Beyond the field was the river.
For an October day the sun was warm.
Two girls were just crossing the field in the direction of the cottage.
As they came through the gate into the garden, the foremost of the two stopped dead.
Mrs. Oliver came forward.
"How do you do, Miss Meredith?
You remember me, don't you?"
"Oh - Oh, of course." Anne Meredith extended her hand hurriedly. Her eyes looked wide and startled. Then she pulled herself together. "This is my friend who lives with me. Miss Dawes. Rhoda, this is Mrs. Oliver."
The other girl was tall, dark, and vigorous looking.
She said excitedly,
"Oh, are you the Mrs. Oliver?
Ariadne Oliver?"
"I am," said Mrs. Oliver, and she added to Anne, "Now let us sit down somewhere, my dear, because I've got a lot to say to you."
"Of course.
And we'll have tea -"
"Tea can wait," said Mrs. Oliver.
Anne led the way to a little group of deck and basket chairs, all rather dilapidated.
Mrs. Oliver chose the strongest looking with some care, having had various unfortunate experiences with flimsy summer furniture.
"Now, my dear," she said briskly, "don't let's beat about the bush. About this murder the other evening. We've got to get busy and do something."
"Do something?" queried Anne.
"Naturally," said Mrs. Oliver. "I don't know what you think, but I haven't the least doubt who did it.
That doctor.
What was his name?
Roberts.
That's it!
Roberts. A Welsh name!
I never trust the Welsh!
I had a Welsh nurse and she took me to Harrogate one day and went home, having forgotten all about me.
Very unstable.
But never mind about her.
Roberts did it - that's the point and we must put our heads together and prove he did."
Rhoda Dawes laughed suddenly; then she blushed.
"I beg your pardon.
But you're - you're so different from what I would have imagined."
"A disappointment, I expect," said Mrs. Oliver serenely. "I'm used to that. Never mind.
What we must do is prove that Roberts did it!"
"How can we?" said Anne.
"Oh, don't be so defeatist, Anne," cried Rhoda Dawes. "I think Mrs. Oliver's splendid.
Of course she knows all about these things.
She'll do just as Sven Hjerson does."
Blushing slightly at the name of her celebrated Finnish detective Mrs. Oliver said,
"It's got to be done, and I'll tell you why, child. You don't want people thinking you did it?"
"Why should they?" asked Anne, her color rising.
"You know what people are!" said Mrs. Oliver. "The three who didn't do it will come in for just as much suspicion as the one who did."
Anne Meredith said slowly, "I still don't quite see why you come to me, Mrs. Oliver?"
"Because in my opinion the other two don't matter!
Mrs. Lorrimer is one of those women who play bridge at bridge clubs all day.
Women like that must be made of armor plating; they can look after themselves all right!
And anyway she's old.
It wouldn't matter if anyone thought she'd done it.