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the doctor was playing with Miss Meredith and she is a timid player. His calling would make her more so!
    “You think, perhaps, that they are foolish, these questions that I ask? But it is not so. I want to get at the characters of these four players, and when it is only about bridge I ask, everyone is ready and willing to speak.”
    “I never think your questions foolish, Monsieur Poirot,” said Battle. “I've seen too much of your work. Everyone's got his own ways of working. I know that. I give my inspectors a free hand always. Everyone's got to find out for himself what method suits him best. But we'd better not discuss that now. We'll have the girl in.”
    Anne Meredith was upset. She stopped in the doorway. Her breath came unevenly.
    Superintendent Battle was immediately fatherly. He rose, set a chair for her at a slightly different angle.
    “Sit down, Miss Meredith, sit down. Now don't be alarmed. I know all this seems rather dreadful, but it's not so bad really.”
    “I don't think anything could be worse,” and the girl in a low voice. “It's so awful - so awful - to think that one of us - that one of us -”
    “You let me do the thinking,” said Battle kindly. “Now then, Miss Meredith, suppose we have your address first of all.”
    “Wendon Cottage, Wallingford.”
    “No address in town?”
    “No, I'm staying at my club for a day or two.”
    “And your club is?”
    “Ladies' Naval and Military.”
    “Good. Now then, Miss Meredith, how well did you know Mr. Shaitana?”
    “I didn't know him well at all. I always thought he was a most frightening man.”
    “Why?”
    “Oh, well, he was! That awful smile! And a way he had of bending over you. As though he might bite you.”
    “Had you known him long?”
    “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 marvelous 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 so 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. 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 among 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 so much easier ways. A drug - 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.”
    Battle did his