The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis

Immediately following the events of the last chapter, Dr. Sheppard stands in Roger Ackroyd’s home. The call he received last night was from King’s Abbot station, a train station that connects to major express lines. Thousands of people pass through every day. Why, Colonel Melrose wonders, would anyone call Sheppard? “When we know that,” Poirot says, “we shall know everything.”

Poirot suggests that Colonel Melrose summon Raymond and Parker. Poirot asks Raymond if he moved the chair, but Raymond says he didn’t. Poirot asks both men if Ackroyd had received any unexpected visitors, like the one Dr. Sheppard saw on his way home last night, in the last week. Parker recalls a salesman who tried to sell Ackroyd a dictaphone (a recording device), but the salesman was shorter than the man Sheppard remembers.

Just then, a man named Mr. Hammond, the family solicitor (a kind of lawyer), arrives to speak with Raymond about Roger Ackroyd’s affairs. Raymond nods and leaves, and Poirot notes, “He had the air efficient, that one.” Poirot asks Colonel Melrose some questions about Raymond. He learns that Raymond has been with Ackroyd for two years, and plays tennis. Sheppard asks Poirot what he knows so far. Poirot replies that he has lots of questions—the open window, the moved chair, and the locked door—but no answers. Sheppard begins to wonder if Poirot is really such a brilliant detective after all.

Poirot asks one more thing before he leaves—to see the silver table. In the drawing room, Poirot examines the table. Suddenly Inspector Raglan enters, saying that this won’t be much of a case—just “a nice enough young fellow gone wrong.” However, Raglan wants to know how Poirot investigates a case. Poirot responds that he always listens to “the little grey cells of the brain.” The key to a case, Poirot insists, is psychology. Raglan, however, says that he believes in the importance of “method.” Ackroyd was seen alive at 9:45, and at 10:30 his body was discovered to be about half an hour deceased—that leaves fifteen minutes in which the crime must have occurred.

Raglan produces a list of everyone’s alibis between 9:45 and 10:00. Major Blunt was in the billiard room with Mr. Raymond; Mrs. Ackroyd was there, too, and went to sleep around 9:55. Flora Ackroyd was seen walking from Ackroyd’s room to her bedroom. Miss Russell was upstairs after 9:45, and Parker went to the pantry, where Miss Russell saw him. Poirot examines Raglan’s list and says, “I am quite sure that Parker did not do the murder.” Raglan also tells Poirot that he’s spoken to the people at the Three Boars, who confirm that Ralph walked toward Ackroyd’s house around 9:25. Raglan concludes that Ralph Paton is the prime suspect—he must have made the call to Dr. Sheppard from the station. Poirot asks why Ralph would call Dr. Sheppard, and Raglan can only reply, “Murderers do funny things.”

Raglan tries to convince Poirot by comparing Ralph’s shoes with the windowsill shoeprints. They’re identical, but Poirot points out that many people have shoes with rubber studs. Raglan then takes Poirot outside the house: there’s a stream near the terrace, which, he says, must have wetted the soles of Ralph’s shoes before he entered the house. As they walk by, Poirot tells Dr. Sheppard that God must have sent Sheppard to replace Poirot’s friend Hastings. Poirot and Sheppard then walk by a summerhouse on the Fernly grounds. Inside, Poirot finds a starched piece of cambric (a kind of fabric), perhaps from a handkerchief, as well as a small quill. To Sheppard’s confusion, Poirot shouts, “a good laundry does not starch a handkerchief!”