When they went up to bed this suspicion was confirmed. Adriana followed her into her room, enquired perfunctorily whether she had everything she wanted, and closing the door behind her, moved to a comfortable chintz-covered chair by the fire and sat down upon one of the padded arms. She nodded in the direction of the electric blaze.

‘I told Meeson to light it. It’s chilly tonight, and it’s horrid coming up to a cold room, and even though Edna says so, old houses in the country are cold.’ Her eyebrows lifted in a quizzical manner and she continued. ‘Well, you know now practically everything there is to know about her – don’t you? They live here because they haven’t enough money to live anywhere else, and she hates every minute of it. Geoffrey, on the other hand, finds it extremely agreeable. As she was observing, personable men are at a premium in this sort of neighbourhood. Geoffrey is a personable man, and he likes being at a premium. I don’t think his affairs are very serious. But of course there is this drawback to the country, that everyone is bound to know about them, and they certainly don’t lose anything in the mouths of the gossips. Meeson tells me there’s been talk about the parson’s cousin. Nice for the Vicarage!’ She laughed without amusement. ‘She’s the one who teaches the children, and it’s rather too bad of Geoffrey, but I daresay she met him half way. Those delicate clinging creatures often do. They want a man to prop them, and there just aren’t enough to go round – at least not in a place like Ford.’

Miss Silver had sat down on the other side of the hearth. She said,

‘I think I saw her when I walked into the village. She did not look at all strong.’

Adriana frowned.

‘No. Of course there’s nothing in it, and Edna is absurdly jealous. She got Geoffrey herself against not very serious competition and under the very capable management of her mother. When he tried to wriggle out of it the father stepped in. I believe Geoffrey thought I should cut him out of my will if he figured in a breach of promise case, so he threw in his hand. Edna’s idea of heaven is to go back to Ledchester or one of the London suburbs and live in a six-roomed house with every modern convenience. One of the suburbs would really be best from her point of view, because there are always plenty of men in a suburb. They work in London, but they come home to play, so Geoffrey wouldn’t be the only pebble on the beach. All the same she is every kind of a fool, because wherever they go there will be other women, and wherever there are other women Geoffrey will run after them. She’ll never change him.’

Miss Silver said, ‘Why don’t you let her go?’

Adriana shrugged.

‘She wouldn’t go without Geoffrey, and I shouldn’t care to live here without a man in the house. Edna can do as she likes when I’m gone. Did I tell you I had left their share to her for her life?’

Miss Silver said, ‘Yes.’

Adriana gave a short laugh.

‘I don’t want Geoffrey to leave her. He would if the money were his, or even half of it. She would crack up if he did, and as long as she holds the purse-strings he won’t. Besides, he’s a fool about women, and I don’t care for the idea of, say, Esmé Trent, spending my money.’

Miss Silver had put down her knitting-bag. She sat with her hands folded in her lap and looked earnestly at Adriana.

‘Miss Ford, you are making a mistake.’

‘Am I?’ The dark eyes met hers with a touch of scorn.

‘I think so. And as you have engaged my professional services, I feel that I owe you an honest opinion. It is a mistake to employ financial arguments to induce or constrain the actions of others. Deplorable repercussions may be set up. Since I entered this household I have been struck by the absence of any kindly feeling between its members. I exclude Mr Rutherford and Miss Johnstone who do not properly belong to it, and who are very obviously in love with one another.’

Adriana looked at her with something like anger. She sustained the look, and continued with quiet authority.

‘You yourself were able to believe that someone in the house was attempting your life. It seemed to me that you were not really able to exclude anyone from this suspicion.’

Adriana said, ‘Not Star – not Ninian.’

‘I did not think that you were sure even about them. That was the first thing that struck me, that there was no reaction such as would be felt where there was genuine confidence and affection.’

Adriana’s lips were dry. She moved them to say, ‘Are there many people of whom you can feel quite sure?’

Miss Silver was conscious of a humble thankfulness as she said, ‘Yes.’

The dry lips spoke again.

‘You are fortunate. Go on.’

‘I found a painful sense of strain between Mr and Mrs Geoffrey, and between Miss Meriel and everyone else in the house. She neither liked anyone, nor was she liked. Last night she met with a tragic death, and it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that she was killed because she knew too much about the death of Mabel Preston. We know that four people overheard Meeson say that a scrap of her dress had been found by the pool. We know that this scrap indicates that she was in the neighbourhood of the pool at about the time that Mabel Preston was drowned Any of those four people may have passed on what they had overheard. If this information reached the murderer, there must have been an instant and dangerous reaction. The person who might have been seen at the pool on that Saturday night stood in immediate danger. Only immediate action could prevent disclosure. I believe that action was taken.’

Adriana said, ‘Yes.’ Just the one word coming from the depths of her voice.

There was a silence in the room. When it had lasted for some time Miss Silver said in a thoughtful tone,

‘In addition to the four people who heard what Meeson said about Miss Meriel’s presence at the pool, there are three more names which should perhaps be mentioned.’

‘What names?’

‘My own, for one. I would like to take the opportunity of assuring you that I did not speak of the matter to anyone. Can you say the same about yourself?’

Adriana’s hand lifted from her knee and fell again.

‘I did not speak of it.’ Then, after a pause, ‘you said three names.’

Miss Silver watched her closely.

‘I was thinking of Meeson.’

She saw Adriana start and flush. She spoke with anger and emphasis.

‘Oh, no! Not Meeson!’

‘She had the knowledge.’

‘I said, “Not Meeson”.’

‘You have said that Mrs Geoffrey would like to leave Ford. Is she the only one? Does Meeson like living in the country?’

‘What do you think!’ Adriana gave a short laugh. ‘She loathes it. She’s a Londoner. It’s not a suburb she hankers after, but the real thing. She’s always at me to pack up this place and go and take a flat just round the corner from where we used to be.’

‘She knows that you have provided for her in your will?’

‘She knows most things about me. And you won’t get me to believe that it’s Gertie Meeson who has been playing tricks on me for the sake of what I’ve left her! You will never get me to believe that!’

‘So there is one person about whom you do feel sure.’

Adriana got up.

‘Oh, yes, I’m sure about Gertie,’ she said.