Cards on the Table (Hercule Poirot 15)

“About nine months. I met him in Switzerland during the winter sports.”

“I should never have thought he went in for winter sports,” said Battle, surprised.

“He only skated. He was a marvellous skater. Lots of figures and tricks.”

“Yes, that sounds more like him. And did you see much of him after that?”

“Well—a fair amount. He asked me to parties and things like that. They were rather fun.”

“But you didn’t like him himself?”

“No, I thought he was a shivery kind of man.”

Battle said gently:

“But you’d no special reason for being afraid of him?”

Anne Meredith raised wide limpid eyes to his.

“Special reason? Oh, no.”

“That’s all right, then. Now about tonight. Did you leave your seat at all?”

“I don’t think so. Oh, yes, I may have done once. I went round to look at the others’ hands.”

“But you stayed by the bridge table all the time?”

“Yes.”

“Quite sure, Miss Meredith?”

The girl’s cheeks flamed suddenly.

“No—no, I think I walked about.”

“Right. You’ll excuse me, Miss Meredith, but try and speak the truth. I know you’re nervous, and when one’s nervous one’s apt to—well, to say the thing the way you want it to be. But that doesn’t really pay in the end. You walked about. Did you walk over in the direction of Mr. Shaitana?”

The girl was silent for a minute, then she said:

“Honestly—honestly—I don’t remember.”

“Well, we’ll leave it that you may have done. Know anything about the other three?”

The girl shook her head.

“I’ve never seen any of them before.”

“What do you think of them? Any likely murderers amongst them?”

“I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it. It couldn’t be Major Despard. And I don’t believe it could be the doctor—after all, a doctor could kill anyone in much easier ways. A drug—or something like that.”

“Then, if it’s anyone, you think it’s Mrs. Lorrimer.”

“Oh, I don’t. I’m sure she wouldn’t. She’s so charming—and so kind to play bridge with. She’s so good herself, and yet she doesn’t make one feel nervous, or point out one’s mistakes.”

“Yet you left her name to the last,” said Battle.

“Only because stabbing seems somehow more like a woman.”