["I\twas\tshown\tstraight\tinto\tthe\tlittle\tdrawing\troom,\tand\tMrs.\tLestrange\trose\tto meet\tme.\tI\twas\tstruck\tanew\tby\tthe\tmarvellous\tatmosphere\tthat\tthis\twoman\tcould create.\t She\t wore\t a\t dress\t of\t some\t dead\t black\t material\t that\t showed\t off\t the extraordinary\tfairness\tof\ther\tskin.\tThere\twas\tsomething\tcuriously\tdead\tabout\ther face.\t Only\t the\t eyes\t were\t burningly\t alive.\t There\t was\t a\t watchful\t look\t in\t them today.\tOtherwise\tshe\tshowed\tno\tsigns\tof\tanimation. \u201cIt\t was\t very\t good\t of\t you\t to\t come,\t Mr.\t Clement,\u201d\t she\t said,\t as\t she\t shook hands.\t \u201cI\t wanted\t to\t speak\t to\t you\t the\t other\t day.\t Then\t I\t decided\t not\t to\t do\t so.\t I was\twrong.\u201d \u201cAs\tI\ttold\tyou\tthen,\tI\tshall\tbe\tglad\tto\tdo\tanything\tthat\tcan\thelp\tyou.\u201d \u201cYes,\t you\t said\t that.\t And\t you\t said\t it\t as\t though\t you\t meant\t it.\t Very\t few people,\tMr.\tClement,\tin\tthis\tworld\thave\tever\tsincerely\twished\tto\thelp\tme.\u201d \u201cI\tcan\thardly\tbelieve\tthat,\tMrs.\tLestrange.\u201d \u201cIt\tis\ttrue.\tMost\tpeople\u2014most\tmen,\tat\tany\trate,\tare\tout\tfor\ttheir\town\thand.\u201d There\twas\ta\tbitterness\tin\ther\tvoice. I\tdid\tnot\tanswer,\tand\tshe\twent\ton: \u201cSit\tdown,\twon\u2019t\tyou?\u201d I\t obeyed,\t and\t she\t took\t a\t chair\t facing\t me.\t She\t hesitated\t a\t moment\t and\t then began\tto\tspeak\tvery\tslowly\tand\tthoughtfully,\tseeming\tto\tweigh\teach\tword\tas\tshe uttered\tit. \u201cI\t am\t in\t a\t very\t peculiar\t position,\t Mr.\t Clement,\t and\t I\t want\t to\t ask\t your advice.\t That\t is,\t I\t want\t to\t ask\t your\t advice\t as\t to\t what\t I\t should\t do\t next.\t What\t is past\tis\tpast\tand\tcannot\tbe\tundone.\tYou\tunderstand?\u201d Before\t I\t could\t reply,\t the\t maid\t who\t had\t admitted\t me\t opened\t the\t door\t and said\twith\ta\tscared\tface: \u201cOh!\t Please,\t ma\u2019am,\t there\t is\t a\t police\t inspector\t here,\t and\t he\t says\t he\t must speak\tto\tyou,\tplease.\u201d There\twas\ta\tpause.\tMrs.\tLestrange\u2019s\tface\tdid\tnot\tchange.\tOnly\ther\teyes\tvery slowly\tclosed\tand\topened\tagain.\tShe\tseemed\tto\tswallow\tonce\tor\ttwice,\tthen\tshe said\tin\texactly\tthe\tsame\tclear,\tcalm\tvoice:\t\u201cShow\thim\tin,\tHilda.\u201d I\twas\tabout\tto\trise,\tbut\tshe\tmotioned\tme\tback\tagain\twith\tan\timperious\thand. \u201cIf\tyou\tdo\tnot\tmind\u2014I\tshould\tbe\tmuch\tobliged\tif\tyou\twould\tstay.\u201d I\tresumed\tmy\tseat. \u201cCertainly,\t if\t you\t wish\t it,\u201d\t I\t murmured,\t as\t Slack\t entered\t with\t a\t brisk regulation\ttread. \u201cGood\tafternoon,\tmadam,\u201d\the\tbegan. \u201cGood\tafternoon,\tInspector.\u201d At\tthis\tmoment,\the\tcaught\tsight\tof\tme\tand\tscowled.\tThere\tis\tno\tdoubt\tabout it,\tSlack\tdoes\tnot\tlike\tme.","\u201cYou\thave\tno\tobjection\tto\tthe\tVicar\u2019s\tpresence,\tI\thope?\u201d I\tsuppose\tthat\tSlack\tcould\tnot\tvery\twell\tsay\the\thad. \u201cNo-o,\u201d\the\tsaid\tgrudgingly.\t\u201cThough,\tperhaps,\tit\tmight\tbe\tbetter\u2014\u201d Mrs.\tLestrange\tpaid\tno\tattention\tto\tthe\thint. \u201cWhat\tcan\tI\tdo\tfor\tyou,\tInspector?\u201d\tshe\tasked. \u201cIt\u2019s\t this\t way,\t madam.\t Murder\t of\t Colonel\t Protheroe.\t I\u2019m\t in\t charge\t of\t the case\tand\tmaking\tinquiries.\u201d Mrs.\tLestrange\tnodded. \u201cJust\t as\t a\t matter\t of\t form,\t I\u2019m\t asking\t every\t one\t just\t where\t they\t were yesterday\t evening\t between\t the\t hours\t of\t 6\t and\t 7\t p.m.\t Just\t as\t a\t matter\t of\t form, you\tunderstand.\u201d \u201cYou\twant\tto\tknow\twhere\tI\twas\tyesterday\tevening\tbetween\tsix\tand\tseven?\u201d \u201cIf\tyou\tplease,\tmadam.\u201d \u201cLet\tme\tsee.\u201d\tShe\treflected\ta\tmoment.\t\u201cI\twas\there.\tIn\tthis\thouse.\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d\tI\tsaw\tthe\tInspector\u2019s\teyes\tflash.\t\u201cAnd\tyour\tmaid\u2014you\thave\tonly\tone maid,\tI\tthink\u2014can\tconfirm\tthat\tstatement?\u201d \u201cNo,\tit\twas\tHilda\u2019s\tafternoon\tout.\u201d \u201cI\tsee.\u201d \u201cSo,\t unfortunately,\t you\t will\t have\t to\t take\t my\t word\t for\t it,\u201d\t said\t Mrs. Lestrange\tpleasantly. \u201cYou\tseriously\tdeclare\tthat\tyou\twere\tat\thome\tall\tthe\tafternoon?\u201d \u201cYou\tsaid\tbetween\tsix\tand\tseven,\tInspector.\tI\twas\tout\tfor\ta\twalk\tearly\tin\tthe afternoon.\tI\treturned\tsome\ttime\tbefore\tfive\to\u2019clock.\u201d \u201cThen\tif\ta\tlady\u2014Miss\tHartnell,\tfor\tinstance\u2014were\tto\tdeclare\tthat\tshe\tcame here\t about\t six\t o\u2019clock,\t rang\t the\t bell,\t but\t could\t make\t no\t one\t hear\t and\t was compelled\tto\tgo\taway\tagain\u2014you\u2019d\tsay\tshe\twas\tmistaken,\teh?\u201d \u201cOh,\tno,\u201d\tMrs.\tLestrange\tshook\ther\thead. \u201cBut\u2014\u201d \u201cIf\t your\t maid\t is\t in,\t she\t can\t say\t not\t at\t home.\t If\t one\t is\t alone\t and\t does\t not happen\tto\twant\tto\tsee\tcallers\u2014well,\tthe\tonly\tthing\tto\tdo\tis\tto\tlet\tthem\tring.\u201d Inspector\tSlack\tlooked\tslightly\tbaffled. \u201cElderly\t women\t bore\t me\t dreadfully,\u201d\t said\t Mrs.\t Lestrange.\t \u201cAnd\t Miss Hartnell\t is\t particularly\t boring.\t She\t must\t have\t rung\t at\t least\t half\t a\t dozen\t times before\tshe\twent\taway.\u201d She\tsmiled\tsweetly\tat\tInspector\tSlack. The\tInspector\tshifted\this\tground. \u201cThen\tif\tanyone\twere\tto\tsay\tthey\u2019d\tseen\tyou\tout\tand\tabout\tthen\u2014\u201d \u201cOh!\tbut\tthey\tdidn\u2019t,\tdid\tthey?\u201d\tShe\twas\tquick\tto\tsense\this\tweak\tpoint.\t\u201cNo one\tsaw\tme\tout,\tbecause\tI\twas\tin,\tyou\tsee.\u201d","\u201cQuite\tso,\tmadam.\u201d The\tInspector\thitched\this\tchair\ta\tlittle\tnearer. \u201cNow\t I\t understand,\t Mrs.\t Lestrange,\t that\t you\t paid\t a\t visit\t to\t Colonel Protheroe\tat\tOld\tHall\tthe\tnight\tbefore\this\tdeath.\u201d Mrs.\tLestrange\tsaid\tcalmly:\t\u201cThat\tis\tso.\u201d \u201cCan\tyou\tindicate\tto\tme\tthe\tnature\tof\tthat\tinterview?\u201d \u201cIt\tconcerned\ta\tprivate\tmatter,\tInspector.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tafraid\tI\tmust\task\tyou\ttell\tme\tthe\tnature\tof\tthat\tprivate\tmatter.\u201d \u201cI\tshall\tnot\ttell\tyou\tanything\tof\tthe\tkind.\tI\twill\tonly\tassure\tyou\tthat\tnothing which\t was\t said\t at\t that\t interview\t could\t possibly\t have\t any\t bearing\t upon\t the crime.\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\tare\tthe\tbest\tjudge\tof\tthat.\u201d \u201cAt\tany\trate,\tyou\twill\thave\tto\ttake\tmy\tword\tfor\tit,\tInspector.\u201d \u201cIn\tfact,\tI\thave\tto\ttake\tyour\tword\tabout\teverything.\u201d \u201cIt\tdoes\tseem\trather\tlike\tit,\u201d\tshe\tagreed,\tstill\twith\tthe\tsame\tsmiling\tcalm. Inspector\tSlack\tgrew\tvery\tred. \u201cThis\tis\ta\tserious\tmatter,\tMrs.\tLestrange.\tI\twant\tthe\ttruth\u2014\u201d\tHe\tbanged\this fist\tdown\ton\ta\ttable.\t\u201cAnd\tI\tmean\tto\tget\tit.\u201d Mrs.\tLestrange\tsaid\tnothing\tat\tall. \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t see,\t madam,\t that\t you\u2019re\t putting\t yourself\t in\t a\t very\t fishy position?\u201d Still\tMrs.\tLestrange\tsaid\tnothing. \u201cYou\u2019ll\tbe\trequired\tto\tgive\tevidence\tat\tthe\tinquest.\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d Just\t the\t monosyllable.\t Unemphatic,\t uninterested.\t The\t Inspector\t altered\t his tactics. \u201cYou\twere\tacquainted\twith\tColonel\tProtheroe?\u201d \u201cYes,\tI\twas\tacquainted\twith\thim.\u201d \u201cWell\tacquainted?\u201d There\twas\ta\tpause\tbefore\tshe\tsaid: \u201cI\thad\tnot\tseen\thim\tfor\tseveral\tyears.\u201d \u201cYou\twere\tacquainted\twith\tMrs.\tProtheroe?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ll\texcuse\tme,\tbut\tit\twas\ta\tvery\tunusual\ttime\tto\tmake\ta\tcall.\u201d \u201cNot\tfrom\tmy\tpoint\tof\tview.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean\tby\tthat?\u201d \u201cI\t wanted\t to\t see\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t alone.\t I\t did\t not\t want\t to\t see\t Mrs. Protheroe\tor\tMiss\tProtheroe.\tI\tconsidered\tthis\tthe\tbest\tway\tof\taccomplishing\tmy object.\u201d","\u201cWhy\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\twant\tto\tsee\tMrs.\tor\tMiss\tProtheroe?\u201d \u201cThat,\tInspector,\tis\tmy\tbusiness.\u201d \u201cThen\tyou\trefuse\tto\tsay\tmore?\u201d \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d Inspector\tSlack\trose. \u201cYou\u2019ll\tbe\tputting\tyourself\tin\ta\tnasty\tposition,\tmadam,\tif\tyou\u2019re\tnot\tcareful. All\tthis\tlooks\tbad\u2014it\tlooks\tvery\tbad.\u201d She\tlaughed.\tI\tcould\thave\ttold\tInspector\tSlack\tthat\tthis\twas\tnot\tthe\tkind\tof woman\twho\tis\teasily\tfrightened. \u201cWell,\u201d\t he\t said,\t extricating\t himself\t with\t dignity,\t \u201cdon\u2019t\t say\t I\t haven\u2019t warned\tyou,\tthat\u2019s\tall.\tGood\tafternoon,\tmadam,\tand\tmind\tyou\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tget at\tthe\ttruth.\u201d He\tdeparted.\tMrs.\tLestrange\trose\tand\theld\tout\ther\thand. \u201cI\tam\tgoing\tto\tsend\tyou\taway\u2014yes,\tit\tis\tbetter\tso.\tYou\tsee,\tit\tis\ttoo\tlate\tfor advice\tnow.\tI\thave\tchosen\tmy\tpart.\u201d She\trepeated\tin\ta\trather\tforlorn\tvoice: \u201cI\thave\tchosen\tmy\tpart.\u201d","Sixteen \t As\t I\t went\t out\t I\t ran\t into\t Haydock\t on\t the\t doorstep.\t He\t glanced\t sharply\t after Slack,\t who\t was\t just\t passing\t through\t the\t gate,\t and\t demanded:\t \u201cHas\t he\t been questioning\ther?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cHe\u2019s\tbeen\tcivil,\tI\thope?\u201d Civility,\t to\t my\t mind,\t is\t an\t art\t which\t Inspector\t Slack\t has\t never\t learnt,\t but\t I presumed\t that\t according\t to\t his\t own\t lights,\t civil\t he\t had\t been,\t and\t anyway,\t I didn\u2019t\twant\tto\tupset\tHaydock\tany\tfurther.\tHe\twas\tlooking\tworried\tand\tupset\tas it\twas.\tSo\tI\tsaid\the\thad\tbeen\tquite\tcivil. Haydock\t nodded\t and\t passed\t on\t into\t the\t house,\t and\t I\t went\t on\t down\t the village\t street,\t where\t I\t soon\t caught\t up\t to\t the\t inspector.\t I\t fancy\t that\t he\t was walking\t slowly\t on\t purpose.\t Much\t as\t he\t dislikes\t me,\t he\t is\t not\t the\t man\t to\t let dislike\tstand\tin\tthe\tway\tof\tacquiring\tany\tuseful\tinformation. \u201cDo\tyou\tknow\tanything\tabout\tthe\tlady?\u201d\the\tasked\tme\tpoint\tblank. I\tsaid\tI\tknew\tnothing\twhatever. \u201cShe\u2019s\tnever\tsaid\tanything\tabout\twhy\tshe\tcame\there\tto\tlive?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cYet\tyou\tgo\tand\tsee\ther?\u201d \u201cIt\t is\t one\t of\t my\t duties\t to\t call\t on\t my\t parishioners,\u201d\t I\t replied,\t evading\t to remark\tthat\tI\thad\tbeen\tsent\tfor. \u201cH\u2019m,\tI\tsuppose\tit\tis.\u201d\tHe\twas\tsilent\tfor\ta\tminute\tor\ttwo\tand\tthen,\tunable\tto resist\tdiscussing\this\trecent\tfailure,\the\twent\ton:\t\u201cFishy\tbusiness,\tit\tlooks\tto\tme.\u201d \u201cYou\tthink\tso?\u201d \u201cIf\t you\t ask\t me,\t I\t say\t \u2018blackmail.\u2019\t Seems\t funny,\t when\t you\t think\t of\t what Colonel\tProtheroe\twas\talways\tsupposed\tto\tbe.\tBut\tthere,\tyou\tnever\tcan\ttell.\tHe wouldn\u2019t\tbe\tthe\tfirst\tchurchwarden\twho\u2019d\tled\ta\tdouble\tlife.\u201d Faint\tremembrances\t of\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t remarks\ton\t the\t same\t subject\t floated through\tmy\tmind. \u201cYou\treally\tthink\tthat\u2019s\tlikely?\u201d","\u201cWell,\tit\tfits\tthe\tfacts,\tsir.\tWhy\tdid\ta\tsmart,\twell-dressed\tlady\tcome\tdown\tto this\t quiet\t little\t hole?\t Why\t did\t she\t go\t and\t see\t him\t at\t that\t funny\t time\t of\t day? Why\t did\t she\t avoid\t seeing\t Mrs.\t and\t Miss\t Protheroe?\t Yes,\t it\t all\t hangs\t together. Awkward\tfor\ther\tto\tadmit\u2014blackmail\u2019s\ta\tpunishable\toffence.\tBut\twe\u2019ll\tget\tthe truth\t out\t of\t her.\t For\t all\t we\t know\t it\t may\t have\t a\t very\t important\t bearing\t on\t the case.\t If\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t had\t some\t guilty\t secret\t in\t his\t life\u2014something disgraceful\u2014well,\tyou\tcan\tsee\tfor\tyourself\twhat\ta\tfield\tit\topens\tup.\u201d I\tsuppose\tit\tdid. \u201cI\u2019ve\tbeen\ttrying\tto\tget\tthe\tbutler\tto\ttalk.\tHe\tmight\thave\toverheard\tsome\tof the\t conversation\t between\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t and\t Lestrange.\t Butlers\t do sometimes.\tBut\the\tswears\the\thasn\u2019t\tthe\tleast\tidea\tof\twhat\tthe\tconversation\twas about.\tBy\tthe\tway,\the\tgot\tthe\tsack\tthrough\tit.\tThe\tColonel\twent\tfor\thim,\tbeing angry\tat\this\thaving\tlet\ther\tin.\tThe\tbutler\tretorted\tby\tgiving\tnotice.\tSays\the\tdidn\u2019t like\tthe\tplace\tanyway\tand\thad\tbeen\tthinking\tof\tleaving\tfor\tsome\ttime.\u201d \u201cReally.\u201d \u201cSo\tthat\tgives\tus\tanother\tperson\twho\thad\ta\tgrudge\tagainst\tthe\tColonel.\u201d \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tseriously\tsuspect\tthe\tman\u2014what\u2019s\this\tname,\tby\tthe\tway?\u201d \u201cHis\t name\u2019s\t Reeves,\t and\t I\t don\u2019t\t say\t I\t do\t suspect\t him.\t What\t I\t say\t is,\t you never\tknow.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tthat\tsoapy,\toily\tmanner\tof\this.\u201d I\twonder\twhat\tReeves\twould\tsay\tof\tInspector\tSlack\u2019s\tmanner. \u201cI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tquestion\tthe\tchauffeur\tnow.\u201d \u201cPerhaps,\t then,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cyou\u2019ll\t give\t me\t a\t lift\t in\t your\t car.\t I\t want\t a\t short interview\twith\tMrs.\tProtheroe.\u201d \u201cWhat\tabout?\u201d \u201cThe\tfuneral\tarrangements.\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d\t Inspector\t Slack\t was\t slightly\t taken\t aback.\t \u201cThe\t inquest\u2019s\t tomorrow, Saturday.\u201d \u201cJust\tso.\tThe\tfuneral\twill\tprobably\tbe\tarranged\tfor\tTuesday.\u201d Inspector\tSlack\tseemed\tto\tbe\ta\tlittle\tashamed\tof\thimself\tfor\this\tbrusqueness. He\t held\t out\t an\t olive\t branch\t in\t the\t shape\t of\t an\t invitation\t to\t be\t present\t at\t the interview\twith\tthe\tchauffeur,\tManning. Manning\twas\ta\tnice\tlad,\tnot\tmore\tthan\ttwenty-five\tor\t-six\tyears\tof\tage.\tHe was\tinclined\tto\tbe\tawed\tby\tthe\tInspector. \u201cNow,\tthen,\tmy\tlad,\u201d\tsaid\tSlack,\t\u201cI\twant\ta\tlittle\tinformation\tfrom\tyou.\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir,\u201d\tstammered\tthe\tchauffeur.\t\u201cCertainly,\tsir.\u201d If\t he\t had\t committed\t the\t murder\t himself\t he\t could\t not\t have\t been\t more alarmed. \u201cYou\ttook\tyour\tmaster\tto\tthe\tvillage\tyesterday?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d","\u201cWhat\ttime\twas\tthat?\u201d \u201cFive\tthirty.\u201d \u201cMrs.\tProtheroe\twent\ttoo?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cYou\twent\tstraight\tto\tthe\tvillage?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cYou\tdidn\u2019t\tstop\tanywhere\ton\tthe\tway?\u201d \u201cNo,\tsir.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\tyou\tdo\twhen\tyou\tgot\tthere?\u201d \u201cThe\tColonel\tgot\tout\tand\ttold\tme\the\twouldn\u2019t\twant\tthe\tcar\tagain.\tHe\u2019d\twalk home.\tMrs.\tProtheroe\thad\tsome\tshopping\tto\tdo.\tThe\tparcels\twere\tput\tin\tthe\tcar. Then\tshe\tsaid\tthat\twas\tall,\tand\tI\tdrove\thome.\u201d \u201cLeaving\ther\tin\tthe\tvillage?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cWhat\ttime\twas\tthat?\u201d \u201cA\tquarter\tpast\tsix,\tsir.\tA\tquarter\tpast\texactly.\u201d \u201cWhere\tdid\tyou\tleave\ther?\u201d \u201cBy\tthe\tchurch,\tsir.\u201d \u201cHad\tthe\tColonel\tmentioned\tat\tall\twhere\the\twas\tgoing?\u201d \u201cHe\tsaid\tsomething\tabout\thaving\tto\tsee\tthe\tvet\t\u2026\tsomething\tto\tdo\twith\tone of\tthe\thorses.\u201d \u201cI\tsee.\tAnd\tyou\tdrove\tstraight\tback\there?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cThere\tare\ttwo\tentrances\tto\tOld\tHall,\tby\tthe\tSouth\tLodge\tand\tby\tthe\tNorth Lodge.\tI\ttake\tit\tthat\tgoing\tto\tthe\tvillage\tyou\twould\tgo\tby\tthe\tSouth\tLodge?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir,\talways.\u201d \u201cAnd\tyou\tcame\tback\tthe\tsame\tway?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cH\u2019m.\tI\tthink\tthat\u2019s\tall.\tAh!\tHere\u2019s\tMiss\tProtheroe.\u201d Lettice\tdrifted\ttowards\tus. \u201cI\twant\tthe\tFiat,\tManning,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cStart\ther\tfor\tme,\twill\tyou?\u201d \u201cVery\tgood,\tmiss.\u201d He\twent\ttowards\ta\ttwo-seater\tand\tlifted\tthe\tbonnet. \u201cJust\t a\t minute,\t Miss\t Protheroe,\u201d\t said\t Slack.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t necessary\t that\t I\t should have\t a\t record\t of\t everybody\u2019s\t movements\t yesterday\t afternoon.\t No\t offence meant.\u201d Lettice\tstared\tat\thim. \u201cI\tnever\tknow\tthe\ttime\tof\tanything,\u201d\tshe\tsaid. \u201cI\tunderstand\tyou\twent\tout\tsoon\tafter\tlunch\tyesterday?\u201d","She\tnodded. \u201cWhere\tto,\tplease?\u201d \u201cTo\tplay\ttennis.\u201d \u201cWho\twith?\u201d \u201cThe\tHartley\tNapiers.\u201d \u201cAt\tMuch\tBenham?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cAnd\tyou\treturned?\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\ttell\tyou\tI\tnever\tknow\tthese\tthings.\u201d \u201cYou\treturned,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cabout\tseven\tthirty.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t right,\u201d\t said\t Lettice.\t \u201cIn\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t shemozzle.\t Anne\t having fits\tand\tGriselda\tsupporting\ther.\u201d \u201cThank\tyou,\tmiss,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tInspector.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tall\tI\twant\tto\tknow.\u201d \u201cHow\tqueer,\u201d\tsaid\tLettice.\t\u201cIt\tseems\tso\tuninteresting.\u201d She\tmoved\ttowards\tthe\tFiat. The\tInspector\ttouched\this\tforehead\tin\ta\tsurreptitious\tmanner. \u201cA\tbit\twanting?\u201d\the\tsuggested. \u201cNot\tin\tthe\tleast,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\tshe\tlikes\tto\tbe\tthought\tso.\u201d \u201cWell,\tI\u2019m\toff\tto\tquestion\tthe\tmaids\tnow.\u201d One\tcannot\treally\tlike\tSlack,\tbut\tone\tcan\tadmire\this\tenergy. We\tparted\tcompany\tand\tI\tinquired\tof\tReeves\tif\tI\tcould\tsee\tMrs.\tProtheroe. \u201cShe\tis\tlying\tdown,\tsir,\tat\tthe\tmoment.\u201d \u201cThen\tI\u2019d\tbetter\tnot\tdisturb\ther.\u201d \u201cPerhaps\tif\tyou\twould\twait,\tsir,\tI\tknow\tthat\tMrs.\tProtheroe\tis\tanxious\tto\tsee you.\tShe\twas\tsaying\tas\tmuch\tat\tluncheon.\u201d He\tshowed\tme\tinto\tthe\tdrawing\troom,\tswitching\ton\tthe\telectric\tlights\tsince the\tblinds\twere\tdown. \u201cA\tvery\tsad\tbusiness\tall\tthis,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d\tHis\tvoice\twas\tcold\tand\trespectful. I\t looked\t at\t him.\t What\t feelings\t were\t at\t work\t under\t that\t impassive demeanour.\t Were\t there\t things\t that\t he\t knew\t and\t could\t have\t told\t us?\t There\t is nothing\tso\tinhuman\tas\tthe\tmask\tof\tthe\tgood\tservant. \u201cIs\tthere\tanything\tmore,\tsir?\u201d Was\tthere\tjust\ta\thint\tof\tanxiety\tto\tbe\tgone\tbehind\tthat\tcorrect\texpression? \u201cThere\u2019s\tnothing\tmore,\u201d\tI\tsaid. I\t had\t a\t very\t short\t time\t to\t wait\t before\t Anne\t Protheroe\t came\t to\t me.\t We discussed\tand\tsettled\ta\tfew\tarrangements\tand\tthen: \u201cWhat\ta\twonderfully\tkind\tman\tDr.\tHaydock\tis!\u201d\tshe\texclaimed. \u201cHaydock\tis\tthe\tbest\tfellow\tI\tknow.\u201d","\u201cHe\thas\tbeen\tamazingly\tkind\tto\tme.\tBut\the\tlooks\tvery\tsad,\tdoesn\u2019t\the?\u201d It\t had\t never\t occurred\t to\t me\t to\t think\t of\t Haydock\t as\t sad.\t I\t turned\t the\t idea over\tin\tmy\tmind. