Parker

           ItoccurredtomethenextmorningthatundertheexhilarationproducedbyTin-hoorthePerfectWinning,Imighthavebeenslightlyindiscreet.True,Poirothadnotaskedmetokeepthediscoveryoftheringtomyself.Ontheotherhand,hehadsaidnothingaboutitwhilstatFernly,andasfarasIknew,Iwastheonlypersonawarethatithadbeenfound.Ifeltdistinctlyguilty.ThefactwasbynowspreadingthroughKing’sAbbotlikewildfire.IwasexpectingwholesalereproachesfromPoirotanyminute.

           ThejointfuneralofMrs.FerrarsandRogerAckroydwasfixedforeleveno’clock.Itwasamelancholyandimpressiveceremony.AllthepartyfromFernlywerethere.

           Afteritwasover,Poirot,whohadalsobeenpresent,tookmebythearm,andinvitedmetoaccompanyhimbacktoTheLarches.Hewaslookingverygrave,andIfearedthatmyindiscretionofthenightbeforehadgotroundtohisears.Butitsoontranspiredthathisthoughtswereoccupiedbysomethingofatotallydifferentnature.

           "Seeyou,"hesaid."Wemustact.WithyourhelpIproposetoexamineawitness.Wewillquestionhim,wewillputsuchfearintohimthatthetruthisboundtocomeout.""Whatwitnessareyoutalkingabout?"Iasked,verymuchsurprised.

           "Parker!"saidPoirot."Iaskedhimtobeatmyhousethismorningattwelveo’clock.Heshouldawaitusthereatthisveryminute.""Whatdoyouthink?"Iventured,glancingsidewaysathisface.

           "Iknowthis–thatIamnotsatisfied.