Evening star., 1927-03-02
Continued from Yesterdays star.l

Yes, sir. / have already over a
thousan nd pounds saved-the result of
my connection with-er--my late
master, Maj. Ellerby And / have
had quite a little fiutter on some
horses this year--very successful. If
you remember, sir, a rank outsider
won the Jubilee. I was fortunate
enough to back it-& 20"
Poirot handed him back the book.
II will wish you good-morning.
believe that YOU have told me the
truth. If you have not--so much the
worse for you, my friend"
When Parker had departed. Poirot
picked up his overcOat once more.
Going out again?" l asked.
Yes, we will pay little visit to
the good NJ. Hammond"
You believe Parker's story?"
at is credible enough on the face
of it, 1t seems clear that-unless he
is very good actor indeed-he
genuinely believes it was Ackroyd
himself who was the victim of black
mail. If so. he knows nothing at all
about the Mrs. Ferrars business:
Then in that case-who--
"Precisement. Who? But our visit
to NJ. Hammond will accomplish one
purpose. 1t will either clear Parker
completely or else
"Well?"
"T fall into the bad habit of leaving
my sentences unfinished this morn
ing" said Poirot. apologetically. You
must bear with me.
by the way" l said. rather sheep
ishly, i've got a confession to make.
I'm afraid l have inadvertently let
out something about that ring.
What ring?"
''The ring you found in the goldfish
pond"
"Ah! yes," said Poirot. smiling
broadly.
II hope you're not annoyed? 1t was
very careless of me-"
But not at all, my good friend. not
at all. l laid no commands upon you.
You were at liberty to speak OF 1t IL
you so wished. She was interested.
your SiSter?'
she was indeed. It created SEN
sation. All sorts of theories are fly
ing about"
"Ah! And yet it is so simple. The
true explanation leaped in the eye, did
It not?"
! did it," said, dryly.
: Poirot laughed.
The wise man does not commit him
self" he observed, rs not that SO?
But here we are at Mr.. Hammonds s.
The lawyer was in his office. and
we were ushered in without any de-
lay. He rose and greeted us In his
dry, precise manner.
!. Poirot came at once to the point.
Monsieur. 1 desire from you GER
tain information-that is, If you will
be so good as to give it to me. You
acted, l understand, for the late Mrs.
Ferrars of Kings Paddock"
I noticed the swift gleam of surprise
which showed in the lawyers eyes,
before his professional reserve came
down once more like a mask over his
face.
Certainly. All her affairs passed
through our hands"
'Vary good. Now, before l ask you
s-li me anything, I should like you
80 listen to the story DR.. Sheppard
will relate to you. You have no obJec-
ton, have you. my friend. to repeating
the conversation you had with Mr..
Ackroyd last Friday night?'
Not in the least" / said, and
straightway began the recital of that
strange evening.
Hammond listened with close atten-
tion.
That is ALL" 1 said. when had
finished.
"Blackmail," said the lawyer.
thoughtfully.
= 1Ou arc IpIlSCO. dShCo OHOIs
The lawyer took off his pince-nez and
polished them with his handkerchief.
NO." he replied, II can hardly say
that 1 am surprised. have suspected
something Aof the kind for some time"
THAT brings u.s. said Poirot, Ito
the information for which I am ask
ing. If any one can give us an idea
Of the actual sums paid, you are the
man, MONSIEUR"
"I see no object in Withholding the
information" said Hammond. after a
moment or two. During the past
year, Mrs. Ferrars has sold out GER
tain securities, and the money for
them was paid into her account and
not reinvested. AS her income was. a
large one. and she lived very quietly
after her husbands death, 1t seems
certain that these sums OF money were
paid away for some special purpose.
I once sounded her on the subject, and
she said that she was obliged to sup
port several of her husbands poor
relations. / let the matter drop, of
course. Until now. have always i'm
agined that the money. was paid to
some woman who had had claim on
Ashley Ferrars. l never dreamed that
Mrs. Ferrars herself was involved"
And the amount?" asked Poirot.
''In all, I should say the various
sums totaled at least EGO, ,000."
Twenty thousand pounds!' I ex.
claimed. I'm one year,
Mrs. Ferrars was a very wealthy
woman" said Poirot, dryly. "And the
penalty for murder is not a pleasant
one.''
rs there anything else I can tell
your" inquired Mr.. Hammond.
s 81 thank you, no." said Poirot, ris-
ing. "All my excuses for having de-
ranged YOU"