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\u2019ve\tever\tnoticed\tit,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tat\tlast. \u201cI\tnever\thave,\tuntil\ttoday.\u201d \u201cOne\u2019s\town\ttroubles\tsharpen\tone\u2019s\teyes\tsometimes,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cThat\u2019s\tvery\ttrue.\u201d\tShe\tpaused\tand\tthen\tsaid: \u201cMr.\t Clement,\t there\u2019s\t one\t thing\t I\t absolutely\t cannot\t make\t out.\t If\t my husband\twere\tshot\timmediately\tafter\tI\tleft\thim,\thow\twas\tit\tthat\tI\tdidn\u2019t\thear\tthe shot?\u201d \u201cThey\thave\treason\tto\tbelieve\tthat\tthe\tshot\twas\tfired\tlater.\u201d \u201cBut\tthe\t6:20\ton\tthe\tnote?\u201d \u201cWas\tpossibly\tadded\tby\ta\tdifferent\thand\u2014the\tmurderer\u2019s.\u201d Her\tcheek\tpaled. \u201cIt\tdidn\u2019t\tstrike\tyou\tthat\tthe\tdate\twas\tnot\tin\this\thandwriting?\u201d \u201cHow\thorrible!\u201d \u201cNone\tof\tit\tlooked\tlike\this\thandwriting.\u201d There\twas\tsome\ttruth\tin\tthis\tobservation.\tIt\twas\ta\tsomewhat\tillegible\tscrawl, not\tso\tprecise\tas\tProtheroe\u2019s\twriting\tusually\twas. \u201cYou\tare\tsure\tthey\tdon\u2019t\tstill\tsuspect\tLawrence?\u201d \u201cI\tthink\the\tis\tdefinitely\tcleared.\u201d \u201cBut,\t Mr.\t Clement,\t who\t can\t it\t be?\t Lucius\t was\t not\t popular,\t I\t know,\t but\t I don\u2019t\tthink\the\thad\tany\treal\tenemies.\tNot\u2014not\tthat\tkind\tof\tenemy.\u201d I\tshook\tmy\thead.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\ta\tmystery.\u201d I\tthought\twonderingly\tof\tMiss\tMarple\u2019s\tseven\tsuspects.\tWho\tcould\tthey\tbe? After\t I\t took\t leave\t of\t Anne,\t I\t proceeded\t to\t put\t a\t certain\t plan\t of\t mine\t into action. I\t returned\t from\t Old\t Hall\t by\t way\t of\t the\t private\t path.\t When\t I\t reached\t the stile,\tI\tretraced\tmy\tsteps,\tand\tchoosing\ta\tplace\twhere\tI\tfancied\tthe\tundergrowth showed\tsigns\tof\tbeing\tdisturbed,\tI\tturned\taside\tfrom\tthe\tpath\tand\tforced\tmy\tway through\t the\t bushes.\t The\t wood\t was\t a\t thick\t one,\t with\t a\t good\t deal\t of\t tangled undergrowth.\tMy\tprogress\twas\tnot\tvery\tfast,\tand\tI\tsuddenly\tbecame\taware\tthat someone\telse\twas\tmoving\tamongst\tthe\tbushes\tnot\tvery\tfar\tfrom\tme.\tAs\tI\tpaused irresolutely,\tLawrence\tRedding\tcame\tinto\tsight.\tHe\twas\tcarrying\ta\tlarge\tstone. I\tsuppose\tI\tmust\thave\tlooked\tsurprised,\tfor\the\tsuddenly\tburst\tout\tlaughing. \u201cNo,\u201d\the\tsaid,\t\u201cit\u2019s\tnot\ta\tclue,\tit\u2019s\ta\tpeace\toffering.\u201d \u201cA\tpeace\toffering?\u201d \u201cWell,\ta\tbasis\tfor\tnegotiations,\tshall\twe\tsay?\tI\twant\tan\texcuse\tfor\tcalling\ton your\tneighbour,\tMiss\tMarple,\tand\tI\thave\tbeen\ttold\tthere\tis\tnothing\tshe\tlikes\tso","much\tas\ta\tnice\tbit\tof\trock\tor\tstone\tfor\tthe\tJapanese\tgardens\tshe\tmakes.\u201d \u201cQuite\ttrue,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\twhat\tdo\tyou\twant\twith\tthe\told\tlady?\u201d \u201cJust\t this.\t If\t there\t was\t anything\t to\t be\t seen\t yesterday\t evening\t Miss\t Marple saw\t it.\t I\t don\u2019t\t mean\t anything\t necessarily\t connected\t with\t the\t crime\u2014that\t she would\t think\t connected\t with\t the\t crime.\t I\t mean\t some\t outr\u00e9\t or\t bizarre\t incident, some\t simple\t little\t happening\t that\t might\t give\t us\t a\t clue\t to\t the\t truth.\t Something that\tshe\twouldn\u2019t\tthink\tworthwhile\tmentioning\tto\tthe\tpolice.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tpossible,\tI\tsuppose.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\t worth\t trying\t anyhow.\t Clement,\t I\u2019m\t going\t to\t get\t to\t the\t bottom\t of\t this business.\t For\t Anne\u2019s\t sake,\t if\t nobody\u2019s\t else.\t And\t I\t haven\u2019t\t any\t too\t much confidence\t in\t Slack\u2014he\u2019s\t a\t zealous\t fellow,\t but\t zeal\t can\u2019t\t really\t take\t the\t place of\tbrains.\u201d \u201cI\t see,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cthat\t you\t are\t that\t favourite\t character\t of\t fiction,\t the\t amateur detective.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t that\t they\t really\t hold\t their\t own\t with\t the\t professional\t in real\tlife.\u201d He\tlooked\tat\tme\tshrewdly\tand\tsuddenly\tlaughed. \u201cWhat\tare\tyou\tdoing\tin\tthe\twood,\tpadre?\u201d I\thad\tthe\tgrace\tto\tblush. \u201cJust\tthe\tsame\tas\tI\tam\tdoing,\tI\tdare\tswear.\tWe\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tsame\tidea,\thaven\u2019t we?\t How\t did\t the\t murderer\t come\t to\t the\t study?\t First\t way,\t along\t the\t lane\t and through\tthe\tgate,\tsecond\tway,\tby\tthe\tfront\tdoor,\tthird\tway\u2014is\tthere\ta\tthird\tway? My\tidea\twas\tto\tsee\tif\tthere\twas\tany\tsign\tof\tthe\tbushes\tbeing\tdisturbed\tor\tbroken anywhere\tnear\tthe\twall\tof\tthe\tVicarage\tgarden.\u201d \u201cThat\twas\tjust\tmy\tidea,\u201d\tI\tadmitted. \u201cI\thadn\u2019t\treally\tgot\tdown\tto\tthe\tjob,\tthough,\u201d\tcontinued\tLawrence.\t\u201cBecause it\toccurred\tto\tme\tthat\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tsee\tMiss\tMarple\tfirst,\tto\tmake\tquite\tsure\tthat\tno one\tdid\tpass\talong\tthe\tlane\tyesterday\tevening\twhilst\twe\twere\tin\tthe\tstudio.\u201d I\tshook\tmy\thead. \u201cShe\twas\tquite\tpositive\tthat\tnobody\tdid.\u201d \u201cYes,\t nobody\t whom\t she\t would\t call\t anybody\u2014sounds\t mad,\t but\t you\t see what\t I\t mean.\t But\t there\t might\t have\t been\t someone\t like\t a\t postman\t or\t a\t milkman or\t a\t butcher\u2019s\t boy\u2014someone\t whose\t presence\t would\t be\t so\t natural\t that\t you wouldn\u2019t\tthink\tof\tmentioning\tit.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ve\tbeen\treading\tG.\tK.\tChesterton,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\tLawrence\tdid\tnot\tdeny it. \u201cBut\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink\tthere\u2019s\tjust\tpossibly\tsomething\tin\tthe\tidea?\u201d \u201cWell,\tI\tsuppose\tthere\tmight\tbe,\u201d\tI\tadmitted. Without\t further\t ado,\t we\t made\t our\t way\t to\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s.\t She\t was\t working in\tthe\tgarden,\tand\tcalled\tout\tto\tus\tas\twe\tclimbed\tover\tthe\tstile.","\u201cYou\tsee,\u201d\tmurmured\tLawrence,\t\u201cshe\tsees\teverybody.\u201d She\t received\t us\t very\t graciously\t and\t was\t much\t pleased\t with\t Lawrence\u2019s immense\trock,\twhich\the\tpresented\twith\tall\tdue\tsolemnity. \u201cIt\u2019s\tvery\tthoughtful\tof\tyou,\tMr.\tRedding.\tVery\tthoughtful\tindeed.\u201d Emboldened\t by\t this,\t Lawrence\t embarked\t on\t his\t questions.\t Miss\t Marple listened\tattentively. \u201cYes,\t I\t see\t what\t you\t mean,\t and\t I\t quite\t agree,\t it\t is\t the\t sort\t of\t thing\t no\t one mentions\t or\t bothers\t to\t mention.\t But\t I\t can\t assure\t you\t that\t there\t was\t nothing\t of the\tkind.\tNothing\twhatever.\u201d \u201cYou\tare\tsure,\tMiss\tMarple?\u201d \u201cQuite\tsure.\u201d \u201cDid\tyou\tsee\tanyone\tgo\tby\tthe\tpath\tinto\tthe\twood\tthat\tafternoon?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cOr\tcome\tfrom\tit?\u201d \u201cOh,\tyes,\tquite\ta\tnumber\tof\tpeople.\tDr.\tStone\tand\tMiss\tCram\twent\tthat\tway \u2014it\u2019s\tthe\tnearest\tway\tto\tthe\tbarrow\tfor\tthem.\tThat\twas\ta\tlittle\tafter\ttwo\to\u2019clock. And\t Dr.\t Stone\t returned\t that\t way\u2014as\t you\t know,\t Mr.\t Redding,\t since\t he\t joined you\tand\tMrs.\tProtheroe.\u201d \u201cBy\t the\t way,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cThat\t shot\u2014the\t one\t you\t heard,\t Miss\t Marple.\t Mr. Redding\tand\tMrs.\tProtheroe\tmust\thave\theard\tit\ttoo.\u201d I\tlooked\tinquiringly\tat\tLawrence. \u201cYes,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tfrowning.\t\u201cI\tbelieve\tI\tdid\thear\tsome\tshots.\tWeren\u2019t\tthere\tone or\ttwo\tshots?\u201d \u201cI\tonly\theard\tone,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cIt\u2019s\tonly\tthe\tvaguest\timpression\tin\tmy\tmind,\u201d\tsaid\tLawrence.\t\u201cCurse\tit\tall, I\twish\tI\tcould\tremember.\tIf\tonly\tI\u2019d\tknown.\tYou\tsee,\tI\twas\tso\tcompletely\ttaken up\twith\u2014with\u2014\u201d He\tpaused,\tembarrassed. I\t gave\t a\t tactful\t cough.\t Miss\t Marple,\t with\t a\t touch\t of\t prudishness,\t changed the\tsubject. \u201cInspector\t Slack\t has\t been\t trying\t to\t get\t me\t to\t say\t whether\t I\t heard\t the\t shot after\t Mr.\t Redding\t and\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t had\t left\t the\t studio\t or\t before.\t I\u2019ve\t had\t to confess\tthat\tI\treally\tcould\tnot\tsay\tdefinitely,\tbut\tI\thave\tthe\timpression\u2014which\tis growing\tstronger\tthe\tmore\tI\tthink\tabout\tit\u2014that\tit\twas\tafter.\u201d \u201cThen\tthat\tlets\tthe\tcelebrated\tDr.\tStone\tout\tanyway,\u201d\tsaid\tLawrence,\twith\ta sigh.\t \u201cNot\t that\t there\t has\t ever\t been\t the\t slightest\t reason\t why\t he\t should\t be suspected\tof\tshooting\tpoor\told\tProtheroe.\u201d \u201cAh!\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cBut\tI\talways\tfind\tit\tprudent\tto\tsuspect\teverybody just\ta\tlittle.\tWhat\tI\tsay\tis,\tyou\treally\tnever\tknow,\tdo\tyou?\u201d This\t was\t typical\t of\t Miss\t Marple.\t I\t asked\t Lawrence\t if\t he\t agreed\t with\t her","about\tthe\tshot. \u201cI\t really\t can\u2019t\t say.\t You\t see,\t it\t was\t such\t an\t ordinary\t sound.\t I\t should\t be inclined\tto\tthink\tit\thad\tbeen\tfired\twhen\twe\twere\tin\tthe\tstudio.\tThe\tsound\twould have\tbeen\tdeadened\tand\u2014one\twould\thave\tnoticed\tit\tless\tthere.\u201d For\tother\treasons\tthan\tthe\tsound\tbeing\tdeadened,\tI\tthought\tto\tmyself. \u201cI\t must\t ask\t Anne,\u201d\t said\t Lawrence.\t \u201cShe\t may\t remember.\t By\t the\t way,\t there seems\t to\t me\t to\t be\t one\t curious\t fact\t that\t needs\t explanation.\t Mrs.\t Lestrange,\t the Mystery\t Lady\t of\t St.\t Mary\t Mead,\t paid\t a\t visit\t to\t old\t Protheroe\t after\t dinner\t on Wednesday\tnight.\tAnd\tnobody\tseems\tto\thave\tany\tidea\twhat\tit\twas\tall\tabout.\tOld Protheroe\tsaid\tnothing\tto\teither\this\twife\tor\tLettice.\u201d \u201cPerhaps\tthe\tVicar\tknows,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple. Now\t how\t did\t the\t woman\t know\t that\t I\t had\t been\t to\t visit\t Mrs.\t Lestrange\t that afternoon?\tThe\tway\tshe\talways\tknows\tthings\tis\tuncanny. I\tshook\tmy\thead\tand\tsaid\tI\tcould\tthrow\tno\tlight\tupon\tthe\tmatter. \u201cWhat\tdoes\tInspector\tSlack\tthink?\u201d\tasked\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cHe\u2019s\t done\t his\t best\t to\t bully\t the\t butler\u2014but\t apparently\t the\t butler\t wasn\u2019t curious\tenough\tto\tlisten\tat\tthe\tdoor.\tSo\tthere\tit\tis\u2014no\tone\tknows.\u201d \u201cI\t expect\t someone\t overheard\t something,\t though,\t don\u2019t\t you?\u201d\t said\t Miss Marple.\t\u201cI\tmean,\tsomebody\talways\tdoes.\tI\tthink\tthat\tis\twhere\tMr.\tRedding\tmay find\tout\tsomething.\u201d \u201cBut\tMrs.\tProtheroe\tknows\tnothing.\u201d \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t mean\t Anne\t Protheroe,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple.\t \u201cI\t meant\t the\t women servants.\tThey\tdo\tso\thate\ttelling\tanything\tto\tthe\tpolice.\tBut\ta\tnice\tlooking\tyoung man\u2014you\u2019ll\t excuse\t me,\t Mr.\t Redding\u2014and\t one\t who\t has\t been\t unjustly suspected\u2014oh!\tI\u2019m\tsure\tthey\u2019d\ttell\thim\tat\tonce.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll\tgo\tand\thave\ta\ttry\tthis\tevening,\u201d\tsaid\tLawrence\twith\tvigour.\t\u201cThanks\tfor the\t hint,\t Miss\t Marple.\t I\u2019ll\t go\t after\u2014well,\t after\t a\t little\t job\t the\t Vicar\t and\t I\t are going\tto\tdo.\u201d It\toccurred\tto\tme\tthat\twe\thad\tbetter\tbe\tgetting\ton\twith\tit.\tI\tsaid\tgood-bye\tto Miss\tMarple\tand\twe\tentered\tthe\twoods\tonce\tmore. First\t we\t went\t up\t the\t path\t till\t we\t came\t to\t a\t new\t spot\t where\t it\t certainly looked\t as\t though\t someone\t had\t left\t the\t path\t on\t the\t right-hand\t side.\t Lawrence explained\t that\t he\t had\t already\t followed\t this\t particular\t trail\t and\t found\t it\t led nowhere,\t but\t he\t added\t that\t we\t might\t as\t well\t try\t again.\t He\t might\t have\t been wrong. It\twas,\thowever,\tas\the\thad\tsaid.\tAfter\tabout\tten\tor\ttwelve\tyards\tany\tsign\tof broken\tand\ttrampled\tleaves\tpetered\tout.\tIt\twas\tfrom\tthis\tspot\tthat\tLawrence\thad broken\tback\ttowards\tthe\tpath\tto\tmeet\tme\tearlier\tin\tthe\tafternoon. We\temerged\ton\tthe\tpath\tagain\tand\twalked\ta\tlittle\tfarther\talong\tit.\tAgain\twe","came\t to\t a\t place\t where\t the\t bushes\t seemed\t disturbed.\t The\t signs\t were\t very\t slight but,\t I\t thought,\t unmistakable.\t This\t time\t the\t trail\t was\t more\t promising.\t By\t a devious\tcourse,\tit\twound\tsteadily\tnearer\tto\tthe\tVicarage.\tPresently\twe\tarrived\tat where\t the\t bushes\t grew\t thickly\t up\t to\t the\t wall.\t The\t wall\t is\t a\t high\t one\t and ornamented\twith\tfragments\tof\tbroken\tbottles\ton\tthe\ttop.\tIf\tanyone\thad\tplaced\ta ladder\tagainst\tit,\twe\tought\tto\tfind\ttraces\tof\ttheir\tpassage. We\twere\tworking\tour\tway\tslowly\talong\tthe\twall\twhen\ta\tsound\tcame\tto\tour ears\tof\ta\tbreaking\ttwig.\tI\tpressed\tforward,\tforcing\tmy\tway\tthrough\ta\tthick\ttangle of\tshrubs\u2014and\tcame\tface\tto\tface\twith\tInspector\tSlack. \u201cSo\tit\u2019s\tyou,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cAnd\tMr.\tRedding.\tNow\twhat\tdo\tyou\tthink\tyou\ttwo gentlemen\tare\tdoing?\u201d Slightly\tcrestfallen,\twe\texplained. \u201cQuite\tso,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tInspector.\t\u201cNot\tbeing\tthe\tfools\twe\u2019re\tusually\tthought\tto be,\tI\thad\tthe\tsame\tidea\tmyself.\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\there\tover\tan\thour.\tWould\tyou\tlike\tto know\tsomething?\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tmeekly. \u201cWhoever\t murdered\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t didn\u2019t\t come\t this\t way\t to\t do\t it! There\u2019s\t not\t a\t sign\t either\t on\t this\t side\t of\t the\t wall,\t nor\t the\t other.\t Whoever murdered\tColonel\tProtheroe\tcame\tthrough\tthe\tfront\tdoor.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tother\tway he\tcould\thave\tcome.\u201d \u201cImpossible,\u201d\tI\tcried. \u201cWhy\t impossible?\t Your\t door\t stands\t open.\t Anyone\u2019s\t only\t got\t to\t walk\t in. They\t can\u2019t\t be\t seen\t from\t the\t kitchen.\t They\t know\t you\u2019re\t safely\t out\t of\t the\t way, they\t know\t Mrs.\t Clement\t is\t in\t London,\t they\t know\t Mr.\t Dennis\t is\t at\t a\t tennis party.\tSimple\tas\tA\tB\tC.\tAnd\tthey\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tto\tgo\tor\tcome\tthrough\tthe\tvillage. Just\topposite\tthe\tVicarage\tgate\tis\ta\tpublic\tfootpath,\tand\tfrom\tit\tyou\tcan\tturn\tinto these\t same\t woods\t and\t come\t out\t whichever\t way\t you\t choose.\t Unless\t Mrs.\t Price Ridley\twere\tto\tcome\tout\tof\ther\tfront\tgate\tat\tthat\tparticular\tminute,\tit\u2019s\tall\tclear sailing.\tA\tgreat\tdeal\tmore\tso\tthan\tclimbing\tover\twalls.\tThe\tside\twindows\tof\tthe upper\t story\t of\t Mrs.\t Price\t Ridley\u2019s\t house\t do\t overlook\t most\t of\t that\t wall.\t No, depend\tupon\tit,\tthat\u2019s\tthe\tway\the\tcame.\u201d It\treally\tseemed\tas\tthough\the\tmust\tbe\tright.","Seventeen \t Inspector\t Slack\t came\t round\t to\t see\t me\t the\t following\t morning.\t He\t is,\t I\t think, thawing\ttowards\tme.\tIn\ttime,\the\tmay\tforget\tthe\tincident\tof\tthe\tclock. \u201cWell,\t sir,\u201d\t he\t greeted\t me.\t \u201cI\u2019ve\t traced\t that\t telephone\t call\t that\t you received.\u201d \u201cIndeed?\u201d\tI\tsaid\teagerly. \u201cIt\u2019s\trather\todd.\tIt\twas\tput\tthrough\tfrom\tthe\tNorth\tLodge\tof\tOld\tHall.\tNow that\t lodge\t is\t empty,\t the\t lodgekeepers\t have\t been\t pensioned\t off\t and\t the\t new lodgekeepers\t aren\u2019t\t in\t yet.\t The\t place\t was\t empty\t and\t convenient\u2014a\t window\t at the\t back\t was\t open.\t No\t fingerprints\t on\t the\t instrument\t itself\u2014it\t had\t been\t wiped clear.\tThat\u2019s\tsuggestive.\u201d \u201cHow\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u201d \u201cI\tmean\tthat\tit\tshows\tthat\tcall\twas\tput\tthrough\tdeliberately\tto\tget\tyou\tout\tof the\t way.\t Therefore\t the\t murder\t was\t carefully\t planned\t in\t advance.\t If\t it\t had\t been just\t a\t harmless\t practical\t joke,\t the\t fingerprints\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t been\t wiped\t off\t so carefully.\u201d \u201cNo.\tI\tsee\tthat.\u201d \u201cIt\t also\t shows\t that\t the\t murderer\t was\t well\t acquainted\t with\t Old\t Hall\t and\t its surroundings.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tMrs.\tProtheroe\twho\tput\tthat\tcall\tthrough.\tI\u2019ve\taccounted for\t every\t moment\t of\t her\t time\t that\t afternoon.\t There\t are\t half\t a\t dozen\t other servants\twho\tcan\tswear\tthat\tshe\twas\tat\thome\ttill\tfive\tthirty.\tThen\tthe\tcar\tcame round\t and\t drove\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t and\t her\t to\t the\t village.\t The\t Colonel\t went\t to see\tQuinton,\tthe\tvet,\tabout\tone\tof\tthe\thorses.\tMrs.\tProtheroe\tdid\tsome\tordering at\tthe\tgrocers\tand\tat\tthe\tfish\tshop,\tand\tfrom\tthere\tcame\tstraight\tdown\tthe\tback lane\t where\t Miss\t Marple\t saw\t her.\t All\t the\t shops\t agree\t she\t carried\t no\t handbag with\ther.\tThe\told\tlady\twas\tright.\u201d \u201cShe\tusually\tis,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tmildly. \u201cAnd\tMiss\tProtheroe\twas\tover\tat\tMuch\tBenham\tat\t5:30.\u201d \u201cQuite\tso,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cMy\tnephew\twas\tthere\ttoo.\u201d \u201cThat\tdisposes\tof\ther.\tThe\tmaid\tseems\tall\tright\u2014a\tbit\thysterical\tand\tupset,","but\t what\t can\t you\t expect?\t Of\t course,\t I\u2019ve\t got\t my\t eye\t on\t the\t butler\u2014what\t with giving\tnotice\tand\tall.\tBut\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\tknows\tanything\tabout\tit.\u201d \u201cYour\tinquiries\tseem\tto\thave\thad\trather\ta\tnegative\tresult,\tInspector.\u201d \u201cThey\tdo\tand\tthey\tdo\tnot,\tsir.\tThere\u2019s\tone\tvery\tqueer\tthing\thas\tturned\tup\u2014 quite\tunexpectedly,\tI\tmay\tsay.\u201d \u201cYes?\u201d \u201cYou\tremember\tthe\tfuss\tthat\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley,\twho\tlives\tnext\tdoor\tto\tyou, was\tkicking\tup\tyesterday\tmorning?\tAbout\tbeing\trung\tup\ton\tthe\ttelephone?\u201d \u201cYes?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cWell,\t we\t traced\t the\t call\t just\t to\t calm\t her\u2014and\t where\t on\t this\t earth\t do\t you think\tit\twas\tput\tthrough\tfrom?\u201d \u201cA\tcall\toffice?\u201d\tI\thazarded. \u201cNo,\tMr.\tClement.\tThat\tcall\twas\tput\tthrough\tfrom\tMr.\tLawrence\tRedding\u2019s cottage.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d\tI\texclaimed,\tsurprised. \u201cYes.\tA\tbit\todd,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tMr.\tRedding\thad\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tit.\tAt\tthat\ttime, 6:30,\t he\t was\t on\t his\t way\t to\t the\t Blue\t Boar\t with\t Dr.\t Stone\t in\t full\t view\t of\t the village.\tBut\tthere\tit\tis.\tSuggestive,\teh?\tSomeone\twalked\tinto\tthat\tempty\tcottage and\tused\tthe\ttelephone,\twho\twas\tit?\tThat\u2019s\ttwo\tqueer\ttelephone\tcalls\tin\tone\tday. Makes\t you\t think\t there\u2019s\t some\t connection\t between\t them.\t I\u2019ll\t eat\t my\t hat\t if\t they weren\u2019t\tboth\tput\tthrough\tby\tthe\tsame\tperson.\u201d \u201cBut\twith\twhat\tobject?\u201d \u201cWell,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\twe\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tfind\tout.