“Who told you?”

 

“Our new neighbor.”

 

Caroline visibly wavered for a second or two, much as a roulette ball might

coyly hover between two numbers. Then she declined the tempting red herring.

 

“I told Mr. Ackroyd that Ralph was staying at the Three Boars.”

 

“Caroline,” I said, “do you never reflect that you might do a lot of harm with

this habit of yours of repeating everything indiscriminately?”

 

“Nonsense,” said my sister. “People ought to know things. I consider it my duty

to tell them. Mr. Ackroyd was very grateful to me.”

 

“Well?” I said, for there was clearly more to come.

 

“I think he went straight off to the Three Boars, but if so he didn’t find Ralph

there.”

 

“No?”

 

“No. Because as I was coming back through the wood——”