‘As you have said yourself, you have very little to go upon. The fall might have been quite accidental, and the evidence as to the soup is far from conclusive. The tablet does give grounds for thought. It is a great pity that you threw it away. Since you have come to consult me, I will give you the best advice I can. Short of changing your household and your whole mode of life, there are certain things which you could do.’

Adriana’s fine brows lifted.

‘As what?’

‘You could make a point of having your meals with the rest of the family. Separate meals make it a great deal easier to tamper with food. That is the first point.’

‘And the next?’

‘Allow your household to suppose that you have been making alterations in your will. If there is anyone who believes that your death will profit him or her, such an announcement would cast doubt upon the matter and thus remove a possible temptation.’

Adriana threw out her hands in a sweeping gesture.

‘Oh, my dear Miss Silver!’

Miss Silver said sedately,

‘That is my advice.’

Adriana flung back her head and laughed. It was a deep and musical sound.

‘Do you know what I am going to do?’

‘I think I can guess.’

‘Then you are even cleverer than you think. I’m going to take out a new lease of life, and I’m going to live it my own way. Things happened when I was sitting here telling you I thought there was someone who wanted me dead – I didn’t believe it any more, or if I believed it I didn’t care. I’m going to live. And I don’t mean just to drag on, an invalid on a couch – I mean really live. I’ve got a car hired for the day and Meeson waiting in it, and when I go out of here I’m going shopping, and I’m going to get a lot of new clothes, and I’ll have my hair touched up – it wants it. And I’ll go back to Ford and I’ll make a big splash there. My parties used to be famous. I don’t know why I stopped giving them – the War, and then I couldn’t be bothered – but I’m going to start all over again. And I’ll keep a good look out, I can promise you that. If there is anyone who wants me out of the way, they are not going to find it so easy!’