\tThere\tseems\tno\tparticular\tpoint\tin the\t second\t one,\t but\t there\t must\t be\t a\t point\t somewhere.\t And\t you\t see\t the significance?\tMr.\tRedding\u2019s\thouse\tused\tto\ttelephone\tfrom.\tMr.\tRedding\u2019s\tpistol. All\tthrowing\tsuspicion\ton\tMr.\tRedding.\u201d \u201cIt\t would\t be\t more\t to\t the\t point\t to\t have\t put\t through\t the\t first\t call\t from\t his house,\u201d\tI\tobjected. \u201cAh,\t but\t I\u2019ve\t been\t thinking\t that\t out.\t What\t did\t Mr.\t Redding\t do\t most afternoons?\t He\t went\t up\t to\t Old\t Hall\t and\t painted\t Miss\t Protheroe.\t And\t from\t his cottage\the\u2019d\tgo\ton\this\tmotor\tbicycle,\tpassing\tthrough\tthe\tNorth\tGate.\tNow\tyou see\tthe\tpoint\tof\tthe\tcall\tbeing\tput\tthrough\tfrom\tthere.\tThe\tmurderer\tis\tsomeone who\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tabout\tthe\tquarrel\tand\tthat\tMr.\tRedding\twasn\u2019t\tgoing\tup\tto\tOld Hall\tany\tmore.\u201d I\t reflected\t a\t moment\t to\t let\t the\t Inspector\u2019s\t points\t sink\t into\t my\t brain.\t They seemed\tto\tme\tlogical\tand\tunavoidable. \u201cWere\t there\t any\t fingerprints\t on\t the\t receiver\t in\t Mr.\t Redding\u2019s\t cottage?\u201d\t I asked. \u201cThere\twere\tnot,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tInspector\tbitterly.\t\u201cThat\tdratted\told\twoman\twho","goes\t and\t does\t for\t him\t had\t been\t and\t dusted\t them\t off\t yesterday\t morning.\u201d\t He reflected\t wrathfully\t for\t a\t few\t minutes.\t \u201cShe\u2019s\t a\t stupid\t old\t fool,\t anyway.\t Can\u2019t remember\twhen\tshe\tsaw\tthe\tpistol\tlast.\tIt\tmight\thave\tbeen\tthere\ton\tthe\tmorning of\tthe\tcrime,\tor\tit\tmight\tnot.\t\u2018She\tcouldn\u2019t\tsay,\tshe\u2019s\tsure.\u2019\tThey\u2019re\tall\talike! \u201cJust\t as\t a\t matter\t of\t form,\t I\t went\t round\t and\t saw\t Dr.\t Stone,\u201d\t he\t went\t on.\t \u201cI must\tsay\the\twas\tpleasant\tas\tcould\tbe\tabout\tit.\tHe\tand\tMiss\tCram\twent\tup\tto\tthat mound\u2014or\tbarrow\u2014or\twhatever\tyou\tcall\tit,\tabout\thalf\tpast\ttwo\tyesterday,\tand stayed\tthere\tall\tthe\tafternoon.\tDr.\tStone\tcame\tback\talone,\tand\tshe\tcame\tlater.\tHe says\t he\t didn\u2019t\t hear\t any\t shot,\t but\t admits\t he\u2019s\t absentminded.\t But\t it\t all\t bears\t out what\twe\tthink.\u201d \u201cOnly,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cyou\thaven\u2019t\tcaught\tthe\tmurderer.\u201d \u201cH\u2019m,\u201d\t said\t the\t Inspector.\t \u201cIt\t was\t a\t woman\u2019s\t voice\t you\t heard\t through\t the telephone.\tIt\twas\tin\tall\tprobability\ta\twoman\u2019s\tvoice\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley\theard.\tIf only\t that\t shot\t hadn\u2019t\t come\t hard\t on\t the\t close\t of\t the\t telephone\t call\u2014well,\t I\u2019d know\twhere\tto\tlook.\u201d \u201cWhere?\u201d \u201cAh!\tThat\u2019s\tjust\twhat\tit\u2019s\tbest\tnot\tto\tsay,\tsir.\u201d Unblushingly,\t I\t suggested\t a\t glass\t of\t old\t port.\t I\t have\t some\t very\t fine\t old vintage\t port.\t Eleven\t o\u2019clock\t in\t the\t morning\t is\t not\t the\t usual\t time\t for\t drinking port,\t but\t I\t did\t not\t think\t that\t mattered\t with\t Inspector\t Slack.\t It\t was,\t of\t course, cruel\tabuse\tof\tthe\tvintage\tport,\tbut\tone\tmust\tnot\tbe\tsqueamish\tabout\tsuch\tthings. When\tInspector\tSlack\thad\tpolished\toff\tthe\tsecond\tglass,\the\tbegan\tto\tunbend and\tbecome\tgenial.\tSuch\tis\tthe\teffect\tof\tthat\tparticular\tport. \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t suppose\t it\t matters\t with\t you,\t sir,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cYou\u2019ll\t keep\t it\t to yourself?\tNo\tletting\tit\tget\tround\tthe\tparish.\u201d I\treassured\thim. \u201cSeeing\t as\t the\t whole\t thing\t happened\t in\t your\t house,\t it\t almost\t seems\t as though\tyou\thave\ta\tright\tto\tknow.\u201d \u201cJust\twhat\tI\tfeel\tmyself,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cWell,\t then,\t sir,\t what\t about\t the\t lady\t who\t called\t on\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t the night\tbefore\tthe\tmurder?\u201d \u201cMrs.\tLestrange,\u201d\tI\tcried,\tspeaking\trather\tloud\tin\tmy\tastonishment. The\tInspector\tthrew\tme\ta\treproachful\tglance. \u201cNot\t so\t loud,\t sir.\t Mrs.\t Lestrange\t is\t the\t lady\t I\u2019ve\t got\t my\t eye\t on.\t You remember\twhat\tI\ttold\tyou\u2014blackmail.\u201d \u201cHardly\ta\treason\tfor\tmurder.\tWouldn\u2019t\tit\tbe\ta\tcase\tof\tkilling\tthe\tgoose\tthat laid\t the\t golden\t eggs?\t That\t is,\t assuming\t that\t your\t hypothesis\t is\t true,\t which\t I don\u2019t\tfor\ta\tminute\tadmit.\u201d The\tInspector\twinked\tat\tme\tin\ta\tcommon\tmanner.","\u201cAh!\tShe\u2019s\tthe\tkind\tthe\tgentlemen\twill\talways\tstand\tup\tfor.\tNow\tlook\there, sir.\tSuppose\tshe\u2019s\tsuccessfully\tblackmailed\tthe\told\tgentleman\tin\tthe\tpast.\tAfter a\tlapse\tof\tyears,\tshe\tgets\twind\tof\thim,\t comes\tdown\there\tand\ttries\tit\t on\t again. But,\tin\tthe\tmeantime,\tthings\thave\tchanged.\tThe\tlaw\thas\ttaken\tup\ta\tvery\tdifferent stand.\t Every\t facility\t is\t given\t nowadays\t to\t people\t prosecuting\t for\t blackmail\u2014 names\t are\t not\t allowed\t to\t be\t reported\t in\t the\t press.\t Suppose\t Colonel\t Protheroe turns\t round\t and\t says\t he\u2019ll\t have\t the\t law\t on\t her.\t She\u2019s\t in\t a\t nasty\t position.\t They give\ta\tvery\tsevere\tsentence\tfor\tblackmail.\tThe\tboot\u2019s\ton\tthe\tother\tleg.\tThe\tonly thing\tto\tdo\tto\tsave\therself\tis\tto\tput\thim\tout\tgood\tand\tquick.\u201d I\t was\t silent.\t I\t had\t to\t admit\t that\t the\t case\t the\t Inspector\t had\t built\t up\t was plausible.\t Only\t one\t thing\t to\t my\t mind\t made\t it\t inadmissable\u2014the\t personality\t of Mrs.\tLestrange. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tagree\twith\tyou,\tInspector,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cMrs.\tLestrange\tdoesn\u2019t\tseem\tto me\t to\t be\t a\t potential\t blackmailer.\t She\u2019s\u2014well,\t it\u2019s\t an\t old-fashioned\t word,\t but she\u2019s\ta\u2014lady.\u201d He\tthrew\tme\ta\tpitying\tglance. \u201cAh!\twell,\tsir,\u201d\the\tsaid\ttolerantly,\t\u201cyou\u2019re\ta\tclergyman.\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thalf of\t what\t goes\t on.\t Lady\t indeed!\t You\u2019d\t be\t surprised\t if\t you\t knew\t some\t of\t the things\tI\tknow.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t referring\t to\t mere\t social\t position.\t Anyway,\t I\t should\t imagine\t Mrs. Lestrange\t to\t be\t a\t d\u00e9class\u00e9e.\t What\t I\t mean\t is\t a\t question\t of\u2014personal refinement.\u201d \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tsee\ther\twith\tthe\tsame\teyes\tas\tI\tdo,\tsir.\tI\tmay\tbe\ta\tman\u2014but\tI\u2019m a\t police\t officer,\t too.\t They\t can\u2019t\t get\t over\t me\t with\t their\t personal\t refinement. Why,\tthat\twoman\tis\tthe\tkind\twho\tcould\tstick\ta\tknife\tinto\tyou\twithout\tturning\ta hair.\u201d Curiously\t enough,\t I\t could\t believe\t Mrs.\t Lestrange\t guilty\t of\t murder\t much more\teasily\tthan\tI\tcould\tbelieve\ther\tcapable\tof\tblackmail. \u201cBut,\t of\t course,\t she\t can\u2019t\t have\t been\t telephoning\t to\t the\t old\t lady\t next\t door and\t shooting\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t at\t one\t and\t the\t same\t time,\u201d\t continued\t the Inspector. The\twords\twere\thardly\tout\tof\this\tmouth\twhen\the\tslapped\this\tleg\tferociously. \u201cGot\tit,\u201d\the\texclaimed.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tthe\tpoint\tof\tthe\ttelephone\tcall.\tKind\tof\talibi. Knew\t we\u2019d\t connect\t it\t with\t the\t first\t one.\t I\u2019m\t going\t to\t look\t into\t this.\t She\t may have\t bribed\t some\t village\t lad\t to\t do\t the\t phoning\t for\t her.\t He\u2019d\t never\t think\t of connecting\tit\twith\tthe\tmurder.\u201d The\tInspector\thurried\toff. \u201cMiss\t Marple\t wants\t to\t see\t you,\u201d\t said\t Griselda,\t putting\t her\t head\t in.\t \u201cShe sent\t over\t a\t very\t incoherent\t note\u2014all\t spidery\t and\t underlined.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t read","most\tof\tit.\tApparently\tshe\tcan\u2019t\tleave\thome\therself.\tHurry\tup\tand\tgo\tacross\tand see\ther\tand\tfind\tout\twhat\tit\tis.\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tmy\told\twomen\tcoming\tin\ttwo\tminutes\tor I\u2019d\t come\t myself.\t I\t do\t hate\t old\t women\u2014they\t tell\t you\t about\t their\t bad\t legs\t and sometimes\t insist\t on\t showing\t them\t to\t you.\t What\t luck\t that\t the\t inquest\t is\t this afternoon!\tYou\twon\u2019t\thave\tto\tgo\tand\twatch\tthe\tBoys\u2019\tClub\tCricket\tMatch.\u201d I\t hurried\t off,\t considerably\t exercised\t in\t my\t mind\t as\t to\t the\t reason\t for\t this summons. I\t found\t Miss\t Marple\t in\t what,\t I\t believe,\t is\t described\t as\t a\t fluster.\t She\t was very\tpink\tand\tslightly\tincoherent. \u201cMy\t nephew,\u201d\t she\t explained.\t \u201cMy\t nephew,\t Raymond\t West,\t the\t author.\t He is\t coming\t down\t today.\t Such\t a\t to-do.\t I\t have\t to\t see\t to\t everything\t myself.\t You cannot\t trust\t a\t maid\t to\t air\t a\t bed\t properly,\t and\t we\t must,\t of\t course,\t have\t a\t meat meal\t tonight.\t Gentlemen\t require\t such\t a\t lot\t of\t meat,\t do\t they\t not?\t And\t drink. There\tcertainly\tshould\tbe\tsome\tdrink\tin\tthe\thouse\u2014and\ta\tsiphon.\u201d \u201cIf\tI\tcan\tdo\tanything\u2014\u201d\tI\tbegan. \u201cOh!\tHow\tvery\tkind.\tBut\tI\tdid\tnot\tmean\tthat.\tThere\tis\tplenty\tof\ttime\treally. He\tbrings\this\town\tpipe\tand\ttobacco,\tI\tam\tglad\tto\tsay.\tGlad\tbecause\tit\tsaves\tme from\t knowing\t which\t kind\t of\t cigarettes\t are\t right\t to\t buy.\t But\t rather\t sorry,\t too, because\tit\ttakes\tso\tlong\tfor\tthe\tsmell\tto\tget\tout\tof\tthe\tcurtains.\tOf\tcourse,\tI\topen the\t window\t and\t shake\t them\t well\t very\t early\t every\t morning.