Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-18
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Copyright by Dodd. Mead & Co.
By AGATHA CHRISTIE.

! "People take me sometimes" said
Blunt sadly. Funny idea OF pleas
ure-worse racket than the natives
make with their tom-toms.
Flora laughed.
IT remember Melisande" continued
Blunt, married an old chap old
enough to be her father"
He threw small piece of flint into
the goldfish pond. Then, with
change of manner. he turned to tiora;
Miss Ackroyd, can 1 do anything?
About Patton, I mean. / know how
dreadfully anxious you must be-"
Thank YOU" said Flora in cold
voice. There is really nothing to be
done. Ralph will be all right. I've
got hold of the most wonderful detee-
tive in the world, and he's going to
find out all about it,
For some time ! had felt uneasy as
to our position. We We're not exactly
eaveSdropping, since the two in the
garden below had only to lift their
heads to see us. Nevertheless, | should
have drawn attention to our presence
before now, had not my companion
put warning pressure on my arm.
Clearly he wished me to remain silent
But now he rose briskly to his feet,
clearing his throat.
II demand pardon" he cried II
cannot allow mademoiselle thus ex-
travagantly to compliment me, and
not draw attention to my presence.
They say the listener hears no good
of himself. but that is not the case
this time. To spare my bushes, I
must join you and apologize
He hurried down the path with me
close behind him. and joined the others
by the pond.
This is NJ. Hercule Poirot," said
Flora. II expect you've heard of
him."
Poirot bowed.
II know Maj. Blunt by reputation"
he said politely. Il am glad to have
encountered you, monsieur. l am in
need Of some information that you
can give me-
Blunt looked at him inquiringly.
When did you last see NJ. Ackroyd
alive?"
"At dinner"
And you ueither saw nor heard
anything of him after that?''
Didn't see him. Heard his voice."
"How was that?'
81 strolled out on the terrace
Pardon me: what time was this?"
About half-past nine. I was walk |
ing up and down smoking in front of |
the drawing-room window. / heard |
Ackroyd talking in his study
POirOt stopped and removed micro |
scopic weed.
Surely you couldn't hear voices in
the study from that part Of the ter
race he murmured.
He was not looking at Blunt, but l !
was, and to my intense surprise, l !
saw the latter flush.
Went as far as the corner he ex.
planned unwillingly.
"Ah' indeed9" said pOirot
In the mildest manner he conveyed |
an impression that more was wanted. |
Thought / saw-a woman disap- |
pearing into the bushes. Just a CLEAN /
Of white, you know. Must have been |
mistaken. 1t was while 1 was stand
ing at the corner of the terrace that !
I heard Ackroyd's voice speaking to |
that secretary of his"
Speaking to Mr.. Godfrey Ray
mond?''
"Yes-that's what / supposed at !
the time. Seems l was wrong
Mr.. Ackroyd didn't address him by !
name?"
"Oh, no.
Then. if 1 may ask, why did you
think-?'
Blunt explained laboriously.
Took it for granted that it would |
be Raymond, because he had said just
some papers to Ackroyd. Never |
thought of it being anybody else"
Can YOU remember what the words |
you heard were?"
Afraid I can't. Something quite |
ordinary and unimportant. Only |
caught scrap of it. I was thinking |
of something else at the time
1T is Of no importance" murmured !
Poirot did you move chair back |
against the wall when you went into |
the study after the body was dicov.
ered?''
Chair? No-why should I?'
Poirot shrugged his shoulders. but
did not answer. He turned to Flora.
There is one thing I should like to
know from you, mademoiselle. When
you We're examining the things in
the silver table with DR.. Sheppard,
was the dagger in its place, or was
it not?'
Flora's chin shot up
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr