Sheppard who was with him. I wanted to ask him a question about some papers I

was engaged upon, but when I heard the voices I remembered that he had said he

wanted to talk to Dr. Sheppard without being disturbed, and I went away again.

But now it seems that the doctor had already left?”

 

I nodded.

 

“I was at home by a quarter-past nine,” I said. “I didn’t go out again until I

received the telephone call.”

 

“Who could have been with him at half-past nine?” queried the inspector. “It

wasn’t you, Mr.—er——”

 

“Major Blunt,” I said.

 

“Major Hector Blunt?” asked the inspector, a respectful tone creeping into his

voice.

 

Blunt merely jerked his head affirmatively.

 

“I think we’ve seen you down here before, sir,” said the inspector. “I didn’t

recognize you for the moment, but you were staying with Mr.

 

Ackroyd a year ago last May.”