The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: Chapter 23 Summary & Analysis

Ursula tells Poirot that she should go back to Fernly now, but Caroline insists that she stay in the Sheppards’ home. Poirot agrees, adding that he wants Ursula to attend his “little reunion.”

When Ursula and Caroline are out of the room, Dr. Sheppard tells Poirot that the case against Ralph Paton is looking strong. Poirot agrees, and mentions offhandedly that he wishes his friend Hastings were around—especially since Hastings liked to write about Poirot’s cases. Sheepishly, Dr. Sheppard tells Poirot that he’s read some of Hastings’ work, and has been trying his own hand at writing about the murder. Poirot asks to see the manuscript, and Sheppard shows him twenty chapters of the book he’s been writing all week. Poirot sits down to read it.

A while later, Poirot finishes the manuscript and compliments Dr. Sheppard on his modesty. He says that while Hastings made himself a main character in his books, Dr. Sheppard has purposefully kept himself “in the background.” Poirot then invites Sheppard over to his house for his meeting with the suspects. He apologizes for being unable to invite Caroline, but insists that it needs to remain confidential. However, Poirot still wants to bring Ursula with him to the meeting. He insists that, that very evening, he’ll expose Roger Ackroyd’s killer.

In Poirot’s home, Dr. Sheppard sees that he’s arranged the guests’ chairs so that they’re bathed in bright light, leaving one chair—where, presumably, Poirot himself will sit—in darkness. The guests arrive. Poirot introduces them to Ursula, explaining that she’s Ralph Paton’s wife. Mrs. Ackroyd is surprised. Flora tells Ursula not to worry, adding that she wishes Ralph had told her his secret. Raymond asks Poirot about Ralph’s arrest, and Poirot explains that Ralph has not, in fact, been detained. He will not, however, say if he knows where Ralph can be found.

Poirot clears his throat, signaling for everyone to sit down. Everyone is here: John Parker, Mrs. Ackroyd, Flora Ackroyd, Raymond, Ursula Bourne, Hector Blunt, and Elizabeth Russell. Poirot points out that every single person had a motive to kill Roger Ackroyd. Mrs. Ackroyd becomes distressed at this and tries to leave, but Poirot insists that nobody will leave until they’ve heard what he has to say.

Poirot began his investigation with the shoeprints on the windowsill of Roger Ackroyd’s study, with Dr. Sheppard as his aid. He says he searched the summerhouse at Fernly, where he found starched cambric and a quill. The cambric made Poirot think of a maid’s apron. Poirot also learned that Ursula Bourne had no alibi—she claimed she was in bed. It seemed to follow that Ursula went to meet someone, and this person later went to Roger’s study. This person could have been an American, because 1) using a quill to sniff drugs is common in America and 2) Sheppard saw an American-accented stranger.

There was one problem, Poirot continues: the times didn’t work out. Ursula couldn’t have been in the summerhouse before 9:30, whereas the stranger must have showed up around 9. Perhaps there were two separate meetings. Poirot then learned about Miss Russell’s interest in drugs, discovered a ring in the pond, and, finally, learned of a conversation between Ralph Paton and a mysterious woman. Assembling the evidence, Poirot guessed that Ralph and Ursula met in the woods and promised to meet in the summerhouse. Poirot concluded that Ralph could not have been in the study with Roger Ackroyd at 9:30.

Who, Poirot wondered, was in the study with Roger Ackroyd at 9:30? Poirot then began to wonder if anyone was there. Raymond says that he and Major Blunt heard Roger talking to someone. Poirot reminds Raymond of the words he claimed to have overheard: “the calls on my purse …” This phrase, Poirot argues, sounds like something Roger would write. Raymond guesses that Roger was reading a letter aloud, but Poirot reminds Raymond of the dictaphone salesman who appeared on Wednesday. Poirot called the company and learned that Roger had purchased a dictaphone. (Raymond guesses that Roger was intending to surprise him with the dictaphone.) Poirot brings up how Blunt thought he heard Raymond—perhaps, subconsciously, he was reacting to Roger’s businesslike tone as he dictated a letter. Blunt had also noticed a figure that night—Ursula Bourne in her apron.

Raymond compliments Poirot, but points out that Ralph still seems to be a prime suspect. Poirot smiles and tells the guests that he’s learned about everything—the shoeprints, the mysterious phone call, and especially the disappearance of Ralph Paton. He points to the doorway—where Ralph is now standing.