Halloween party - Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot #41)

“What happened?” said Poirot. His voice was sharp.

“We found her in the end—in the library,” said Mrs. Oliver. “Someone, you know, someone had shoved her head down into the water with the apples. Shoved her down and held her there so that she was dead, of course. Drowned. Drowned. Just in an galvanized iron bucket nearly full of water. Kneeling there, sticking her head down to bob at an apple. I hate apples,” said Mrs. Oliver. “I never want to see an apple again.”

Poirot looked at her. He stretched out a hand and filled a small glass with cognac.

“Drink this,” he said. “It will do you good.”