\t Raymond\t gets\t up very\t late\u2014I\t think\t writers\t often\t do.\t He\t writes\t very\t clever\t books,\t I\t believe, though\tpeople\tare\tnot\treally\tnearly\tso\tunpleasant\tas\the\tmakes\tout.\tClever\tyoung men\tknow\tso\tlittle\tof\tlife,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink?\u201d \u201cWould\t you\t like\t to\t bring\t him\t to\t dinner\t at\t the\t Vicarage?\u201d\t I\t asked,\t still unable\tto\tgather\twhy\tI\thad\tbeen\tsummoned. \u201cOh!\tNo,\tthank\tyou,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tvery\tkind\tof\tyou,\u201d\tshe\tadded. \u201cThere\t was\u2014er\u2014something\t you\t wanted\t to\t see\t me\t about,\t I\t think,\u201d\t I suggested\tdesperately. \u201cOh!\tOf\tcourse.\tIn\tall\tthe\texcitement\tit\thad\tgone\tright\tout\tof\tmy\thead.\u201d\tShe broke\t off\t and\t called\t to\t her\t maid.\t \u201cEmily\u2014Emily.\t Not\t those\t sheets.\t The\t frilled ones\twith\tthe\tmonogram,\tand\tdon\u2019t\tput\tthem\ttoo\tnear\tthe\tfire.\u201d She\tclosed\tthe\tdoor\tand\treturned\tto\tme\ton\ttiptoe. \u201cIt\u2019s\t just\t rather\t a\t curious\t thing\t that\t happened\t last\t night,\u201d\t she\t explained.\t \u201cI thought\tyou\twould\tlike\tto\thear\tabout\tit,\tthough\tat\tthe\tmoment\tit\tdoesn\u2019t\tseem\tto make\t sense.\t I\t felt\t very\t wakeful\t last\t night\u2014wondering\t about\t all\t this\t sad business.\tAnd\tI\tgot\tup\tand\tlooked\tout\tof\tmy\twindow.\tAnd\twhat\tdo\tyou\tthink\tI saw?\u201d I\tlooked,\tinquiring. \u201cGladys\t Cram,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple,\t with\t great\t emphasis.\t \u201cAs\t I\t live,\t going","into\tthe\twood\twith\ta\tsuitcase.\u201d \u201cA\tsuitcase?\u201d \u201cIsn\u2019t\tit\textraordinary?\tWhat\tshould\tshe\twant\twith\ta\tsuitcase\tin\tthe\twood\tat twelve\to\u2019clock\tat\tnight? \u201cYou\t see,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple,\t \u201cI\t dare\t say\t it\t has\t nothing\t to\t do\t with\t the murder.\t But\t it\t is\t a\t Peculiar\t Thing.\t And\t just\t at\t present\t we\t all\t feel\t we\t must\t take notice\tof\tPeculiar\tThings.\u201d \u201cPerfectly\tamazing,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cWas\tshe\tgoing\tto\u2014er\u2014sleep\tin\tthe\tbarrow\tby any\tchance?\u201d \u201cShe\t didn\u2019t,\t at\t any\t rate,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple.\t \u201cBecause\t quite\t a\t short\t time afterwards\tshe\tcame\tback,\tand\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tgot\tthe\tsuitcase\twith\ther.\u201d","Eighteen \t The\tinquest\twas\theld\tthat\tafternoon\t(Saturday)\tat\ttwo\to\u2019clock\tat\tthe\tBlue\tBoar. The\t local\t excitement\t was,\t I\t need\t hardly\t say,\t tremendous.\t There\t had\t been\t no murder\t in\t St.\t Mary\t Mead\t for\t at\t least\t fifteen\t years.\t And\t to\t have\t someone\t like Colonel\t Protheroe\t murdered\t actually\t in\t the\t Vicarage\t study\t is\t such\t a\t feast\t of sensation\tas\trarely\tfalls\tto\tthe\tlot\tof\ta\tvillage\tpopulation. Various\t comments\t floated\t to\t my\t ears\t which\t I\t was\t probably\t not\t meant\t to hear. \u201cThere\u2019s\tVicar.\tLooks\tpale,\tdon\u2019t\the?\tI\twonder\tif\the\thad\ta\thand\tin\tit.\t\u2019Twas done\t at\t Vicarage,\t after\t all.\u201d\t \u201cHow\t can\t you,\t Mary\t Adams?\t And\t him\t visiting Henry\tAbbott\tat\tthe\ttime.\u201d\t\u201cOh!\tBut\tthey\tdo\tsay\thim\tand\tthe\tColonel\thad\twords. There\u2019s\t Mary\t Hill.\t Giving\t herself\t airs,\t she\t is,\t on\t account\t of\t being\t in\t service there.\tHush,\there\u2019s\tcoroner.\u201d The\t coroner\t was\t Dr.\t Roberts\t of\t our\t adjoining\t town\t of\t Much\t Benham.\t He cleared\this\tthroat,\tadjusted\this\teyeglasses,\tand\tlooked\timportant. To\t recapitulate\t all\t the\t evidence\t would\t be\t merely\t tiresome.\t Lawrence Redding\t gave\t evidence\t of\t finding\t the\t body,\t and\t identified\t the\t pistol\t as belonging\t to\t him.\t To\t the\t best\t of\t his\t belief\t he\t had\t seen\t it\t on\t the\t Tuesday,\t two days\tpreviously.\tIt\twas\tkept\ton\ta\tshelf\tin\this\tcottage,\tand\tthe\tdoor\tof\tthe\tcottage was\thabitually\tunlocked. Mrs.\t Protheroe\t gave\t evidence\t that\t she\t had\t last\t seen\t her\t husband\t at\t about\t a quarter\tto\tsix\twhen\tthey\tseparated\tin\tthe\tvillage\tstreet.\tShe\tagreed\tto\tcall\tfor\thim at\t the\t Vicarage\t later.\t She\t had\t gone\t to\t the\t Vicarage\t about\t a\t quarter\t past\t six,\t by way\tof\tthe\tback\tlane\tand\tthe\tgarden\tgate.\tShe\thad\theard\tno\tvoices\tin\tthe\tstudy and\t had\t imagined\t that\t the\t room\t was\t empty,\t but\t her\t husband\t might\t have\t been sitting\tat\tthe\twriting\ttable,\tin\twhich\tcase\tshe\twould\tnot\thave\tseen\thim.\tAs\tfar\tas she\t knew,\t he\t had\t been\t in\t his\t usual\t health\t and\t spirits.\t She\t knew\t of\t no\t enemy who\tmight\thave\thad\ta\tgrudge\tagainst\thim. I\t gave\t evidence\t next,\t told\t of\t my\t appointment\t with\t Protheroe\t and\t my summons\t to\t the\t Abbotts.\u2019\t I\t described\t how\t I\t had\t found\t the\t body\t and\t my","summoning\tof\tDr.\tHaydock. \u201cHow\t many\t people,\t Mr.\t Clement,\t were\t aware\t that\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t was coming\tto\tsee\tyou\tthat\tevening?\u201d \u201cA\t good\t many,\t I\t should\t imagine.\t My\t wife\t knew,\t and\t my\t nephew,\t and Colonel\tProtheroe\thimself\talluded\tto\tthe\tfact\tthat\tmorning\twhen\tI\tmet\thim\tin\tthe village.\t I\t should\t think\t several\t people\t might\t have\t overheard\t him,\t as,\t being slightly\tdeaf,\the\tspoke\tin\ta\tloud\tvoice.\u201d \u201cIt\twas,\tthen,\ta\tmatter\tof\tcommon\tknowledge?\tAnyone\tmight\tknow?\u201d I\tagreed. Haydock\tfollowed.\tHe\twas\tan\timportant\twitness.\tHe\tdescribed\tcarefully\tand technically\tthe\tappearance\tof\tthe\tbody\tand\tthe\texact\tinjuries.\tIt\twas\this\topinion that\t the\t deceased\t had\t been\t shot\t at\t approximately\t 6:20\t to\t 6:30\u2014certainly\t not later\tthan\t6:35.\tThat\twas\tthe\toutside\tlimit.\tHe\twas\tpositive\tand\temphatic\ton\tthat point.\t There\t was\t no\t question\t of\t suicide,\t the\t wound\t could\t not\t have\t been\t self- inflicted. Inspector\t Slack\u2019s\t evidence\t was\t discreet\t and\t abridged.\t He\t described\t his summons\t and\t the\t circumstances\t under\t which\t he\t had\t found\t the\t body.\t The unfinished\tletter\twas\tproduced\tand\tthe\ttime\ton\tit\u20146:20\u2014noted.\tAlso\tthe\tclock. It\t was\t tacitly\t assumed\t that\t the\t time\t of\t death\t was\t 6:22.\t The\t police\t were\t giving nothing\t away.\t Anne\t Protheroe\t told\t me\t afterwards\t that\t she\t had\t been\t told\t to suggest\ta\tslightly\tearlier\tperiod\tof\ttime\tthan\t6:20\tfor\ther\tvisit. Our\t maid,\t Mary,\t was\t the\t next\t witness,\t and\t proved\t a\t somewhat\t truculent one.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t heard\t anything,\t and\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t hear\t anything.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t as though\t gentlemen\t who\t came\t to\t see\t the\t Vicar\t usually\t got\t shot.\t They\t didn\u2019t. She\u2019d\tgot\ther\town\tjobs\tto\tlook\tafter.\tColonel\tProtheroe\thad\tarrived\tat\ta\tquarter past\t six\t exactly.\t No,\t she\t didn\u2019t\t look\t at\t the\t clock.\t She\t heard\t the\t church\t chime after\t she\t had\t shown\t him\t into\t the\t study.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t hear\t any\t shot.\t If\t there\t had been\ta\tshot\tshe\u2019d\thave\theard\tit.\tWell,\tof\tcourse,\tshe\tknew\tthere\tmust\thave\tbeen a\t shot,\t since\t the\t gentleman\t was\t found\t shot\u2014but\t there\t it\t was.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t heard it. The\tcoroner\tdid\tnot\tpress\tthe\tpoint.\tI\trealized\tthat\the\tand\tColonel\tMelchett were\tworking\tin\tagreement. Mrs.\t Lestrange\t had\t been\t subpoenaed\t to\t give\t evidence,\t but\t a\t medical certificate,\t signed\t by\t Dr.\t Haydock,\t was\t produced\t saying\t she\t was\t too\t ill\t to attend. There\t was\t only\t one\t other\t witness,\t a\t somewhat\t doddering\t old\t woman.\t The one\twho,\tin\tSlack\u2019s\tphrase,\t\u201cdid\tfor\u201d\tLawrence\tRedding. Mrs.\tArcher\twas\tshown\tthe\tpistol\tand\trecognized\tit\tas\tthe\tone\tshe\thad\tseen in\t Mr.\t Redding\u2019s\t sitting\t room\t \u201cover\t against\t the\t bookcase,\t he\t kept\t it,\t lying","about.\u201d\t She\t had\t last\t seen\t it\t on\t the\t day\t of\t the\t murder.\t Yes\u2014in\t answer\t to\t a further\t question\u2014she\t was\t quite\t sure\t it\t was\t there\t at\t lunchtime\t on\t Thursday\u2014 quarter\tto\tone\twhen\tshe\tleft. I\t remembered\t what\t the\t Inspector\t had\t told\t me,\t and\t I\t was\t mildly\t surprised. However\t vague\t she\t might\t have\t been\t when\t he\t questioned\t her,\t she\t was\t quite positive\tabout\tit\tnow. The\t coroner\t summed\t up\t in\t a\t negative\t manner,\t but\t with\t a\t good\t deal\t of firmness.\tThe\tverdict\twas\tgiven\talmost\timmediately: Murder\tby\tPerson\tor\tPersons\tunknown. As\t I\t left\t the\t room\t I\t was\t aware\t of\t a\t small\t army\t of\t young\t men\t with\t bright, alert\t faces\t and\t a\t kind\t of\t superficial\t resemblance\t to\t each\t other.\t Several\t of\t them were\talready\tknown\tto\tme\tby\tsight\tas\thaving\thaunted\tthe\tVicarage\tthe\tlast\tfew days.\t Seeking\t to\t escape,\t I\t plunged\t back\t into\t the\t Blue\t Boar\t and\t was\t lucky enough\t to\t run\t straight\t into\t the\t archaeologist,\t Dr.\t Stone.\t I\t clutched\t at\t him without\tceremony. \u201cJournalists,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tbriefly\tand\texpressively.\t\u201cIf\tyou\tcould\tdeliver\tme\tfrom their\tclutches?\u201d \u201cWhy,\tcertainly,\tMr.\tClement.\tCome\tupstairs\twith\tme.\u201d He\tled\tthe\tway\tup\tthe\tnarrow\tstaircase\tand\tinto\this\tsitting\troom,\twhere\tMiss Cram\t was\t sitting\t rattling\t the\t keys\t of\t a\t typewriter\t with\t a\t practised\t touch.