The Murder of Roger Ackroyd / Убийство Роджера Экройда

A nice girl, quick at her duties, and most respectable. good references. The last girl in the world to take anything not belonging to her.

What about the parlourmaid?

‘She, too, was a most superior girl. Very quiet and ladylike. An excellent worker.’

‘Then why is she leaving?’ asked the inspector.

Miss Russell pursed up her lips. ‘It was none of my doing. I understand Mr Ackroyd found fault with her yesterday afternoon. It was her duty to do the study, and she disarranged some of the papers on his desk, I believe.

The inspector assented. I had already noticed the girl when she was waiting on us at lunch. A tall girl, with a lot of brown hair rolled tightly away at the back of her neck, and very steady grey eyes. She came in answer to the housekeeper’s summons, and stood very straight with those same grey eyes fixed on us.

‘You are Ursula Bourne?’ asked the inspector.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I understand you are leaving?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Why is that?’

‘I disarranged some papers on Mr Ackroyd’s desk. He was very angry about it, and I said I had better leave. he told me to go as soon as possible.’

‘Were you in Mr Ackroyd’s bedroom at all last night? Tidying up or anything?’

‘No, sir. That is Elsie’s work. I never went near that part of the house.’

‘I must tell you, my girl, that a large sum of money is missing from Mr Ackroyd’s room.

At last I saw her roused. A wave of colour swept over her face.

‘I know nothing about any money. If you think I took it, and that that is why Mr Ackroyd dismissed me, you are wrong.’

‘I’m not accusing you of taking it, my girl,’ said the inspector. ‘Don’t flare up so.’

The girl looked at him coldly.

‘You can search my things if you like,’ she said disdainfully. ‘But you won’t find anything.’

Poirot suddenly interposed.

‘It was yesterday afternoon that Mr Ackroyd dismissed you – or you dismissed yourself, was it not?’ he asked.

The girl nodded.

‘How long did the interview last?’

‘The interview?’

‘Yes, the interview between you and Mr Ackroyd in the study?’

‘I–I don’t know.’

‘Twenty minutes? Half an hour?’

‘Something like that.’

‘Not longer?’

‘Not longer than half an hour, certainly.’

‘Thank you, mademoiselle.’

I looked curiously at him.