“Certainly,” I said. “Half an hour or longer.”

 

“Very good. That gives us exactly a quarter of an hour in which the crime must

have been committed. I make a list of every one in the house, and work through

it, setting down opposite their names where they were and what they were doing

between the hour of 9.45 and 10 p.m.”

 

He handed a sheet of paper to Poirot. I read it over his shoulder. It ran as

follows, written in a neat script:—

 

_Major Blunt.—In billiard room with Mr. Raymond. (Latter confirms.)_

 

_Mr. Raymond.—Billiard room. (See above.)_

 

_Mrs. Ackroyd.—9.45 watching billiard match. Went up to bed 9.55. (Raymond and

Blunt watched her up staircase.)_

 

_Miss Ackroyd.—Went straight from her uncle’s room upstairs. (Confirmed by

Parker, also housemaid, Elsie Dale.)_

 

_Servants_:—

 

_Parker.—Went straight to butler’s pantry. (Confirmed by housekeeper, Miss

Russell, who came down to speak to him about something at 9.47, and remained at

least ten minutes.)_