Well?’ said the inspector, when I had finished.

‘I’ll spare you the technical language,’ I said. ‘We’ll keep that for the inquest. The blow was delivered by a righthanded man standing behind him, and death must have been instantaneous. By the expression on the dead man’s face, I should say that the blow was quite unexpected. he may have died without knowing who his assailant was.’

‘Butlers can creep about as soft-footed as cats,’ said inspector Davis. ‘There’s not going to be much mystery about this crime. Take a look at the hilt of that dagger.’

I took the look.

‘I dare say they’re not apparent to you, but I can see them clearly enough.’ he lowered his voice. ‘Fingerprints!’

He stood off a few steps to judge of his effect.

‘Yes,’ I said mildly. ‘I guessed that.’

I do not see why I should be supposed to be totally devoid of intelligence. After all, I read detective stories, and the newspapers, and am a man of quite average ability. If there had been toe marks on the dagger handle, now, that would have been quite a different thing. I would then have registered any amount of surprise and awe.