At once I recognized the sound I had heard. It was this same table lid being shut down gently and carefully. I repeated the action once or twice for my own satisfaction. Then I lifted the lid to scrutinize the contents more closely.
I was still bending over the open silver table when Flora Ackroyd came into the room.
Quite a lot of people do not like Flora Ackroyd, but nobody can help admiring her. And to her friends she can be very charming. The first thing that strikes you about her is her extraordinary fairness. She has the real Scandinavian pale gold hair. Her eyes are blue blue as the waters of a Norwegian fiord, and her skin is cream and roses. She has square, boyish shoulders and slight hips. And to a jaded medical man it is very refreshing to come across such perfect health.
A simple straightforward english girl I may be old-fashioned, but I think the genuine article takes a lot of beating. Flora joined me by the silver table, and expressed heretical doubts as to king Charles I ever having worn the baby shoe.
And anyway, continued Miss flora, all this making a fuss about things because someone wore or used them seems to me all nonsense. Theyre not wearing or using them now. That pen that george eliot wrote The Mill on the Floss with that sort of thing well, its only just a pen after all. If youre really keen on George Eliot, why not get The Mill on the Floss in a cheap edition and read it.
I suppose you never read such old out-of-date stuff, Miss Flora?
Youre wrong, dr Sheppard. I love The Mill on the Floss.
I was rather pleased to hear it. The things young women read nowadays and profess to enjoy positively frighten me.
You havent congratulated me yet, dr Sheppard, said Flora. Havent you heard?
She held out her left hand. On the third finger of it was an exquisitely set single pearl.
Im going to marry Ralph, you know, she went on. Uncle is very pleased. It keeps me in the family, you see.
I took both her hands in mine.
My dear, I said, I hope youll be very happy.
Weve been engaged for about a month, continued flora in her cool voice, but it was only announced yesterday. uncle is going to do up cross-stones, and give it to us to live in, and were going to pretend to farm. really, we shall hunt all the winter, town for the season, and then go yachting. I love the sea. And, of course, I shall take a great interest in the parish affairs, and attend all the Mothers Meetings.
Just then Mrs Ackroyd rustled in, full of apologies for being late.
I am sorry to say I detest Mrs Ackroyd. She is all chains and teeth and bones. A most unpleasant woman. She has small pale flinty blue eyes, and however gushing her words may be, those eyes of hers always remain coldly speculative.
I went across to her, leaving Flora by the window. She gave me a handful of assorted knuckles and rings to squeeze, and began talking volubly.
Had I heard about floras engagement? So suitable in every way. The dear young things had fallen in love at first sight. Such a perfect pair, he so dark and she so fair.
I cant tell you, my dear dr Sheppard, the relief to a mothers heart.
Mrs Ackroyd sighed a tribute to her mothers heart, whilst her eyes remained shrewdly observant of me.
I was wondering. you are such an old friend of dear rogers. We know how much he trusts to your judgment. So difficult for me in my position as poor Cecils widow. But there are so many tiresome things settlements, you know all that. I fully believe that roger intends to make settlements upon dear Flora, but, as you know, he is just a leetle peculiar about money. Very usual, Ive heard, amongst men who are captains of industry. I wondered, you know, if you could just sound him on the subject? flora is so fond of you. We feel you are quite an old friend, although we have only really known you just over two years.
Mrs Ackroyds eloquence was cut short as the drawingroom door opened once more. I was pleased at the interruption. I hate interfering in other peoples affairs, and I had not the least intention of tackling Ackroyd on the subject of floras settlements. In another moment I should have been forced to tell Mrs Ackroyd as much.
You know Major Blunt, dont you, doctor?
Yes, indeed, I said.
A lot of people know hector Blunt at least by repute. He has shot more wild animals in unlikely places than any man living, I suppose. When you mention him, people say: Blunt you dont mean the big game man, do you?
His friendship with Ackroyd has always puzzled me a little. The two men are so totally dissimilar. Hector Blunt is perhaps five years Ackroyds junior. They made friends early in life, and though their ways have diverged, the friendship still holds. About once in two years Blunt spends a fortnight at Fernly, and an immense animals head, with an amazing number of horns which fixes you with a glazed stare as soon as you come inside the front door, is a permanent reminder of the friendship.
