The Parlourmaid

           WefoundMrs.Ackroydinthehall.Withherwasasmalldried-uplittleman,withanaggressivechinandsharpgreyeyes,and"lawyer"writtenalloverhim.

           "Mr.Hammondisstayingtolunchwithus,"saidMrs.Ackroyd."YouknowMajorBlunt,Mr.Hammond?AnddearDoctorSheppard–alsoaclosefriendofpoorRoger’s.And,letmesee"Shepaused,surveyingHerculePoirotinsomeperplexity.

           "ThisisM.Poirot,Mother,"saidFlora."Itoldyouabouthimthismorning.""Oh!yes,"saidMrs.Ackroydvaguely."Ofcourse,mydear,ofcourse.HeistofindRalph,ishenot?""HeistofindoutwhokilledUncle,"saidFlora.

           "Oh!mydear,"criedhermother."Please!Mypoornerves.Iamawreckthismorning,apositivewreck.Suchadreadfulthingtohappen.Ican’thelpfeelingthatitmusthavebeenanaccidentofsomekind.Rogerwassofondofhandlingqueercurios.Hishandmusthaveslipped,orsomething."Thistheorywasreceivedinpolitesilence.IsawPoirotedgeuptothelawyer,andspeaktohiminaconfidentialundertone.Theymovedasideintotheembrasureofthewindow.Ijoinedthem–thenhesitated.

           "PerhapsI’mintruding,"Isaid.

           "Notatall,"criedPoirotheartily."YouandI,M.ledocteur,weinvestigatethisaffairsidebyside.WithoutyouIshouldbelost.IdesirealittleinformationfromthegoodMr.Hammond.""YouareactingofbehalfofCaptainRalphPaton,Iunderstand,"saidthelawyercautiously.

           Poirotshookhishead.