The Murder of Roger Ackroyd / Убийство Роджера Экройда

It was a quarter past ten as we went up the stairs. I had just reached the top when the telephone rang in the hall below.

‘Mrs Bates,’ said Caroline immediately.

‘I’m afraid so,’ I said ruefully. I ran down the stairs and took up the receiver.

‘What?’ I said. ‘What? certainly, I’ll come at once.’

I ran upstairs, caught up my bag, and stuffed a few extra dressings into it.

‘Parker telephoning,’ I shouted to Caroline, ‘From Fernly. They’ve just found Roger Ackroyd murdered.’

Chapter 5

Murder

I got out the car in next to no time, and drove rapidly to Fernly.

Then I heard the rattle of the chain and Parker, his impassivity of countenance quite unmoved, stood in the open doorway.

I pushed past him into the hall.

‘Where is he?’ I demanded sharply.

‘I beg your pardon, sir?’

‘Your master. Mr Ackroyd. don’t stand there staring at me, man.

‘The police, sir? Did you say the police?’ Parker stared at me as though I were a ghost.

‘What’s the matter with you, Parker? If, as you say, your master has been murdered – ’

A gasp broke from Parker.

‘The master? Murdered? Impossible, sir!’

It was my turn to stare.

‘Didn’t you telephone to me, not five minutes ago, and tell me that Mr Ackroyd had been found murdered?’

‘Me, sir? Oh! No indeed, sir. I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing.

‘Do you mean to say it’s all a hoax? That there’s nothing the matter with Mr Ackroyd?’

‘Excuse me, sir, did the person telephoning use my name?’

‘I’ll give you the exact words I heard. “Is that Dr Sheppard? Parker, the butler at Fernly, speaking. Will you please come at once, sir. Mr Ackroyd has been murdered.”

Parker and I stared at each other blankly.

‘A very wicked joke to play, sir,’ he said at last, in a shocked tone. ‘Fancy saying a thing like that.

‘Where is Mr Ackroyd?’ I asked suddenly.

‘Still in the study, I fancy, sir. The ladies have gone to bed, and Major Blunt and Mr Raymond are in the billiard room.’

‘I think I’ll just look in and see him for a minute,’ I said. ‘I know he didn’t want to be disturbed again, but this odd practical joke has made me uneasy. I’d just like to satisfy myself that he’s all right.’

‘Quite so, sir. It makes me feel quite uneasy myself.