CHAPTER 23 The Evidence of a Pair of Silk Stockings

As Superintendent¹ Battle's train rushed eastwards² through England, Anne Meredith and Rhoda Dawes were in Hercule Poirot's sitting-room³.
Anne had been unwilling⁴ to accept the invitation that had reached her by the morning's post, but Rhoda's counsel had prevailed.
"Anneyou're a cowardyes, a coward. It's no good going on being an ostrich⁵, burying your head in the sand. There's been a murder and you're one of the suspects--the least likely one perhaps--
"That would be the worst," said Anne with a touch ofhumour. "It's always the least likely person who did it.'
"But you are one," continued Rhoda, undisturbed by the interruption. "And so it's no use putting your nose in the air as though murder was a nasty smell and nothing to do with you."
"It is nothing to do with me," Anne persisted. "I mean, I'm quite willing to answer any questions the police want to ask me, but this man, this Hercule Poirot, he's an outsider."
"And what will he think if you hedge and try to get out of it? He'll think you're bursting with guilt⁶."
"I'm certainly not bursting with guilt,' said Anne coldly.
"Darling, I know that. You couldn't murder anybody ffyou tried. But horrible suspicious foreigners don't know that. I think we ought to go nicely to his house.
Otherwise he'll come down here and try to worm things out of the servants." "We haven't got any servants."
"We've got Mother Astwell. She can wag a tongue with anybody! Come on, Anne, let's go. It will be rather fun really."
"I don't see why he wants to see me." Anne was obstinate⁷.
"To put one over on the official police, of course," said Rhoda impatiently. "They always do---the amateurs, I mean. They make out that Scotland Yard are all boots and brain lessness."

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