encountered you, monsieur. I am in need of some information that you can give

me.”

 

Blunt looked at him inquiringly.

 

“When did you last see M. Ackroyd alive?”

 

“At dinner.”

 

“And you neither saw nor heard anything of him after that?”

 

“Didn’t see him. Heard his voice.”

 

“How was that?”

 

“I strolled out on the terrace——”

 

“Pardon me, what time was this?”

 

“About half-past nine. I was walking up and down smoking in front of the

drawing-room window. I heard Ackroyd talking in his study——”

 

Poirot stooped and removed a microscopic weed.

 

“Surely you couldn’t hear voices in the study from that part of the terrace,” he