THE GOOSE QUILL
of emotion. Then there is the missing forty pounds."
"Given by Ackroyd to Ralph," I suggested. "He may have reconsidered his first refusal."
"That still leaves one thing unexplained?"
"What?"
"Why was Blunt so certain in his own mind that it was Raymond with Mr. Ackroyd at nine-thirty?"
"He explained that," I said.
"You think so? I will not press the point. Tell me instead, what were Ralph Paton's reasons for disappear"
"That's rather more difficult," I said slowly. "I shall have to speak as a medical man. Ralph's nerves must have gone phut! If he suddenly found out that his uncle had been murdered within a few minutes of his leaving him—after, perhaps, a rather stormy interview—well, he might get the wind up and clear right out. Men have been known to do that—act guiltily when they're perfectly innocent."
"Yes, that is true," said Poirot. "But we must not lose sight of one thing."
"I know what you're going to say," I remarked: "motive. Ralph Paton inherits a great fortune by his uncle's death."
"That is one motive," agreed Poirot.
"One?"
"Mais oui. Do you realize that there are three separate motives staring us in the face. Somebody certainly stole the blue envelope and its contents. That is one motive. Blackmail! Ralph Paton may have been the
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