It occurred to me after I had left Fernly that possibly no one but myself and

Mr. Ackroyd were aware that he was staying in the village.”

 

Poirot nodded.

 

“Quite so. That was your only motive in going there, eh?”

 

“That was my only motive,” I said stiffly.

 

“It was not to—shall we say—reassure yourself about _ce jeune homme_?”

 

“Reassure myself?”

 

“I think, M. le docteur, that you know very well what I mean, though you pretend

not to do so. I suggest that it would have been a relief to you if you had found

that Captain Paton had been at home all the evening.”

 

“Not at all,” I said sharply.

 

The little detective shook his head at me gravely.

 

“You have not the trust in me of Miss Flora,” he said. “But no matter.

 

What we have to look at is this—Captain Paton is missing, under circumstances

which call for an explanation. I will not hide from you that the matter looks