The Murder of Roger Ackroyd / Убийство Роджера Экройда

No, if I go into this, you must understand one thing clearly. I shall go through with it to the end. The good dog, he does not leave the scent, remember! you may wish that, after all, you had left it to the local police.’

‘I want the truth,’ said flora, looking him straight in the eyes.

‘All the truth?’

‘All the truth.’

‘Then I accept,’ said the little man quietly. ‘And I hope you will not regret those words. Now, tell me all the circumstances.’

‘Dr Sheppard had better tell you,’ said Flora.

Thus enjoined, I plunged into a careful narrative, em- bodying all the facts I have previously set down. Poirot listened carefully, inserting a question here and there, but for the most part sitting in silence, his eyes on the ceiling.

I brought my story to a close with the departure of the inspector and myself from Fernly Park the previous night.

‘And now,’ said Flora, as I finished, ‘tell him all about Ralph.’

I hesitated, but her imperious glance drove me on.

‘You went to this inn – this Three Boars – last night on your way home?’ asked Poirot, as I brought my tale to a close. ‘Now exactly why was that?’

I paused a moment to choose my words carefully.

‘I thought someone ought to inform the young man of his uncle’s death. It occurred to me after I had left Fernly that possibly no one but myself and Mr Ackroyd were aware that he was staying in the village.’

Poirot nodded.

‘Quite so. That was your only motive in going there, eh?’

‘That was my only motive,’ I said stiffly.

‘It was not to – shall we say – reassure yourself about ce jeune homme?’

‘Reassure myself?’

‘I think, M. le docteur, that you know very well what I mean, though you pretend not to do so. I suggest that it would have been a relief to you if you had found that captain Paton had been at home all the evening.’

‘Not at all,’ I said sharply.

The little detective shook his head at me gravely.

‘You have not the trust in me of Miss Flora,’ he said. ‘But no matter. What we have to look at is this – captain Paton is missing, under circumstances which call for an explanation. I will not hide from you that the matter looks grave. Still, it may admit of a perfectly simple explanation.’

‘That’s just what I keep saying,’ cried Flora eagery.

Poirot touched no more upon that theme.

Instead he suggested an immediate visit to the local police.