My place at table was between Mrs Ackroyd and Flora. Blunt was on Mrs Ackroyd’s 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 uncle’s 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 we’ve had coffee, we shan’t be disturbed again,’ he explained. ‘I told Raymond to see to it that we shouldn’t 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.

‘I’ve 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.’

‘They’re in my bag in the hall. I’ll get them.’

Ackroyd arrested me.

‘Don’t you trouble. Parker will get them. Bring in the doctor’s bag, will you, Parker?’

‘Very good, sir.’

Parker withdrew. As I was about to speak, Ackroyd threw up his hand.

‘Not yet. Wait. don’t you see I’m 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 window’s 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.

‘That’s all right,’ I said, emerging again into the room.

‘You’ve put the latch across?’

‘Yes, yes. What’s 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.

‘I’m in hell,’ he said slowly, after a minute. ‘No, don’t bother with those damn tablets. I only said that for Parker. Servants are so curious. come here and sit down. The door’s closed too, isn’t it?’

‘Yes. Nobody can overhear; don’t be uneasy.’

‘Sheppard, nobody knows what I’ve gone through in the last twenty-four hours. If a man’s house ever fell in ruin about him, mine has about me. This business of Ralph’s is the last straw. But we won’t talk about that now. It’s the other – the other – ! I don’t know what to do about it. And I’ve got to make up my mind soon.’

‘What’s 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, didn’t 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?’