\t She greeted\t me\t with\t a\t broad\t smile\t of\t welcome\t and\t seized\t the\t opportunity\t to\t stop work. \u201cAwful,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cNot\t knowing\t who\t did\t it,\t I\t mean.\t Not\t but\t that I\u2019m\t disappointed\t in\t an\t inquest.\t Tame,\t that\u2019s\t what\t I\t call\t it.\t Nothing\t what\t you might\tcall\tspicy\tfrom\tbeginning\tto\tend.\u201d \u201cYou\twere\tthere,\tthen,\tMiss\tCram?\u201d \u201cI\twas\tthere\tall\tright.\tFancy\tyour\tnot\tseeing\tme.\tDidn\u2019t\tyou\tsee\tme?\tI\tfeel\ta bit\t hurt\t about\t that.\t Yes,\t I\t do.\t A\t gentleman,\t even\t if\t he\t is\t a\t clergyman,\t ought\t to have\teyes\tin\this\thead.\u201d \u201cWere\tyou\tpresent\talso?\u201d\tI\tasked\tDr.\tStone,\tin\tan\teffort\tto\tescape\tfrom\tthis playful\tbadinage.\tYoung\twomen\tlike\tMiss\tCram\talways\tmake\tme\tfeel\tawkward. \u201cNo,\t I\u2019m\t afraid\t I\t feel\t very\t little\t interest\t in\t such\t things.\t I\t am\t a\t man\t very wrapped\tup\tin\this\town\thobby.\u201d \u201cIt\tmust\tbe\ta\tvery\tinteresting\thobby,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cYou\tknow\tsomething\tof\tit,\tperhaps?\u201d I\twas\tobliged\tto\tconfess\tthat\tI\tknew\tnext\tto\tnothing. Dr.\tStone\twas\tnot\tthe\tkind\tof\tman\twhom\ta\tconfession\tof\tignorance\tdaunts. The\t result\t was\t exactly\t the\t same\t as\t though\t I\t had\t said\t that\t the\t excavation\t of barrows\t was\t my\t only\t relaxation.\t He\t surged\t and\t eddied\t into\t speech.\t Long","barrows,\t round\t barrows,\t stone\t age,\t bronze\t age,\t paleolithic,\t neolithic\t kistvaens and\tcromlechs,\tit\tburst\tforth\tin\ta\ttorrent.\tI\thad\tlittle\tto\tdo\tsave\tnod\tmy\thead\tand look\tintelligent\u2014and\tthat\tlast\tis\tperhaps\tover\toptimistic.\tDr.\tStone\tboomed\ton. He\twas\ta\tlittle\tman.\tHis\thead\twas\tround\tand\tbald,\this\tface\twas\tround\tand\trosy, and\the\tbeamed\tat\tyou\tthrough\tvery\tstrong\tglasses.\tI\thave\tnever\tknown\ta\tman\tso enthusiastic\t on\t so\t little\t encouragement.\t He\t went\t into\t every\t argument\t for\t and against\this\town\tpet\ttheory\u2014which,\tby\tthe\tway,\tI\tquite\tfailed\tto\tgrasp! He\tdetailed\tat\tgreat\tlength\this\tdifference\tof\topinion\twith\tColonel\tProtheroe. \u201cAn\topinionated\tboor,\u201d\the\tsaid\twith\theat.\t\u201cYes,\tyes,\tI\tknow\the\tis\tdead,\tand one\t should\t speak\t no\t ill\t of\t the\t dead.\t But\t death\t does\t not\t alter\t facts.\t An opinionated\tboor\tdescribes\thim\texactly.\tBecause\the\thad\tread\ta\tfew\tbooks,\the\tset himself\tup\tas\tan\tauthority\u2014against\ta\tman\twho\thas\tmade\ta\tlifelong\tstudy\tof\tthe subject.\tMy\twhole\tlife,\tMr.\tClement,\thas\tbeen\tgiven\tup\tto\tthis\twork.\tMy\twhole life\u2014\u201d He\twas\tspluttering\twith\texcitement.\tGladys\tCram\tbrought\thim\tback\tto\tearth with\ta\tterse\tsentence. \u201cYou\u2019ll\tmiss\tyour\ttrain\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tlook\tout,\u201d\tshe\tobserved. \u201cOh!\u201d\t The\t little\t man\t stopped\t in\t mid\t speech\t and\t dragged\t a\t watch\t from\t his pocket.\t\u201cBless\tmy\tsoul.\tQuarter\tto?\tImpossible.\u201d \u201cOnce\t you\t start\t talking\t you\t never\t remember\t the\t time.\t What\t you\u2019d\t do without\tme\tto\tlook\tafter\tyou,\tI\treally\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u201d \u201cQuite\t right,\t my\t dear,\t quite\t right.\u201d\t He\t patted\t her\t affectionately\t on\t the shoulder.\t \u201cThis\t is\t a\t wonderful\t girl,\t Mr.\t Clement.\t Never\t forgets\t anything.\t I consider\tmyself\textremely\tlucky\tto\thave\tfound\ther.\u201d \u201cOh!\tGo\ton,\tDr.\tStone,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tlady.\t\u201cYou\tspoil\tme,\tyou\tdo.\u201d I\t could\t not\t help\t feeling\t that\t I\t should\t be\t in\t a\t material\t position\t to\t add\t my support\tto\tthe\tsecond\tschool\tof\tthought\u2014that\twhich\tforesees\tlawful\tmatrimony as\tthe\tfuture\tof\tDr.\tStone\tand\tMiss\tCram.\tI\timagined\tthat\tin\ther\town\tway\tMiss Cram\twas\trather\ta\tclever\tyoung\twoman. \u201cYou\u2019d\tbetter\tbe\tgetting\talong,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tCram. \u201cYes,\tyes,\tso\tI\tmust.\u201d He\tvanished\tinto\tthe\troom\tnext\tdoor\tand\treturned\tcarrying\ta\tsuitcase. \u201cYou\tare\tleaving?\u201d\tI\tasked\tin\tsome\tsurprise. \u201cJust\t running\t up\t to\t town\t for\t a\t couple\t of\t days,\u201d\t he\t explained.\t \u201cMy\t old mother\t to\t see\t tomorrow,\t some\t business\t with\t my\t lawyers\t on\t Monday.\t On Tuesday\tI\tshall\treturn.\tBy\tthe\tway,\tI\tsuppose\tthat\tColonel\tProtheroe\u2019s\tdeath\twill make\t no\t difference\t to\t our\t arrangements.\t As\t regards\t the\t barrow,\t I\t mean.\t Mrs. Protheroe\twill\thave\tno\tobjection\tto\tour\tcontinuing\tthe\twork?\u201d \u201cI\tshould\tnot\tthink\tso.\u201d","As\the\tspoke,\tI\twondered\twho\tactually\twould\tbe\tin\tauthority\tat\tOld\tHall.\tIt was\tjust\tpossible\tthat\tProtheroe\tmight\thave\tleft\tit\tto\tLettice.\tI\tfelt\tthat\tit\twould be\tinteresting\tto\tknow\tthe\tcontents\tof\tProtheroe\u2019s\twill. \u201cCauses\t a\t lot\t of\t trouble\t in\t a\t family,\t a\t death\t does,\u201d\t remarked\t Miss\t Cram, with\t a\t kind\t of\t gloomy\t relish.\t \u201cYou\t wouldn\u2019t\t believe\t what\t a\t nasty\t spirit\t there sometimes\tis.\u201d \u201cWell,\t I\t must\t really\t be\t going.\u201d\t Dr.\t Stone\t made\t ineffectual\t attempts\t to control\tthe\tsuitcase,\ta\tlarge\trug\tand\tan\tunwieldy\tumbrella.\tI\tcame\tto\this\trescue. He\tprotested. \u201cDon\u2019t\t trouble\u2014don\u2019t\t trouble.\t I\t can\t manage\t perfectly.\t Doubtless\t there\t will be\tsomebody\tdownstairs.\u201d But\tdown\tbelow\tthere\twas\tno\ttrace\tof\ta\tboots\tor\tanyone\telse.\tI\tsuspect\tthat they\twere\tbeing\tregaled\tat\tthe\texpense\tof\tthe\tPress.\tTime\twas\tgetting\ton,\tso\twe set\tout\ttogether\tto\tthe\tstation,\tDr.\tStone\tcarrying\tthe\tsuitcase,\tand\tI\tholding\tthe rug\tand\tumbrella. Dr.\t Stone\t ejaculated\t remarks\t in\t between\t panting\t breaths\t as\t we\t hurried along. \u201cReally\t too\t good\t of\t you\u2014didn\u2019t\t mean\u2014to\t trouble\t you\t \u2026\t Hope\t we\t shan\u2019t miss\u2014the\t train\u2014Gladys\t is\t a\t good\t girl\u2014really\t a\t wonderful\t girl\u2014a\t very\t sweet nature\u2014not\t too\t happy\t at\t home,\t I\u2019m\t afraid\u2014absolutely\u2014the\t heart\t of\t a\t child\u2014 heart\tof\ta\tchild.\tI\tdo\tassure\tyou,\tin\tspite\tof\u2014difference\tin\tour\tages\u2014find\ta\tlot\tin common\u2026.\u201d We\t saw\t Lawrence\t Redding\u2019s\t cottage\t just\t as\t we\t turned\t off\t to\t the\t station.\t It stands\tin\tan\tisolated\tposition\twith\tno\tother\thouses\tnear\tit.\tI\tobserved\ttwo\tyoung men\tof\tsmart\tappearance\tstanding\ton\tthe\tdoorstep\tand\ta\tcouple\tmore\tpeering\tin at\tthe\twindows.\tIt\twas\ta\tbusy\tday\tfor\tthe\tPress. \u201cNice\t fellow,\t young\t Redding,\u201d\t I\t remarked,\t to\t see\t what\t my\t companion would\tsay. He\twas\tso\tout\tof\tbreath\tby\tthis\ttime\tthat\the\tfound\tit\tdifficult\tto\tsay\tanything, but\the\tpuffed\tout\ta\tword\twhich\tI\tdid\tnot\tat\tfirst\tquite\tcatch. \u201cDangerous,\u201d\the\tgasped,\twhen\tI\tasked\thim\tto\trepeat\this\tremark. \u201cDangerous?\u201d \u201cMost\tdangerous.\tInnocent\tgirls\u2014know\tno\tbetter\u2014taken\tin\tby\ta\tfellow\tlike that\u2014always\thanging\tround\twomen\t\u2026\tNo\tgood.\u201d From\twhich\tI\tdeduced\tthat\tthe\tonly\tyoung\tman\tin\tthe\tvillage\thad\tnot\tpassed unnoticed\tby\tthe\tfair\tGladys. \u201cGoodness,\u201d\tejaculated\tDr.\tStone.\t\u201cThe\ttrain!\u201d We\twere\tclose\tto\tthe\tstation\tby\tthis\ttime\tand\twe\tbroke\tinto\ta\tfast\tsprint.\tA down\ttrain\twas\tstanding\tin\tthe\tstation\tand\tthe\tup\tLondon\ttrain\twas\tjust\tcoming","in. At\tthe\tdoor\tof\tthe\tbooking\toffice\twe\tcollided\twith\ta\trather\texquisite\tyoung man,\t and\t I\t recognized\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t nephew\t just\t arriving.\t He\t is,\t I\t think,\t a young\tman\twho\tdoes\tnot\tlike\tto\tbe\tcollided\twith.\tHe\tprides\thimself\ton\this\tpoise and\t general\t air\t of\t detachment,\t and\t there\t is\t no\t doubt\t that\t vulgar\t contact\t is detrimental\tto\tpoise\tof\tany\tkind.\tHe\tstaggered\tback.\tI\tapologized\thastily\tand\twe passed\tin.\tDr.\tStone\tclimbed\ton\tthe\ttrain\tand\tI\thanded\tup\this\tbaggage\tjust\tas\tthe train\tgave\tan\tunwilling\tjerk\tand\tstarted. I\twaved\tto\thim\tand\tthen\tturned\taway.\tRaymond\tWest\thad\tdeparted,\tbut\tour local\tchemist,\twho\trejoices\tin\tthe\tname\tof\tCherubim,\twas\tjust\tsetting\tout\tfor\tthe village.\tI\twalked\tbeside\thim. \u201cClose\t shave\t that,\u201d\t he\t observed.\t \u201cWell,\t how\t did\t the\t inquest\t go,\t Mr. Clement?\u201d I\tgave\thim\tthe\tverdict. \u201cOh!\t So\t that\u2019s\t what\t happened.\t I\t rather\t thought\t that\t would\t be\t the\t verdict. Where\u2019s\tDr.\tStone\toff\tto?\u201d I\trepeated\twhat\the\thad\ttold\tme. \u201cLucky\tnot\tto\tmiss\tthe\ttrain.\tNot\tthat\tyou\tever\tknow\ton\tthis\tline.\tI\ttell\tyou, Mr.\tClement,\tit\u2019s\ta\tcrying\tshame.\tDisgraceful,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tI\tcall\tit.\tTrain\tI\tcame down\tby\twas\tten\tminutes\tlate.\tAnd\tthat\ton\ta\tSaturday\twith\tno\ttraffic\tto\tspeak\tof. And\t on\t Wednesday\u2014no,\t Thursday\u2014yes,\t Thursday\t it\t was\u2014I\t remember\t it\t was the\t day\t of\t the\t murder\t because\t I\t meant\t to\t write\t a\t strongly-worded\t complaint\t to the\t company\u2014and\t the\t murder\t put\t it\t out\t of\t my\t head\u2014yes,\t last\t Thursday.\t I\t had been\tto\ta\tmeeting\tof\tthe\tPharmaceutical\tSociety.\tHow\tlate\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthe\t6:50 was?\t Half\t an\t hour.\t Half\t an\t hour\t exactly!\t What\t do\t you\t think\t of\t that?