PART 1: The guests arrive

The "Old Rectory, England" was thoroughly British in every way. From the Lord of the Manor, the Reverand Doctor Kerry Cheerton, right down to the 'made in England' that was stamped onto the back of Lady Cheerton's silver WI badge. Situated in the isolated, yet idyllic village of 'Deptmath' (voted 4th best village in the country) it was the perfect hollow for the world's greatest mathematical minds to share their research.

To mark the beginning of another celebrated series of seminars the Reverand, as was customary for a man in his position, welcomed all the prominent members of the village to join him for a weekend of merriment before the week of intellectual nourishment. The meals were organised, the wine cellar was replenished and duly the guests arrived.

Poirot observed his surroundings as he entered the drawing room, accompanied by his associate. Smiling pleasantly, a small plump woman approached them, "Ahhh Monsieur Poirot, such an honour for you to join us here up at the Old Rectory, England. I was so pleased when I heard you were in the area."

"Madame, zee honour, eet iz all mine" responded Poirot, taking the lady's hand in his. "Let me introduce to you my associate Captain Severs," he continued gesturing towards the dashing English gentleman to his left.

"Lady Cheerton, I am delighted"

"Captain Severs, I'm so happy you could join us. Now, I don't suppose you're much acquainted with any of our illustrious guests messieurs" said Lady Cheerton as she motioned to the serving maid to bring across drinks.

"Mais non, madame." Poirot accepted a small Bailey's.

"Well," began Lady Cheerton, lowering her voice to a conspiratory whisper, "let me fill you two in." Poirot and Captain Severs glanced at each other and leaned slightly inwards to hear Lady Cheerton. "The lady... for want of a better word... standing alone by the window, is Mrs Patricia Fansmield." The two gentlemen looked towards the window and to the the woman to whom Lady Cheerton alluded. Patricia Fansmield, stood in a pair of fitted pedal pushers, a large glass of red in her left hand and a sour expression on her face. "Her husband, Professor Fansmield stands over there, with the taller gentleman, Dr Yorde and my ward, a Miss Jenni Ruth," Lady Cheerton pointed to the other side of the room at the (finite simple) group of order 3. Professor Fansfield had an authoratitive presence, despite his height and stood listening to Miss Ruth talk animatedly, dressed in a casual cream jacket and holding some folders. Miss Ruth was tall, towering over Professor Fansmield while Dr Yorde merely looked bemused and had a lost air about him.

Poirot continued to survey the room. In the centre stood a larger collection of people, and in the furthest corner, huddled away, and apparently having a heated discussion were another two gentlemen. "Zee gentlemen in zee corner" enquired Poirot, "who are they?". "The older gentleman is Professor Vector: Russian, very foreign" replied Lady Cheerton, pausing a second ro wrinkle her nose slightly and let the "very" linger in the air "and the other gentleman in Dr Gangle. I don't know much about him, he's new to the village. Nice enough," she shrugged. The two gentlemen appeared to have stopped arguing as the younger of the two swung around, revealing a Union Jack shirt and marched towards the group at the centre. Professor Vector remained in the corner, following the younger man with a hard, communist gaze. Poirot turned his attentions to the middle as Lady Cheerton continued with the descriptions "My husband, of course, the Reverand Doctor Kerry Cheerton, Lady Anne, Dr Lilac and the nephews of Professor Glasgow: Barrat and Trevelyan"

"Professor Glasgow?"
"Yes, the gentleman approaching Mrs Fansmield"

And as they observed, a rotund man ambled towards the surly woman at who remained at the window. He drank a cocktail decorated with a miniature umbrella and many kinds of fruit and he held a copy of Burden and Faires under his right arm. "That is Professor Glasgow."

"Ah, but of course. I 'av met him, in Sicily"
"Yes, he spends a great deal of time there"
"I say," said Captain Severs, "isn't he the chap who revolutionised solving a system of equations numerically? What was it again? A x equals to ..."
"B." concluded Poirot
"Yes, that's the chap"
"And rumour has it that at the coming seminars he plans to announce his ideas for A x equals to C" smiled Lady Cheerton
"No! You're kidding!" cried Captain Severs
"I'll tell you something, there's not a mathematician in this room who wouldn't kill for that research" opined Lady Cheerton.

A gong sounded, "Dinner everyone" chimed Lady Cheerton, and the guests made their way to the dining room.