THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD
"But—I can't understand it," cried the secretary, bewildered.
Poirot asked a question.
"You saw Mr. Ackroyd put this money away last night when he was dressing for dinner? You are sure he had not paid away any of it already?"
"I'm sure he hadn't. He even said, 'I don't want to take a hundred pounds down to dinner with me. Too bulgy.'"
"Then the affair is very simple," remarked Poirot. "Either he paid out that forty pounds sometime last evening, or else it has been stolen."
"That's the matter in a nutshell," agreed the inspector. He turned to Mrs. Ackroyd. "Which of the servants would come in here yesterday evening?"
"I suppose the housemaid would turn down the bed."
"Who is she? What do you know about her?"
"She's not been here very long," said Mrs. Ackroyd. "But she's a nice ordinary country girl."
"I think we ought to clear this matter up," said the inspector. "If Mr. Ackroyd paid that money away himself, it may have a bearing on the mystery of the crime. The other servants all right, as far as you know?"
"Oh, I think so."
"Not missed anything before?"
"No."
"None of them leaving, or anything like that?"
"The parlormaid is leaving."
"When?"
"She gave notice yesterday, I believe."
[128]
