Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-26
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Bv AGATHA CHRISTIE.
Copyrirhs b. Dodd. Mead q Co.

inside which so many parlormaids
seem to have when they wait at
table Let me see, where was ~
You were saying, that in spite of
several valuable qualities, you never
liked Bourne"
mo more / do. She's-odd. There s
something different about her from
the others. Too well educated. that S
my opinion. You can't tell who are
ladies and who aren't nowadays"
"And what happened next?"
asked.
Nothing At least, Roger came in.
And thought he was out for a walk.
And he said: What's all this?' and
said, Nothing. I just came in to fetch
Punch And took Punch and went
out with 1t. Bourne stayed behind
l heard her asking Roger If she could
speak to him for a minute. l went
straight up to my room, to lie down
| was very upset.
There was a pause.
You will explain to NJ. Poirot
| won't you? You can see for yourself
what trivial matter the whole thing
was. But, of course, when he was
so stern about concealing things,
thought of this at once. Bourne may
have made some extraordinary story
out of it, but you can explain, can't
you?"
THAT is all?" I said. you have
told me everything?"
"Ye-es." said Mrs. Ackroyd. ooh
yes" she added firmly
But | had noted the momentary
hesitation. and / knew that there was
still something she was keeping back.
1t was nothing less than a flash OF
sheer genius that prompted me to ask
the question l did.
Mrs. Ackroyd." I said, twas 1t you
who left the silver table open?"
l had my answer in the blush of
guilt that even rouge and powder
could not conceal.
How do you know" she whisper
ed.
ut was you, them"
"Y@-I-you see-there were one
or two pieces of old silver-very inter
esting. I had been reading up the
subject and there was an illustration
of quite small piece which had
fetched an immense sum at Christy's.
1t looked to me just the same as the
one in the silver table. I thought
would take it up to London with me
when / northumberland have it
valued. Then if it really was a valu.
able piece, just think what a charm
ing surprise 1t would have been for
Roger"
/ refrained from comments, ac-
cepting Mrs. Ackroyd's story on its
merits. / even forbore to ask her
why it was necessary to abstract what
she wanted in such a surreptitious
manner.
why did you leave the lid open?"
asked. did you forget?''
II was startled" said Mrs. Ackroyd
Il heard footsteps coming along the
terrace outside. ! FASTENED out of the
room and just got up the stairs before
Parker opened the front door to you.
THAT must have been Miss Russell,
| said thoughtfully Mrs. Ackroyt
had revealed to me one fact that was
extremely interesting. Whether hel
designs upon Ackroyd's silver haC
been strictly honorable neither knew
nor cared. What did interest me was
the fact that Miss Russell must have
entered the drawing room by the win
dow, and that l had not been wrone
when l judged her to be out of breath
with running. Where had she been
| thought of the Summer house an(
the scrap of cambria.
IT wonder If Miss Russell has heI
handkerchiefs starched"' l exclaimed
| on the spur of the moment.
Mrs. Ackroyd's start recalled me t.
myself and I rose.
You think you can explain to NJ
Poirot?" she asked anxiously.
"Oh. certainly. Absolutely"
got away at last, after beine
forced to listen to more justifications
of her conduct.
The parlormaid was in the hall. ane
1t was she who helped me on witt
my overcoat. / observed her more
closely than I had done heretofore
1t was clear that she had been cry
ing.
How is IT. I asked, that you
told us that Mr.. Ackroyd sent for yor
| on Friday to his study? 1 hear now