THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD
pung," owing to that lady's habit of too hastily claiming tiles to which she had no right.
"I saw Flora Ackroyd this morning," said Miss Ganett. "Pung—no—Unpung. I made a mistake."
"Four Circles," said Caroline. "Where did you see her?"
"She didn't see me," said Miss Ganett, with that tremendous significance only to be met with in small villages.
"Ah!" said Caroline interestedly. "Chow."
"I believe," said Miss Ganett, temporarily diverted, "that it's the right thing nowadays to say 'Chee' not 'Chow.'"
"Nonsense," said Caroline. "I have always said 'Chow.'"
"In the Shanghai Club," said Colonel Carter, "they say 'Chow'."
Miss Ganett retired, crushed.
"What were you saying about Flora Ackroyd?" asked Caroline, after a moment or two devoted to the game. "Was she with any one?"
"Very much so," said Miss Ganett.
The eyes of the two ladies met, and seemed to exchange information.
"Really," said Caroline interestedly. "Is that it? Well, it doesn't surprise me in the least."
"We're waiting for you to discard, Miss Caroline," said the colonel. He sometimes affects the pose of the bluff male, intent on the game and indifferent to gossip. But nobody is deceived.
[192]
