  We obtain new explicit exponential stability conditions for the linear scalar
neutral equation with two bounded delays $ (x(t)-a(t)x(g(t)))'+b(t)x(h(t))=0, $
where $|a(t)| \leq A_0 < 1$, $0<b_0\leq b(t)\leq B_0$, assuming that all
parameters of the equation are measurable functions.
  To analyze exponential stability, we apply the Bohl-Perron theorem and a
reduction of a neutral equation to an equation with an infinite number of
non-neutral delay terms. This method has never been used before for this
neutral equation; its application allowed to omit a usual restriction
$|a(t)|<\frac{1}{2}$ in known asymptotic stability tests and consider variable
delays.
