Miss Russell

           InspectorRaglanhadreceivedabadjolt.HewasnotdeceivedbyBlunt’svaliantlieanymorethanwehadbeen.

           Ourwaybacktothevillagewaspunctuatedbyhiscomplaints.

           "Thisalterseverything,thisdoes.Idon’tknowwhetheryou’verealizedit.MonsieurPoirot?""Ithinkso,yes,Ithinkso,"saidPoirot."Yousee,me,Ihavebeenfamiliarwiththeideaforsometime."InspectorRaglan,whohadonlyhadtheideapresentedtohimashorthalf-hourago,lookedatPoirotunhappily,andwentonwithhisdiscoveries.

           "Thosealibisnow.Worthless!Absolutelyworthless.Gottostartagain.Findoutwhateveryonewasdoingfromnine-thirtyonwards.Nine-thirty–that’sthetimewe’vegottohangonto.YouwerequiterightaboutthemanKentwedon’treleasehimyetawhile.Letmeseenow–nineforty-fiveattheDogandWhistle.Hemighthavegotthereinaquarterofanhourifheran.It’sjustpossiblethatitwashisvoiceMr.RaymondheardtalkingtoMr.AckroydaskingformoneywhichMr.Ackroydrefused.Butonething’sclear–itwasn’thewhosentthetelephonemessage.

           Thestationishalfamileintheotherdirection–overamileandahalffromtheDogandWhistle,andhewasattheDogandWhistleuntilabouttenminutespastten.Dangthattelephonecall!Wealwayscomeupagainstit.""Wedoindeed,"agreedPoirot."Itiscurious.""It’sjustpossiblethatifCaptainPatonclimbedintohisuncle’sroomandfoundhimtheremurdered,hemayhavesentit.