Antony Latter had indicated the position of the study when he brought her in, mentioning that the police officers were using it. The room from which she had just emerged was the old schoolroom. He had mentioned that too-“My cousin has taken refuge in the old schoolroom.”

She began to walk down the hall in the direction of the study, and was almost level with it when the door opened and the massive figure of Chief Inspector Lamb emerged. Frank Abbott, following him, saw her face light up with a welcoming smile. Her hand came out to meet a somewhat reluctant clasp, whilst in tones warm with kindness she declared her pleasure at this encounter. The extraordinary thing was that the pleasure was so perfectly genuine. She really was delighted to meet an old and respected friend. Her enquiries after his family were sincere. She remembered that Mrs. Lamb had been ill in the summer, and hoped so much that all was well with her again. She knew all about the three daughters and showed a deep interest in hearing the latest news of them. She remembered that it was Myrtle who had been in the W.A.A.E.’s, Violet in the Wrens, and Lily in the A.T.S. Lily was now married. Miss Silver knew all about that too. The young man had a nice position in a solicitor’s office, and they were very happy.

Frank’s smile, if sardonic, was admiring. The ice in which the Chief had encased himself was by this time completely melted, the barometer was at Fair and Warmer, and he was informing Miss Silver that he hoped to be a grandfather in the spring.

With her congratulations these preliminaries came to an end. The compliments were over, but the atmosphere remained genial. Lamb’s voice was friendly as he said,

“And what brings you here, if I may ask?”

Miss Silver looked about her. The hall appeared to be empty, but there was no harm in being careful. She passed into the study, and the two men followed her. When Frank had shut the door she said,

“Mr. Latter is a client of mine. He came to see me last Saturday and told me that his wife thought someone was trying to poison her.”

Lamb stared.

“Oh, he did, did he?”

Miss Silver’s manner became slightly more restrained.

“That is what I am telling you, Chief Inspector. If you can spare the time, I will acquaint you with what passed. But of course I do not wish to detain you.”

Lamb said, “No, no-let’s have it.”

Frank Abbott produced a chair. They all sat down.

Miss Silver coughed.

“Naturally, I recommended him to go to the police.”

Frank’s eyebrows rose. He bit the corner of his lip. Lamb’s “Naturally” tried his gravity a good deal. Sarcasm wasn’t really in the Chief’s line. One was reminded of an elephant doing tricks.

“His wife was not willing that he should do so.”

“That’s what he said?”

“That is what he said. I will give you as accurate an account of our interview as I can.”

She did so, speaking in her clear, measured voice. From their knowledge of her, both men were aware that the account would be meticulously correct. She would waste no words, but she would omit no detail. The interview with Jimmy Latter took form in both their minds. She said in conclusion,

“I do not know what you will think, but I was very strongly of the opinion that Mrs. Latter’s attacks, which were obviously not of a serious nature, were the result of a spiteful trick. The symptoms were such as would be produced by a simple emetic like ipecacuanha, and except as indicating the presence of ill will towards Mrs. Latter, I did not consider the attacks of any real importance. Mrs. Latter was contemplating extensive changes in the household. I expect you are aware that Mrs. Street and Miss Mercer were leaving, and that a regular staff was to be installed. Mr. Latter was opposing this-or perhaps that is too strong a word, he was not happy about it. It seemed to me that relations in the household were strained, and that the sooner the parties separated the better. I advised him not to prolong the situation. I also told him that it would be as well if Mrs. Latter were protected against any further tampering with her food by confining herself to what other people were eating and drinking. He agreed, but said, ‘She will have her coffee.’ As you probably know, she took Turkish coffee, made specially for her as the rest of the family disliked it. Mr. Latter tells me that from Saturday evening onwards two cupfuls were made and poured out, and that he always took one of them- this being the case yesterday evening when Mrs. Latter succumbed.”

Lamb said, “Yes, there’s a young woman here who has made a statement about those attacks. She’s a flighty piece of goods and not what I’d trust as a witness, only as it happens nobody denies what she says. What I was wondering was whether we’d have heard anything about Mrs. Latter’s attacks if it hadn’t been for this Gladys Marsh-I was just saying so to Frank. But now it seems that Mr. Latter came to you about them, and you thought someone was playing a trick.”

Miss Silver coughed.

“That was my opinion then. I may say that I have not yet seen occasion to alter it.”

Lamb gazed at her with a perfectly stolid face.

“You think the preliminary attacks were not connected with the one which caused her death?”

“I am not prepared to be definite on the subject, but that is what I am inclined to think. They seem too trifling in their nature and effects to constitute a serious attempt upon Mrs. Latter’s life.”

Still with that stolid expression, Lamb said,

“With every respect for your opinion, there’s more than one way of looking at those attacks. You might have a bungler feeling his way-you might have a clever criminal drawing a red herring across the trail-you might have someone who hated Mrs. Latter beginning with a trick and, finding out how easy it was to bring it off, going on to murder.”

Miss Silver inclined her head.

“I would agree with that as a general statement. I do not know enough about the evidence in this case to say how any of these theories would agree with it.”

Lamb cleared his throat, a sound which commanded attention.

“You say Mr. Latter is your client. Are you here to prove that he didn’t poison his wife?”

Miss Silver looked very much shocked. Her tone reproved him.

“I did not think it would be necessary to explain to you what I have put very clearly to Mr. Latter. I am not here to prove anyone guilty or anyone innocent. It is my endeavour in every case I undertake to discover the truth, and to serve the ends of justice.”

Lamb’s colour rose. He said, “Yes, yes,” in an uneasy voice. And then, “No offence meant. But you know, your position-well, I’m within my rights in asking to have it defined.”

“Perhaps you would care to define it, Chief Inspector.”

If the words were formal, the smile which accompanied them had a surprising charm. He felt himself consulted, deferred to. His prickles lay down, his colour came back to its normal crimson. He produced an answering smile.

“Well, if you were a friend of the family and Mr. Latter had a great respect for you and would naturally turn to you for advice-and if you were willing to co-operate with the police-”

Miss Silver made a gracious inclination.

“I should find that perfectly satisfactory.”

Frank Abbott covered his mouth with his hand. The Chief walking on eggshells was a ponderous sight. It was accomplished, and without anything being broken, but the performance lacked grace. Maudie, of course, remained perfectly at her ease, dispensing frowns and smiles at the appropriate moment.

He got back to his Chief Inspector, who was speaking.

“Well now, bearing in mind what I said about a red herring, I’d like to ask you whether Mr. Latter coming to see you last Saturday and telling you someone had been trying to poison his wife-whether that mightn’t have been a put-up job. Suppose he’d made up his mind to get rid of her?”