“I beg your pardon, sir?”

 

“Your master. Mr. Ackroyd. Don’t stand there staring at me, man. Have you

notified the police?”

 

“The police, sir? Did you say the police?” Parker stared at me as though I were

a ghost.

 

“What’s the matter with you, Parker? If, as you say, your master has been

murdered——”

 

A gasp broke from Parker.

 

“The master? Murdered? Impossible, sir!”

 

It was my turn to stare.

 

“Didn’t you telephone to me, not five minutes ago, and tell me that Mr.

 

Ackroyd had been found murdered?”

 

“Me, sir? Oh! no indeed, sir. I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing.”

 

“Do you mean to say it’s all a hoax? That there’s nothing the matter with Mr.

Ackroyd?”