I think I can safely say that it was at this moment that a foreboding of the future first swept over me. Nothing tangible as yet but a vague premonition of the way things were setting. That earnest tête-à-tête between ralph Paton and Mrs ferrars the day before struck me disagreeably.
I was still thinking of it when I came face to face with Roger Ackroyd.
Sheppard! he exclaimed. Just the man I wanted to get hold of. This is a terrible business.
Youve heard then?
He nodded. he had felt the blow keenly, I could see. his big red cheeks seemed to have fallen in, and he looked a positive wreck of his usual jolly, healthy self.
Its worse than you know, he said quietly. Look here, Sheppard, Ive got to talk to you. can you come back with me now?
hardly. Ive got three patients to see still, and I must be back by twelve to see my surgery patients.
Then this afternoon no, better still, dine tonight. At 7.30. Will that suit you?
Yes, I can manage that all right. Whats wrong? Is it Ralph?
I hardly knew why I said that except, perhaps, that it had so often been Ralph.
Ackroyd stared blankly at me as though he hardly understood. I began to realize that there must be something very wrong indeed somewhere. I had never seen Ackroyd so upset before.
Ralph? he said vaguely. oh! no, its not Ralph. Ralphs in London damn! heres old Miss gannett coming. I dont want to have to talk to her about this ghastly business. See you tonight, Sheppard. Seven-thirty.
I nodded, and he hurried away, leaving me wondering. ralph in London? But he had certainly been in kings Abbot the preceding afternoon. he must have gone back to town last night or early this morning, and yet Ackroyds manner had conveyed quite a different impression. he had spoken as though ralph had not been near the place for months.
I had no time to puzzle the matter out further. Miss gannett was upon me, thirsting for information. Miss gannett has all the characteristics of my sister caroline, but she lacks that unerring aim in jumping to conclusions which lends a touch of greatness to carolines manoeuvres. Miss gannett was breathless and interrogatory.
Wasnt it sad about poor dear Mrs Ferrars? A lot of people were saying she had been a confirmed drug-taker for years. So wicked the way people went about saying things. And yet, the worst of it was, there was usually a grain of truth somewhere in these wild statements. No smoke without fire! They were saying too that Mr Ackroyd had found out about it, and had broken off the engagement because there was an engagement. She, Miss gannett, had proof positive of that. of course I must know all about it doctors always did but they never tell?
And all this with a sharp beady eye on me to see how I reacted to these suggestions.
Fortunately, long association with Caroline has led me to preserve an impassive countenance, and to be ready with small non-committal remarks. On this occasion I congratulated Miss Gannett on not joining in ill-natured gossip. Rather a neat counterattack, I thought. It left her in difficulties, and before she could pull herself together, I had passed on.
I went home thoughtful, to find several patients waiting for me in the surgery.
I had dismissed the last of them, as I thought, and was just contemplating a few minutes in the garden before lunch when I perceived one more patient waiting for me. She rose and came towards me as I stood somewhat surprised. I dont know why I should have been, except that there is a suggestion of cast iron about Miss Russell, a something that is above the ills of the flesh.
Ackroyds housekeeper is a tall woman, handsome but forbidding in appearance. She has a stern eye, and lips that shut tightly, and I feel that if I were an under housemaid or a kitchenmaid I should run for my life whenever I heard her coming.
Good morning, dr Sheppard, said Miss Russell. I should be much obliged if you would take a look at my knee.
I took a look, but, truth to tell, I was very little wiser when I had done so. Miss Russells account of vague pains was so unconvincing that with a woman of less integrity of character I should have suspected a trumped-up tale. It did cross my mind for one moment that Miss Russell might have deliberately invented this affection of the knee in order to pump me on the subject of Mrs Ferrarss death, but I soon saw that there, at least, I had misjudged her. She made a brief reference to the tragedy, nothing more. yet she certainly seemed disposed to linger and chat.
Well, thank you very much for this bottle of liniment, doctor, she said at last. Not that I believe it will do the least good.
I didnt think it would either, but I protested in duty bound. After all, it couldnt do any harm, and one must stick up for the tools of ones trade.
I dont believe in all these drugs, said Miss Russell, her eyes sweeping over my array of bottles disparagingly. drugs do a lot of harm. Look at the cocaine habit.
Well, as far as that goes-
Its very prevalent in high society.
Im sure Miss Russell knows far more about high society than I do. I didnt attempt to argue with her.
Just tell me this, doctor, said Miss Russell. Suppose you are really a slave of the drug habit, is there any cure?
One cannot answer a question like that off-hand. I gave her a short lecture on the subject, and she listened with close attention. I still suspected her of seeking information about Mrs Ferrars.
Now, veronal, for instance- I proceeded.
But, strangely enough, she didnt seem interested in veronal. Instead she changed the subject, and asked me if it was true that there were certain poisons so rare as to baffle detection.
Ah! I said. youve been reading detective stories.
She admitted that she had.
The essence of a detective story, I said, is to have a rare poison if possible something from South America, that nobody has ever heard of something that one obscure tribe of savages use to poison their arrows with. death is instantaneous, and Western science is powerless to detect it. Is that the kind of thing you mean?
Yes. Is there really such a thing?
I shook my head regretfully.
Im afraid there isnt. Theres curare, of course.
I told her a good deal about curare, but she seemed to have lost interest once more. She asked me if I had any in my poison cupboard, and when I replied in the negative I fancy I fell in her estimation.
I should never have suspected Miss Russell of a fondness for detective stories. It pleases me very much to think of her stepping out of the housekeepers room to rebuke a delinquent housemaid, and then returning to a comfortable perusal of The Mystery of the Seventh Death, or something of the kind.
Chapter 3
The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows
I told Caroline at lunch that I should be dining at Fernly. She expressed no objection on the contrary.
Excellent, she said. Youll hear all about it. By the way, what is the trouble with Ralph?
With Ralph? I said, surprised; there isnt any.
Then why is he staying at the Three Boars instead of at Fernly Park?
I did not for a minute question Carolines statement that Ralph Paton was staying at the local inn. That Caroline said so was enough for me.