PARKER
was killed. Major Ellerby was partly responsible. It was hushed up. But you knew about it. How much did Major Ellerby pay you to keep your mouth shut?"
Parker was staring at him open-mouthed. The man had gone to pieces, his cheeks shook flabbily.
"You see, me, I have made inquiries," said Poirot pleasantly. "It is as I say. You got a good sum then as blackmail, and Major Ellerby went on paying you until he died. Now I want to hear about your latest experiment."
Parker still stared.
"It is useless to deny. Hercule Poirot knows. It is so, what I have said about Major Ellerby, is it not?"
As though against his will, Parker nodded reluctantly once. His face was ashen pale.
"But I never hurt a hair of Mr. Ackroyd's head," he moaned. "Honest to God, sir, I didn't. I've been afraid of this coming all the time. And I tell you I didn't—I didn't kill him."
His voice rose almost to a scream.
"I am inclined to believe you, my friend," said Poirot. "You have not the nerve—the courage. But I must have the truth."
"I'll tell you anything, sir, anything you want to know. It's true that I tried to listen that night. A word or two I heard made me curious. And Mr. Ackroyd's wanting not to be disturbed, and shutting himself up with the doctor the way he did. It's God's own truth what I told the police. I heard the word blackmail, sir, and well———"
[205]
