Roger Mystery

Chapter 27 Parker (1)
It wasn't until the next morning that I realized that I was dazed by "Tianhe" last night, so I was a little careless.Poirot, of course, did not ask me to keep the matter of the ring secret; but on the other hand, he did not mention it even at Finley Park.As far as I knew, I was the only one who knew of the discovery of the ring, except Poirot.I couldn't help feeling guilty. Now that the ring scandal was raging in Kings Albert Village, I was ready to be reprimanded by Poirot at any time.

The funeral for Mrs Ferrars and Roger Ackroyd was to be at eleven o'clock.It was a sad and touching scene, and everyone at Finley Park was there.

Poirot was also present at the funeral.As soon as the funeral was over, he dragged me and invited me back to the 'Larch' together.Seeing his serious face, I guess he has already heard about what I said last night.But I soon discovered that he was planning another problem.

"You know," he said, "we've got to act. I'm going to question a witness, and I need your help. We're going to press him, scare him, and we'll get the truth out."

"Which witness?" I was very surprised.

"Parker!" said Poirot, "I told him to come to my house at twelve noon, and he must have been waiting a long time by now."

"What are your plans?" I glanced at him and asked boldly.

"I just know one thing: I'm not satisfied yet."

"You think it was he who blackmailed Mrs. Ferrars?"

"Either blackmail, or—"

"What else?" Seeing that he didn't say anything for a long time, I asked again.

"My friend, let's just say--I hope it's him."

There was an indescribable solemnity in his expression, and I didn't dare to ask any more.

As soon as we arrived at the 'Larch' the servants came to report that Parker was waiting for us.When entering the room, the butler stood up respectfully.

"Good morning, Parker." Poirot greeted kindly, "Please wait a moment."

He took off his coat and gloves.

"Let me do it, sir." Parker hurried forward to help.He arranged his coat and gloves neatly on a chair by the door, and Poirot looked at him approvingly.

"Thank you, kind Parker," he said. "Be seated, I have much to say."

Parker sat down after bowing his head in thanks.

"Do you know why I invited you here this morning?"

Parker coughed dryly: "I understand, sir, you want to know something about my late master—his private affairs."

"That's right." Poirot smiled. "Have you ever been blackmailed?"

"gentlemen!"

The butler jumped up like an electric shock.

"Don't get excited," said Poirot calmly. "Stop acting like a wronged honest man. You've always been familiar with blackmail, haven't you?"

"Sir, I never... never..."

"Never been insulted like this before, have you?" Poirot finished for him. "Then, great Parker, why did you, after overhearing the word blackmail that night, rush to eavesdrop on Mr. Ackroyd's study?" talk?"

"I didn't...I..."

"Whose house did you work for before?" Poirot asked suddenly.

"Whose house was it before?"

"Yes, before you came to Mr Ackroyd's."

"It's Major Ellerby, sir—"

Poirot resumed the conversation.

"That's him, Major Ellery. Major Ellery is addicted to drugs, isn't he? You traveled abroad with him and got into trouble in Bermuda—a man was killed, and Major Ellery was partly responsible. The matter was settled in the end, but you knew the story. How much hush money did you charge Major Ellerby?"

Parker was tongue-tied, at a loss, and his facial muscles spasmed.

"I've looked into it all," said Poirot. "As I said, you knocked Major Ellerby out of a fortune, and he went on to pay you until he died. Now I want to hear you latest results."

Parker's eyes were still wide open.

"It's no use denying it. Nothing can be hidden from Hercule Poirot. Did I just say it right about Major Ellerby?"

Although Parker was reluctant, he reluctantly nodded, his face ashen.

"But I never broke a hair on Mr Ackroyd's head," he groaned. "I swear to God, sir, I didn't do it. I've always been afraid of the police suspecting me. Really, I didn't—I didn't kill him."

He almost yelled.

"I am inclined to believe you, my friend," said Poirot. "You have not the courage, the courage. But I want to hear the truth."

"I will explain everything, sir. I will answer what you ask. I did eavesdrop that night, because the few words I heard before made me very curious, and Mr. Ackroyd did not want to be disturbed, and he was so mysterious. Shut myself in the study with the doctor. I told the police the whole truth, for God's sake. Just heard the word blackmail, sir, and I—”

He stopped.