Blunt had entered the room now with his own peculiar, deliberate, yet soft-footed tread. he is a man of medium height, sturdily and rather stockily built. His face is almost mahogany coloured, and is peculiarly expressionless. He has grey eyes that give the impression of always watching something that is happening very far away. He talks little, and what he does say is said jerkily, as though the words were forced out of him unwillingly.
He said now: How are you, Sheppard? in his usual abrupt fashion, and then stood squarely in front of the fireplace looking over our heads as though he saw something very interesting happening in Timbuctoo.
Major Blunt, said flora, I wish youd tell me about these African things. Im sure you know what they all are.
I have heard Hector Blunt described as a woman hater, but I noticed that he joined Flora at the silver table with what might be described as alacrity. They bent over it together.
I was afraid Mrs Ackroyd would begin talking about settlements again, so I made a few hurried remarks about the new sweet pea. I knew there was a new sweet pea because the Daily Mail had told me so that morning. Mrs Ackroyd knows nothing about horticulture, but she is the kind of woman who likes to appear well-informed about the topics of the day, and she, too, reads the Daily Mail. We were able to converse quite intelligently until Ackroyd and his secretary joined us, and immediately afterwards Parker announced dinner.
My place at table was between Mrs Ackroyd and Flora. Blunt was on Mrs Ackroyds other side, and Geoffrey Raymond next to him.
Dinner was not a cheerful affair. Ackroyd was visibly preoccupied. he looked wretched, and ate next to nothing. Mrs Ackroyd, raymond, and I kept the conversation going. flora seemed affected by her uncles depression, and Blunt relapsed into his usual taciturnity.
Immediately after dinner Ackroyd slipped his arm through mine and led me off to his study.
Once weve had coffee, we shant be disturbed again, he explained. I told Raymond to see to it that we shouldnt be interrupted.
I studied him quietly without appearing to do so. He was clearly under the influence of some strong excitement. For a minute or two he paced up and down the room, then, as Parker entered with the coffee tray, he sank into an armchair in front of the fire.
The study was a comfortable apartment. Bookshelves lined one wall of it. The chairs were big and covered in dark blue leather. A large desk stood by the window and was covered with papers neatly docketed and filed. on a round table were various magazines and sporting papers.
Ive had a return of that pain after food lately, remarked Ackroyd calmly, as he helped himself to coffee. you must give me some more of those tablets of yours.
It struck me that he was anxious to convey the impression that our conference was a medical one. I played up accordingly.
I thought as much. I brought some up with me.
Good man. Hand them over now.
Theyre in my bag in the hall. Ill get them.
Ackroyd arrested me.
Dont you trouble. Parker will get them. Bring in the doctors bag, will you, Parker?
Very good, sir.
Parker withdrew. As I was about to speak, Ackroyd threw up his hand.
Not yet. Wait. dont you see Im in such a state of nerves that I can hardly contain myself?
I saw that plainly enough. And I was very uneasy. All sorts of forebodings assailed me.
Ackroyd spoke again almost immediately.
Make certain that windows closed, will you, he asked.
Somewhat surprised, I got up and went to it. It was not a french window, but one of the ordinary sash type. The heavy blue velvet curtains were drawn in front of it, but the window itself was open at the top.
Parker re-entered the room with my bag while I was still at the window.
Thats all right, I said, emerging again into the room.
Youve put the latch across?
Yes, yes. Whats the matter with you, Ackroyd?
The door had just closed behind Parker, or I would not have put the question.
Ackroyd waited just a minute before replying.
Im in hell, he said slowly, after a minute. No, dont bother with those damn tablets. I only said that for Parker. Servants are so curious. come here and sit down. The doors closed too, isnt it?
Yes. Nobody can overhear; dont be uneasy.
Sheppard, nobody knows what Ive gone through in the last twenty-four hours. If a mans house ever fell in ruin about him, mine has about me. This business of Ralphs is the last straw. But we wont talk about that now. Its the other the other ! I dont know what to do about it. And Ive got to make up my mind soon.
Whats the trouble?
Ackroyd remained silent for a minute or two. he seemed curiously averse to begin. When he did speak, the question he asked came as a complete surprise. It was the last thing I expected.
