“Why was Blunt so certain in his own mind that it was Raymond with Mr.

 

Ackroyd at nine-thirty?”

 

“He explained that,” I said.

 

“You think so? I will not press the point. Tell me instead, what were Ralph

Paton’s reasons for disappearing?”

 

“That’s rather more difficult,” I said slowly. “I shall have to speak as a

medical man. Ralph’s nerves must have gone phut! If he suddenly found out that

his uncle had been murdered within a few minutes of his leaving him—after,

perhaps, a rather stormy interview—well, he might get the wind up and clear

right out. Men have been known to do that—act guiltily when they’re perfectly

innocent.”

 

“Yes, that is true,” said Poirot. “But we must not lose sight of one thing.”

 

“I know what you’re going to say,” I remarked: “motive. Ralph Paton inherits a

great fortune by his uncle’s death.”

 

“That is one motive,” agreed Poirot.

 

“One?”