Meredith Blake protested,
"But, my dear M. Poirot - after sixteen years! How can I possibly remember?
I've told you that Caroline came out last."
"You are sure of that?"
"Yes - at least - I think so."
"Let us go there now.
We must be sure, you see."
Still protesting, Meredith Blake led the way.
He unlocked the door and swung back the shutters.
Poirot spoke to him authoritatively.
"Now, then, my friend.
You have showed your visitors your interesting preparations of herbs.
Shut your eyes and think."
Meredith Blake did so obediently.
Poirot drew a handkerchief from his pocket and gently passed it to and fro.
Blake murmured, his nostrils twitching slightly,
"Yes, yes - extraordinary how things come back to one!
Caroline, I remember, had on a pale coffee-colored dress.
Phil was looking bored.
He always thought my hobby was quite idiotic."
"Reflect, now," Poirot said. "You are about to leave the room. You are going to the library, where you are going to read the passage about the death of Socrates. Who leaves the room first - do you?"
"Elsa and I - yes.
She passed through the door first.
I was close behind her.
We were talking. I stood there waiting for the others to come, so that I could lock the door again. Philip - yes, Philip came out next.
And Angela - she was asking him what bulls and bears were.
They went on through the hall. Amyas followed them.
I stood there waiting still - for Caroline, of course."
"So you are quite sure Caroline stayed behind.
Did you see what she was doing?"
Blake shook his head.
"No, I had my back to the room, you see. I was talking to Elsa - boring her, I expect - telling her how certain plants must be gathered at the full of the moon, according to old superstition.
And then Caroline came out - hurrying a little - and I locked the door."
He stopped and looked at Poirot, who was replacing a handkerchief in his pocket.
Meredith Blake sniffed disgustedly and thought,
"Why, the fellow actually uses scent!"
Aloud he said: "I am quite sure of it. That was the order: Elsa, myself, Philip, Angela, and Caroline. Does that help you at all?"
Poirot said,
"It all fits in. Listen: I want to arrange a meeting here.
It will not, I think, be difficult..."
"Well?" Elsa Dittisham said it almost eagerly - like a child.
Poirot said, "I want to ask you a question, madame."
"Yes?"
Poirot said, "After it was all over - the trial, I mean - did Meredith Blake ask you to marry him?"
Elsa stared.
She looked contemptuous, almost bored.
"Yes - he did. Why?"
"Were you surprised?"
"Was I?
I don't remember."