We found Mrs Ackroyd in the hall. With her was a small man with sharp grey eyes.

'Mr Hammond is staying to lunch with us,' said Mrs Ackroyd. 'You know Major Blunt, Mr Hammond? And dear Dr Sheppard - a close friend of poor Roger's. And, let me see...'

'This is Monsieur Poirot, Mother. I told you about him. He is going to find out who killed Uncle.'

Poirot went up to the lawyer, and spoke to him quietly. I joined them - then hesitated.

'Perhaps I'm intruding,' I said.

'Not at all,' cried Poirot. 'You and I, Monsieur le docteur, we investigate this business side by side. I desire a little information from the good Mr Hammond.'

'I cannot seriously believe that Captain Paton can be involved in this crime,' the lawyer said. 'The fact that he was in need of money is nothing. It was a permanent condition with Ralph. He was always asking his stepfather for money.'

'Mr Hammond, seeing that I am acting for Miss Ackroyd, you will not object to telling me the terms of Mr Ackroyd's will?'

'They are quite simple. After paying certain legacies...'

'Such as...?' interrupted Poirot.

'A thousand pounds to his housekeeper, Miss Russell; fifty pounds to the cook, Emma Cooper; five hundred pounds to his secretary, Mr Geoffrey Raymond. Then to various hospitals...'

Poirot held up his hand. 'Ah! The charitable bequests, they do not interest me.'

'Quite so. The income on ten thousand pounds' worth of shares is to be paid to Mrs Cecil Ackroyd during her lifetime. Miss Flora Ackroyd inherits twenty thousand pounds. Everything else - including this property, and the shares in Ackroyd and Son - is left to his adopted son, Ralph Paton. Captain Paton will be a very wealthy young man.'

***

After lunch, the lawyer asked Mrs Ackroyd: 'Now, have you all the cash you need for now? If not, I can arrange to let you have whatever you require.'

'That ought to be all right,' said Raymond. 'Mr Ackroyd cashed a cheque for a hundred pounds yesterday. For wages and other expenses due today.'

'Where is this money?' Hammond asked, 'In his desk?'

'No, he always kept his cash in his bedroom.'

'I think,' said the lawyer, 'we ought to make sure the money is there before I leave.'

'Certainly,' agreed the secretary. 'I'll take you up now... Oh! I forgot. The door is locked.'