Harding nodded to the Sergeant, waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. "Will you come along too, Sergeant?" He consulted a list from his pocket-book, and glanced up at the butler. "Is Mrs. Twining by any chance in the house?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. Mrs. Twining is on the terrace now."
"Then will you ask her, please, if she will come here?" said Harding.
There was a square table in the middle of the room. When the butler had gone Harding pulled a chair out from it, and sat down with his back to the light. The westering sun was streaming into the room, and the windows stood open to admit as much air as could be obtained on this hot, windless afternoon.
Harding spread his papers out on the table, and chose from amongst them Mrs. Twining's original statement. He was running his eye over this when Finch opened the door, and announced Mrs. Twining. She came in, looking slightly bored. She was wearing a lavender frock that subtly conveyed the impression of half-mourning; and a large black straw hat with a high crown was set at an angle on her well-coiffed head. "Good afternoon, Inspector," she said, surveying him in her cool, ironic way.
Harding rose, and came round the table to pull up a chair for her. "Good afternoon," he said. "Won't you sit clown? I want you, if you will, to answer one or two questions."
She took the chair he had placed for her, and moved it a little out of the direct sunlight. "Certainly," she said. "But at my age, Inspector, one does not sit in the full glare of the sun. It is not fair to oneself." She sat down, leaning one elbow on the wooden chair-arm, and with the other hand holding her bag lightly in her lap. She became aware of the Sergeant standing by the fireplace and fixedly regarding her. Her brows rose a little, and her lips parted in a faint smile. "Ah, good afternoon, Sergeant" she said.
"Mrs. Twining, can you remember the precise time of your arrival here yesterday morning?" asked Harding.
"Perfectly," she replied. "I arrived at ten minutes past twelve."
"Thank you." Harding made a brief note. "The butler. I think admitted you. Will you describe to me just what you did after entering the house?"