Crooked House / Скрюченный домишко. Книга для чтения на английском языке

’

�And Mrs Brenda Leonides?’

�Brenda? I never saw very much of her.’

�Do you think it possible that there was anything between her and Mr Laurence Brown?’

�You mean—some kind of a love affair? I shouldn’t think so. But I really wouldn’t know anything about it.’

Her voice sounded completely uninterested.

Roger Leonides came back with a rush, and the same bumble-bee effect.

�I got held up,’ he said. �Telephone. Well, Inspector? Well? Have you got news? What caused my father’s death?’

�Death was due to eserine poisoning.

’

�It was? My God! Then it was that woman! She couldn’t wait! He took her more or less out of the gutter and this is his reward. She murdered him in cold blood! God, it makes my blood boil to think of it.’

�Have you any particular reason for thinking that?’ Taverner asked.

Roger was pacing up and down[70 - to pace up and down – расхаживать взад-вперед], tugging at his hair with both hands.

�Reason? Why, who else could it be? I’ve never trusted her—never liked her! We’ve none of us liked her. Philip and I were both appalled when Dad came home one day and told us what he had done! At his age! It was madness— madness. My father was an amazing man, Inspector. In intellect he was as young and fresh as a man of forty. Everything I have in the world I owe to him. He did everything for me—never failed me. It was I who failed him—when I think of it—’

He dropped heavily on to a chair.

His wife came quietly to his side.

�Now, Roger, that’s enough. Don’t work yourself up.’

�I know, dearest—I know,’ he took her hand. �But how can I keep calm—how can I help feeling—’

�But we must all keep calm, Roger. Chief Inspector Taverner wants our help.’

�That is right, Mrs Leonides.’

Roger cried:

�Do you know what I’d like to do? I’d like to strangle that woman with my own hands.

Grudging that dear old man a few extra years of life. If I had her here—’ He sprang up[71 - to spring up – вскочить]. He was shaking with rage. He held out convulsive hands. �Yes, I’d wring her neck, wring her neck…’

�Roger!’ said Clemency sharply.

He looked at her, abashed.

�Sorry, dearest.’ He turned to us. �I do apologize. My feelings get the better of me. I—excuse me—’

He went out of the room again.