Chapter 2 Rose Gardens was a terrence of grand town houses a line of rose trees lined the street, a very unusual site. The smell in the air was sweet and refreshing, and this made Hastings even more dazed than he had already become since being told they were going to visit Miss Swate. Poirot tapped on the door with his stick and stepped backwards to look at the house.

" Who is It?" A older looking lady in dirty shabby apron uttered.

" Hercule Poirot."

" Are you foreign?" The woman grunted.

" I don't know what the worlds come to! With miss Grace going n dying and now this." Then she began to repeat slowly, pronouncing each word " Who... are... you?" As if he was stupid or couldn't understand.

" I am Hercule Poirot, the detective most great."

" your having a laugh, your no detective, go on scoot." She groaned looking him up and down.

" I do not intend to 'scoot' anywhere mademoiselle." He replied simply in a raised tone. " We have come to see Mademoiselle Swate..."

" Fancy seeing you here Poirot!" Came a voice from inside the house, which they both recognised instantly. " ah, chief inspector, how are you? And how is mrs Japp."

" I'm alright." He said, not sounding convinced and not answering the whole question. Poirot chose to ignore the answer and went on through to the living room. Hastings following closely behind, slightly feeling as if he was being ignored.

" Alright Captain Hastings?" Japp continued when they had entered the room.

" We'll as a matter of fact..." He was cut off by a shouting in the hall way, a lady was pleading for the woman in the apron to let her in, who was harshly protesting.

" This is my house and you should let me in." Miss Swate snapped.

" oh, miss Violet, didn't recognise you with all that dirt on your face." The Lady replied and stepped aside.

" are the detectives here? I do want to see them." She took off her blue satin gloves and asked the maid to fetch her something to wipe off the mud and rain which hid her face. Then she entered the living room. " I'm so sorry, I look a state," she said, embarrassed. " I fell over on the way back, sprained ankle, nothing serious."

" I would like to ask you some questions if you please." Poirot started.

" We have already asked questions Poirot," Japp stated, a little smug, but Poirot was quick to answer.

" But Poirot, he has questions of his own."

" How long had you known Mademoiselle Grace?"

" Oh, since we were children, at the seaside, she dropped her ice cream and I gave her mine. Weird really, thinking that all that is gone now. Then there was Jack, he lived across the road, I have known him since childhood too but not at the same time as Grace, I never played with Jack, we played separately by ourselves along side each other, never knew what the other was doing, why am I telling you this? Sorry, where was I, oh yes, Grace is not like unlike Marida Cray."

" comme?"

" Marida is Grace's sister, of course I tried to like her, but she always got in the way. I'm not very good at this I'm afraid Monsieur, but I will try as best I can."

" What do remember from the night of the death? Retrace your footsteps in your mind."

" I..I was in here at around 9:30 having some wine that Jack gave me, and I suppose I must of fallen asleep, I'm afraid don't remember anything after that, I didn't even awake when my maid at screamed around 11:15 in fact I never left the room, Alexander, Marida, Mr and Mrs Urnbridge, Hannah and Robert were playing cards, after giving me the drink Jack went out telling us he had typing to do, and then Alexander left, going to bed I suppose, and Robert went to talk to Jack at 9:50 and that left Marida, Hannah the Urnbridge's, they may be able to tell you something and Jack, I honestly can't remember after that."

" Merci mademoiselle, I will go and find this Jack, do you know of where I can find him?" " He lives straight opposite here , white door, number 12."

" Merci beucoup." Poirot thanked her and beckoned Hastings to come.

" Oh and Captain Hastings," Violet called back to him from the couch. " Stay safe."