Sheppard, you attended Ashley Ferrars in his last illness, didnt you?
Yes, I did.
he seemed to find even greater difficulty in framing his next question.
Did you ever suspect did it ever enter your head that well, that he might have been poisoned?
I was silent for a minute or two. Then I made up my mind what to say. Roger Ackroyd was not Caroline.
Ill tell you the truth, I said. At the time I had no suspicion whatever, but since well, it was mere idle talk on my sisters part that first put the idea into my head. Since then I havent been able to get it out again. But, mind you, Ive no foundation whatever for that suspicion.
He was poisoned, said Ackroyd.
He spoke in a dull heavy voice.
Who by? I asked sharply.
His wife.
How do you know that?
She told me so herself.
When?
Yesterday! My god! Yesterday! It seems ten years ago.
I waited a minute, then he went on.
You understand, Sheppard, Im telling you this in confidence. Its to go no further. I want your advice I cant carry the whole weight by myself. As I said just now, I dont know what to do.
Can you tell me the whole story? I said. Im still in the dark. How did Mrs Ferrars come to make this confession to you?
Its like this. Three months ago I asked Mrs Ferrars to marry me. She refused. I asked her again and she consented, but she refused to allow me to make the engagement public until her year of mourning was up. Yesterday I called upon her, pointed out that a year and three weeks had now elapsed since her husbands death, and that there could be no further objection to making the engagement public property. I had noticed that she had been very strange in her manner for some days. Now, suddenly, without the least warning, she broke down completely. She she told me everything. Her hatred of her brute of a husband, her growing love for me, and the the dreadful means she had taken. Poison! My god! It was murder in cold blood.
I saw the repulsion, the horror, in Ackroyds face. So Mrs Ferrars must have seen it. Ackroyds is not the type of the great lover who can forgive all for loves sake. He is fundamentally a good citizen. All that was sound and wholesome and law-abiding in him must have turned from her utterly in that moment of revelation.
Yes, he went on, in a low, monotonous voice, she confessed everything. It seems that there is one person who has known all along who has been blackmailing her for huge sums. It was the strain of that that drove her nearly mad.
Who was the man?
Suddenly before my eyes there arose the picture of Ralph Paton and Mrs Ferrars side by side. Their heads so close together. I felt a momentary throb of anxiety. Supposing oh! but surely that was impossible. I remembered the frankness of Ralphs greeting that very afternoon. Absurd!
She wouldnt tell me his name, said Ackroyd slowly. As a matter of fact, she didnt actually say that it was a man. But of course
Of course, I agreed. It must have been a man. And youve no suspicion at all?
For answer Ackroyd groaned and dropped his head into his hands.
It cant be, he said. Im mad even to think of such a thing. No, I wont even admit to you the wild suspicion that crossed my mind. Ill tell you this much, though. Something she said made me think that the person in question might be actually among my household but that cant be so. I must have misunderstood her.
What did you say to her? I asked.
What could I say? She saw, of course, the awful shock it had been to me. And then there was the question, what was my duty in the matter? She had made me, you see, an accessory after the fact. She saw all that, I think, quicker than I did. I was stunned, you know. She asked me for twenty-four hours made me promise to do nothing till the end of that time. And she steadfastly refused to give me the name of the scoundrel who had been blackmailing her. I suppose she was afraid that I might go straight off and hammer him, and then the fat would have been in the fire as far as she was concerned. She told me that I should hear from her before twenty-four hours had passed. My god! I swear to you, Sheppard, that it never entered my head what she meant to do. Suicide! And I drove her to it.
No, no, I said. Dont take an exaggerated view of things. The responsibility for her death doesnt lie at your door.
The question is, what am I to do now? The poor lady is dead. Why rake up past trouble?
I rather agree with you, I said.
But theres another point. How am I to get hold of that scoundrel who drove her to death as surely as if hed killed her? He knew of the first crime, and he fastened on to it like some obscene vulture. Shes paid the penalty. Is he to go scot free?
I see, I said slowly. you want to hunt him down? It will mean a lot of publicity, you know.
Yes, Ive thought of that. Ive zigzagged to and fro in my mind.