"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.