"You thought you had a chance to get a piece of the pie?" Poirot asked bluntly.

"Well - well, yes, that's what I thought, sir. I thought if someone was blackmailing Mr Ackroyd, why shouldn't I take the chance and make a fortune?"

A rather grotesque expression passed over Poirot's face.He leaned forward.

"Before that night, were there any indications that you suspected that Mr. Ackroyd was being blackmailed?"

"No, there really isn't, sir. I'm shocked. It's hard to see what he could have done."

"How much did you overhear?"

"Not much, sir. I feel that the conversation may involve me, but I have to go back to the pantry again, and I can only sneak to the study door to listen to a sentence or two, and I can hardly get anything. The first time Dr. Sheppard came out I was almost caught by him when I was in the middle of the night; the second time I met Mr. Raymond in the hall and he was going that way, so I didn't get what I wanted; the third time I went with the tray and was caught by Flo Miss La sent off."

Poirot stared at him for a long time, as if to observe whether he was honest or not.Parker also responded with unusually sincere eyes.

"You must believe me, sir. I have been afraid that the police would find out about Major Ellerby's old account and suspect me."

"Well," said Poirot at last, "I will trust you for a while. But there is one more request—let me see your pass-book. You must have a pass-book?"

"Yes, sir, I actually brought it with me."

He unhurriedly took out the passbook from his pocket.Poirot took the long and narrow green leather booklet and examined each deposit carefully.

"Ah! You bought £[-] National Savings Certificates this year?"

"Yes, sir. I've put over £1000 in savings--from my... er, my late master, Major Ellerby. I've had good luck at the horses this year, almost every hit. Remember Well, sir, the carnival race was won by a big black horse, and I was lucky enough to buy a ticket for him, and ended up making twenty pounds."

Poirot returned the passbook to him.

"You may go. I believe you are telling the truth, or you will have a hard time, my friend."

After Parker left, Poirot picked up his coat again.

"Going out again?" I asked.

"Well, let's pay a visit to good Mr. Hammond."

"Do you believe what Parker said?"

"On the face of it. It's clear—unless he's been brilliantly acted—that he really thought it was Ackroyd himself who was being blackmailed. He's completely ignorant, then, of Mrs Ferrars."

"Who would it be—"

"Excellent question! Who is it? After the visit to Mr. Hammond, the question can be settled. Either Parker's innocence must be thoroughly proved, or—"

"Ok?"

"I fell into the old habit again this morning, and kept talking only in half," said Poirot sheepishly. "You don't mind."

"By the way," I said timidly, "I must confess to you that I gave away about the ring in a moment of negligence."

"What ring?"

"That ring you found in the goldfish pond."

"Ah! Yes, yes." Poirot laughed.

"You won't be angry, will you? It's all my carelessness."

"It doesn't matter, good friend, it doesn't matter. I didn't ask you to keep it secret. You can speak freely. Your sister is very interested, right?"

"It goes without saying that it caused a sensation in the whole village. Now all kinds of speculation are flying everywhere."

"Ah! But that's a very simple matter, and the real answer is obvious, isn't it?"

"Really?" I responded blankly.

Poirot laughed again.

"But smart people don't take sides," he said. "Right? Go to Mr. Hammond first."

The lawyer was in the office and immediately agreed to see us.He stood up to say hello, expressionless, businesslike.

Poirot cut to the chase.

"I would like to inquire about something, and please do let me know if it is convenient. Well, I understand that you were a lawyer for the late Mrs. Ferrars, Kings Paddock?"

A flash of astonishment flashed across the lawyer's eyes, but he quickly put on his professional mask again.

"Of course, I handle all her legal affairs."

"Very well. Then, before I ask any questions, Dr. Sheppard will sort out the cause and effect for you. Please, my friend, repeat your conversation with Mr. Ackroyd last Friday evening."

"No problem." I recounted the strange events of that night from beginning to end.

Hammond listened very carefully.

"That's all." I finished.

"Extortion." The lawyer fell into deep thought.

"Are you surprised?" asked Poirot.

The lawyer took off his pince-nez and wiped them with his handkerchief.

"No," he replied, "not a surprise. I've suspected it for a while, too."

"Then my question is simple," said Poirot. "Only you can calculate the total amount of money she has been extorted from."

(End of this chapter)