“I did catch just a fragment of it,” said the secretary, “and, supposing as I did that it was Dr. Sheppard who was with Mr. Ackroyd, that fragment struck me as distinctly odd. As far as I can remember, the exact words were these. Mr. Ackroyd was speaking. ‘The calls on my purse have been so frequent of late’⁠—that is what he was saying⁠—‘of late, that I fear it is impossible for me to accede to your request.⁠ ⁠…’ I went away again at once, of course, so I did not hear any more. But I rather wondered because Dr. Sheppard⁠—”

“⁠—Does not ask for loans for himself or subscriptions for others,” I finished.

“A demand for money,” said the inspector musingly. “It may be that here we have a very important clue.” He turned to the butler. “You say, Parker, that nobody was admitted by the front door this evening?”