Cat Among the Pigeons – Agatha Christie
It was the opening day of the summer term at Meadowbank school. The late afternoon
sun shone down on the broad gravel sweep in front of the house. The front door was flung
hospitably wide, and just within it, admirably suited to its Georgian proportions, stood
Miss Vansittart, every hair in place, wearing an impeccably cut coat and skirt.
Some parents who knew no better had taken her for the great Miss Bulstrode herself, not
knowing that it was Miss Bulstrode’s custom to retire to a kind of holy of holies to which
only a selected and privileged few were taken.
To one side of Miss Vansittart, operating on a slightly different plane, was Miss Chadwick,
comfortable, knowledgeable, and so much a part of Meadowbank that it would have been
impossible to imagine Meadowbank without her. It had never been without her. Miss
Bulstrode and Miss Chadwick had started Meadowbank school together. Miss Chadwick
wore pince‐nez, stooped, was dowdily dressed, amiably vague in speech, and happened to
be a brilliant mathematician.
Various welcoming words and phrases, uttered graciously by Miss Vansittart, floated
through the house.
‘How do you do, Mrs. Arnold? ‘Well, Lydia, did you enjoy your Hellenic cruise? What a
wonderful opportunity! Did you get some good photographs?’
‘Yes, Lady Garnett, Miss Bulstrode had your letter about the Art Classes and everything’s
been arranged.’
‘How are you, Mrs. Bird? … Well? I don’t think Miss Bulstrode will have time today to
discuss the point. Miss Rowan is somewhere about if you’d like to talk to her about it?’
‘We’ve moved your bedroom, Pamela. You’re in the far wing by the apple tree …’
‘Yes, indeed, Lady Violet, the weather has been terrible so far this spring. Is this your
youngest? What is your name? Hector? What a nice aeroplane you have, Hector.’
‘Très heureuse de vous voir, Madame. Ah, je regrette, ce ne serait pas possible, cette
après‐midi. Mademoiselle Bulstrode est tellement occupée.’
‘Good afternoon, Professor. Have you been digging up some more interesting things?….