Twenty-six
Once again four men sat looking at Poirot. Timothy Raglan, Superintendent¹ Spence and the ChiefConstable had the pleased expectant look of a cat who is counting on a saucer of cream tomaterialize at any moment. The fourth man still had the expression of one who suspends belief.
“Well, Monsieur Poirot,” said the Chief Constable², taking charge of the proceedings³ and leavingthe D.P.P. man to hold a watching brief. “We’re all here—”
Poirot made a motion with his hand. Inspector⁴ Raglan left the room and returned ushering⁵ in awoman of thirty odd, a girl, and two adolescent young men.
He introduced them to the Chief Constable. “Mrs. Butler, Miss Miranda Butler, Mr. NicholasRansom and Mr. Desmond Holland.”
Poirot got up and took Miranda’s hand. “Sit here by your mother, Miranda—Mr. Richmondhere who is what is called a Chief Constable, wants to ask you some questions. He wants you toanswer them. It concerns something you saw—over a year ago now, nearer two years. Youmentioned this to one person, and, so I understand, to one person only. Is that correct?”
“I told Joyce.”
“And what exactly did you tell Joyce?”
“That I’d seen a murder.”
“Did you tell anyone else?”
“No. But I think Leopold guessed. He listens, you know. At doors. That sort of thing. He likesknowing people’s secrets.”
“You have heard that Joyce Reynolds, on the afternoon before the Hallowe’en party, claimedthat she herself had seen a murder committed. Was that true?”
“No. She was just repeating what I’d told her—but pretending that it had happened to her.”
“Will you tell us now just what you did see.”
“I didn’t know at first that it was a murder. I thought there had been an accident. I thought she’dfallen from up above somewhere.”
“Where was this?”
“In the Quarry⁶ Garden—in the hollow where the fountain used to be. I was up in the branchesof a tree. I’d been looking at a squirrel and one has to keep very quiet, or they rush away. Squirrelsare very quick.”

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