Cards on the Table - Agatha Christie [37]
It was a pleasant homey atmosphere. Anne seemed self-possessed and at her ease, and the other girl continued to stare at him with devouring interest.
‘We’ve been expecting you,’ said Anne.
Her tone was almost reproachful. ‘Why have you neglected me?’ it seemed to say.
‘Sorry, Miss Meredith. I’ve had a lot of routine work to do.’
‘Satisfactory?’
‘Not particularly. But it all has to be done. I’ve turned Dr Roberts inside out, so to speak. And the same for Mrs Lorrimer. And now I’ve come to do the same for you, Miss Meredith.’
Anne smiled.
‘I’m ready.’
‘What about Major Despard?’ asked Rhoda.
‘Oh, he won’t be overlooked. I can promise you that,’ said Battle.
He set down his coffee-cup and looked towards Anne. She sat up a little straighter in her chair.
‘I’m quite ready, superintendent. What do you want to know?’
‘Well, roughly, all about yourself, Miss Meredith.’
‘I’m quite a respectable person,’ said Anne, smiling.
‘She’s led a blameless life, too,’ said Rhoda. ‘I can answer for that.’
‘Well, that’s very nice,’ said Superintendent Battle cheerfully. ‘You’ve known Miss Meredith a long time, then?’
‘We were at school together,’ said Rhoda. ‘What ages ago, it seems, doesn’t it, Anne?’
‘So long ago, you can hardly remember it, I suppose,’ said Battle with a chuckle. ‘Now, then, Miss Meredith, I’m afraid I’m going to be rather like those forms you fill up for passports.’
‘I was born—’ began Anne.
‘Of poor but honest parents,’ Rhoda put in.
Superintendent Battle held up a slightly reproving hand.
‘Now, now, young lady,’ he said.
‘Rhoda, darling,’ said Anne gravely. ‘It’s serious, this.’
‘Sorry,’ said Rhoda.
‘Now, Miss Meredith, you were born—where?’
‘At Quetta, in India.’
‘Ah, yes. Your people were Army folk?’
‘Yes—my father was Major John Meredith. My mother died when I was eleven. Father retired when I was fifteen and went to live in Cheltenham. He died when I was eighteen and left practically no money.’
Battle nodded his head sympathetically.
‘Bit of a shock to you, I expect.’
‘It was, rather. I always knew that we weren’t well off, but to find there was practically nothing—well, that’s different.’
‘What did you do, Miss Meredith?’
‘I had to take a job. I hadn’t been particularly well educated and I wasn’t clever. I didn’t know typing or shorthand, or anything. A friend in Cheltenham found me a job with friends of hers—two small boys home in the holidays, and general help in the house.’
‘Name, please?’
‘That was Mrs Eldon, The Larches, Ventnor. I stayed there for two years, and then the Eldons went abroad. Then I went to a Mrs Deering.’
‘My aunt,’ put in Rhoda.
‘Yes, Rhoda got me the job. I was very happy. Rhoda used to come and stay sometimes, and we had great fun.’
‘What were you there—companion?’
‘Yes—it amounted to that.’
‘More like under-gardener,’ said Rhoda.
She explained:
‘My Aunt Emily is just mad on gardening. Anne spent most of her time weeding or putting in bulbs.’
‘And you left Mrs Deering?’
‘Her health got worse, and she had to have a regular nurse.’
‘She’s got cancer,’ said Rhoda. ‘Poor darling, she has to have morphia and things like that.’
‘She had been very kind to me. I was very sorry to go,’ went on Anne.
‘I was looking about for a cottage,’ said Rhoda, ‘and wanting someone to share it with me. Daddy’s married again—not my sort at all. I asked Anne to come here with me, and she’s been here ever since.’
‘Well, that certainly seems a most blameless life,’ said Battle. ‘Let’s just get the dates clear. You were with Mrs Eldon two years, you say. By the way, what is her address now?’
‘She’s in Palestine. Her husband has some Government appointment out there—I’m not sure what.’
‘Ah, well, I can soon find out. And after that you went to Mrs Deering?’
‘I was with her