"I meant both of you, of course."
"Oh, thank you.
Don't stop.
I - perhaps I might come one day.
There's something - No, don't stop.
I can jump off."
She did so and waving a hand ran back to the gate where Anne was standing.
"What on earth -?" began Anne.
"Isn't she a duck?" asked Rhoda enthusiastically. "I do like her.
She had on odd stockings, did you notice?
I'm sure she's frightfully clever.
She must be, to write all those books.
What fun if she found out the truth when the police and everyone were baffled."
"Why did she come here?" asked Anne.
Rhoda's eyes opened wide.
"Darling, she told you -"
Anne made an impatient gesture.
"We must go in.
I forgot. I've left him all alone."
"Major Despard?
Anne, he's frightfully good-looking, isn't he?"
"I suppose he is."
They walked up the path together.
Major Despard was standing by the mantelpiece, teacup in hand.
He cut short Anne's apologies for leaving him.
"Miss Meredith, I want to explain why I've butted in like this."
"Oh - but -"
"I said that I happened to be passing.
That wasn't strictly true.
I came here on purpose."
"How did you know my address?" asked Anne slowly.
"I got it from Superintendent Battle."
He saw her shrink slightly at the name. He went on quickly.
"Battle's on his way here now.
I happened to see him at Paddington.
I got my car out and came down here.
I knew I could beat the train easily."
"But why?"
Despard hesitated just for a minute.
"I may have been presumptuous, but I had the impression that you were, perhaps, what is called 'alone in the world.'"
"She's got me," said Rhoda.
Despard shot a quick glance at her, rather liking the gallant boyish figure that leaned against the mantelpiece and was following his words so intensely. They were an attractive pair, these two.
"I'm sure she couldn't have a more devoted friend than you, Miss Dawes," he said courteously, "but it occurred to me that in the peculiar circumstances the advice of someone with a good dash of worldly wisdom might not be amiss.
Frankly, the situation is this. Miss Meredith is under suspicion of having committed murder.
The same applies to me and to the two other people who were in the room last night.
Such a situation is not agreeable - and it has its own peculiar difficulties and dangers, which someone as young and inexperienced as you are, Miss Meredith, might not recognize.
In my opinion you ought to put yourself in the hands of a thoroughly good solicitor.
Perhaps you have already done so?"
Anne Meredith shook her head.
"I never thought of it."