\t Ten minutes\tI\tdon\u2019t\tmind.\tBut\tif\tthe\ttrain\tdoesn\u2019t\tget\tin\ttill\ttwenty\tpast\tseven,\twell, you\tcan\u2019t\tget\thome\tbefore\thalf\tpast.\tWhat\tI\tsay\tis,\twhy\tcall\tit\tthe\t6:50?\u201d \u201cQuite\tso,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\twishing\tto\tescape\tfrom\tthe\tmonologue\tI\tbroke\taway with\t the\t excuse\t that\t I\t had\t something\t to\t say\t to\t Lawrence\t Redding\t whom\t I\t saw approaching\tus\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\troad.","Nineteen \t \u201cVery\tglad\tto\thave\tmet\tyou,\u201d\tsaid\tLawrence.\t\u201cCome\tto\tmy\tplace.\u201d We\t turned\t in\t at\t the\t little\t rustic\t gate,\t went\t up\t the\t path,\t and\t he\t drew\t a\t key from\this\tpocket\tand\tinserted\tit\tin\tthe\tlock. \u201cYou\tkeep\tthe\tdoor\tlocked\tnow,\u201d\tI\tobserved. \u201cYes.\u201d\t He\t laughed\t rather\t bitterly.\t \u201cCase\t of\t stable\t door\t when\t the\t steed\t is gone,\t eh?\t It\t is\t rather\t like\t that.\t You\t know,\t padre,\u201d\t he\t held\t the\t door\t open\t and\t I passed\tinside,\t\u201cthere\u2019s\tsomething\tabout\tall\tthis\tbusiness\tthat\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike.\tIt\u2019s\ttoo much\tof\u2014how\tshall\tI\tput\tit\u2014an\tinside\tjob.\tSomeone\tknew\tabout\tthat\tpistol\tof mine.\tThat\tmeans\tthat\tthe\tmurderer,\twhoever\the\twas,\tmust\thave\tactually\tbeen\tin this\thouse\u2014perhaps\teven\thad\ta\tdrink\twith\tme.\u201d \u201cNot\tnecessarily,\u201d\tI\tobjected.\t\u201cThe\twhole\tvillage\tof\tSt.\tMary\tMead\tprobably knows\t exactly\t where\t you\t keep\t your\t toothbrush\t and\t what\t kind\t of\t tooth\t powder you\tuse.\u201d \u201cBut\twhy\tshould\tit\tinterest\tthem?\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cbut\tit\tdoes.\tIf\tyou\tchange\tyour\tshaving\tcream\tit\twill be\ta\ttopic\tof\tconversation.\u201d \u201cThey\tmust\tbe\tvery\thard\tup\tfor\tnews.\u201d \u201cThey\tare.\tNothing\texciting\tever\thappens\there.\u201d \u201cWell,\tit\thas\tnow\u2014with\ta\tvengeance.\u201d I\tagreed. \u201cAnd\twho\ttells\tthem\tall\tthese\tthings\tanyway?\tShaving\tcream\tand\tthings\tlike that?\u201d \u201cProbably\told\tMrs.\tArcher.\u201d \u201cThat\told\tcrone?\tShe\u2019s\tpractically\ta\thalf-wit,\tas\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\tmake\tout.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tmerely\tthe\tcamouflage\tof\tthe\tpoor,\u201d\tI\texplained.\t\u201cThey\ttake\trefuge behind\ta\tmask\tof\tstupidity.\tYou\u2019ll\tprobably\tfind\tthat\tthe\told\tlady\thas\tall\ther\twits about\t her.\t By\t the\t way,\t she\t seems\t very\t certain\t now\t that\t the\t pistol\t was\t in\t its proper\tplace\tmidday\tThursday.\tWhat\u2019s\tmade\ther\tso\tpositive\tall\tof\ta\tsudden?\u201d \u201cI\thaven\u2019t\tthe\tleast\tidea.\u201d","\u201cDo\tyou\tthink\tshe\u2019s\tright?\u201d \u201cThere\tagain\tI\thaven\u2019t\tthe\tleast\tidea.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tgo\tround\ttaking\tan\tinventory\tof my\tpossessions\tevery\tday.\u201d I\tlooked\tround\tthe\tsmall\tliving\troom.\tEvery\tshelf\tand\ttable\twas\tlittered\twith miscellaneous\t articles.\t Lawrence\t lived\t in\t the\t midst\t of\t an\t artistic\t disarray\t that would\thave\tdriven\tme\tquite\tmad. \u201cIt\u2019s\ta\tbit\tof\ta\tjob\tfinding\tthings\tsometimes,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tobserving\tmy\tglance. \u201cOn\tthe\tother\thand,\teverything\tis\thandy\u2014not\ttucked\taway.\u201d \u201cNothing\t is\t tucked\t away,\t certainly,\u201d\t I\t agreed.\t \u201cIt\t might\t perhaps\t have\t been better\tif\tthe\tpistol\thad\tbeen.\u201d \u201cDo\t you\t know\t I\t rather\t expected\t the\t coroner\t to\t say\t something\t of\t the\t sort. Coroners\tare\tsuch\tasses.\tI\texpected\tto\tbe\tcensured\tor\twhatever\tthey\tcall\tit.\u201d \u201cBy\tthe\tway,\u201d\tI\tasked,\t\u201cwas\tit\tloaded?\u201d Lawrence\tshook\this\thead. \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t quite\t so\t careless\t as\t that.\t It\t was\t unloaded,\t but\t there\t was\t a\t box\t of cartridges\tbeside\tit.\u201d \u201cIt\twas\tapparently\tloaded\tin\tall\tsix\tchambers\tand\tone\tshot\thad\tbeen\tfired.\u201d Lawrence\tnodded. \u201cAnd\twhose\thand\tfired\tit?\tIt\u2019s\tall\tvery\twell,\tsir,\tbut\tunless\tthe\treal\tmurderer is\tdiscovered\tI\tshall\tbe\tsuspected\tof\tthe\tcrime\tto\tthe\tday\tof\tmy\tdeath.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\tsay\tthat,\tmy\tboy.\u201d \u201cBut\tI\tdo\tsay\tit.\u201d He\tbecame\tsilent,\tfrowning\tto\thimself.\tHe\troused\thimself\tat\tlast\tand\tsaid: \u201cBut\t let\t me\t tell\t you\t how\t I\t got\t on\t last\t night.\t You\t know,\t old\t Miss\t Marple knows\ta\tthing\tor\ttwo.\u201d \u201cShe\tis,\tI\tbelieve,\trather\tunpopular\ton\tthat\taccount.\u201d Lawrence\tproceeded\tto\trecount\this\tstory. He\t had,\t following\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t advice,\t gone\t up\t to\t Old\t Hall.\t There,\t with Anne\u2019s\tassistance,\the\thad\thad\tan\tinterview\twith\tthe\tparlourmaid.\tAnne\thad\tsaid simply: \u201cMr.\tRedding\twants\tto\task\tyou\ta\tfew\tquestions,\tRose.\u201d Then\tshe\thad\tleft\tthe\troom. Lawrence\t had\t felt\t somewhat\t nervous.\t Rose,\t a\t pretty\t girl\t of\t twenty-five, gazed\tat\thim\twith\ta\tlimpid\tgaze\twhich\the\tfound\trather\tdisconcerting. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2014it\u2019s\tabout\tColonel\tProtheroe\u2019s\tdeath.\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tvery\tanxious,\tyou\tsee,\tto\tget\tat\tthe\ttruth.\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cI\t feel\t that\t there\t may\t be\u2014that\t someone\t might\u2014that\u2014that\t there\t might\t be","some\tincident\u2014\u201d At\tthis\tpoint\tLawrence\tfelt\tthat\the\twas\tnot\tcovering\thimself\twith\tglory,\tand heartily\tcursed\tMiss\tMarple\tand\ther\tsuggestions. \u201cI\twondered\tif\tyou\tcould\thelp\tme?\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir?\u201d Rose\u2019s\t demeanour\t was\t still\t that\t of\t the\t perfect\t servant,\t polite,\t anxious\t to assist,\tand\tcompletely\tuninterested. \u201cDash\t it\t all,\u201d\t said\t Lawrence,\t \u201chaven\u2019t\t you\t talked\t the\t thing\t over\t in\t the servants\u2019\thall?\u201d This\tmethod\tof\tattack\tflustered\tRose\tslightly.\tHer\tperfect\tpoise\twas\tshaken. \u201cIn\tthe\tservants\u2019\thall,\tsir?\u201d \u201cOr\t the\t housekeeper\u2019s\t room,\t or\t the\t bootboy\u2019s\t dugout,\t or\t wherever\t you\t do talk?\tThere\tmust\tbe\tsome\tplace.\u201d Rose\t displayed\t a\t very\t faint\t disposition\t to\t giggle,\t and\t Lawrence\t felt encouraged. \u201cLook\there,\tRose,\tyou\u2019re\tan\tawfully\tnice\tgirl.\tI\u2019m\tsure\tyou\tmust\tunderstand what\t I\u2019m\t feeling\t like.\t I\t don\u2019t\t want\t to\t be\t hanged.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t murder\t your\t master, but\ta\tlot\tof\tpeople\tthink\tI\tdid.\tCan\u2019t\tyou\thelp\tme\tin\tany\tway?\u201d I\t can\t imagine\t at\t this\t point\t that\t Lawrence\t must\t have\t looked\t extremely appealing.\tHis\thandsome\thead\tthrown\tback,\this\tIrish\tblue\teyes\tappealing.\tRose softened\tand\tcapitulated. \u201cOh,\tsir!\tI\u2019m\tsure\u2014if\tany\tof\tus\tcould\thelp\tin\tany\tway.\tNone\tof\tus\tthink\tyou did\tit,\tsir.\tIndeed\twe\tdon\u2019t.\u201d \u201cI\tknow,\tmy\tdear\tgirl,\tbut\tthat\u2019s\tnot\tgoing\tto\thelp\tme\twith\tthe\tpolice.\u201d \u201cThe\tpolice!\u201d\tRose\ttossed\ther\thead.\t\u201cI\tcan\ttell\tyou,\tsir,\twe\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tmuch of\tthat\tInspector.\tSlack,\the\tcalls\thimself.\tThe\tpolice\tindeed.\u201d \u201cAll\t the\t same,\t the\t police\t are\t very\t powerful.\t Now,\t Rose,\t you\t say\t you\u2019ll\t do your\t best\t to\t help\t me.\t I\t can\u2019t\t help\t feeling\t that\t there\u2019s\t a\t lot\t we\t haven\u2019t\t got\t yet. The\t lady,\t for\t instance,\t who\t called\t to\t see\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t the\t night\t before\t he died.\u201d \u201cMrs.\tLestrange?\u201d \u201cYes,\tMrs.\tLestrange.\tI\tcan\u2019t\thelp\tfeeling\tthere\u2019s\tsomething\trather\todd\tabout that\tvisit\tof\thers.\u201d \u201cYes,\tindeed,\tsir,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\twe\tall\tsaid.\u201d \u201cYou\tdid?\u201d \u201cComing\tthe\tway\tshe\tdid.\tAnd\tasking\tfor\tthe\tColonel.\tAnd\tof\tcourse\tthere\u2019s been\t a\t lot\t of\t talk\u2014nobody\t knowing\t anything\t about\t her\t down\t here.\t And\t Mrs. Simmons,\t she\u2019s\t the\t housekeeper,\t sir,\t she\t gave\t it\t as\t her\t opinion\t that\t she\t was\t a regular\tbad\tlot.\tBut\tafter\thearing\twhat\tGladdie\tsaid,\twell,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tto","think.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\tGladdie\tsay?\u201d \u201cOh,\tnothing,\tsir!\tIt\twas\tjust\u2014we\twere\ttalking,\tyou\tknow.\u201d Lawrence\tlooked\tat\ther.\tHe\thad\tthe\tfeeling\tof\tsomething\tkept\tback. \u201cI\twonder\tvery\tmuch\twhat\ther\tinterview\twith\tColonel\tProtheroe\twas\tabout.\u201d \u201cYes,\tsir.\u201d \u201cI\tbelieve\tyou\tknow,\tRose?\u201d \u201cMe?\tOh,\tno,\tsir!\tIndeed\tI\tdon\u2019t.\tHow\tcould\tI?\u201d \u201cLook\t here,\t Rose.\t You\t said\t you\u2019d\t help\t me.\t If\t you\t overheard\t anything, anything\t at\t all\u2014it\t mightn\u2019t\t seem\t important,\t but\t anything\t \u2026\t I\u2019d\t be\t so\t awfully grateful\tto\tyou.\tAfter\tall,\tanyone\tmight\u2014might\tchance\u2014just\tchance\tto\toverhear something.\u201d \u201cBut\tI\tdidn\u2019t,\tsir,\treally,\tI\tdidn\u2019t.\u201d \u201cThen\tsomebody\telse\tdid,\u201d\tsaid\tLawrence\tacutely. \u201cWell,\tsir\u2014\u201d \u201cDo\ttell\tme,\tRose.\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tGladdie\twould\tsay,\tI\u2019m\tsure.\u201d \u201cShe\u2019d\twant\tyou\tto\ttell\tme.\tWho\tis\tGladdie,\tby\tthe\tway?\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s\tthe\tkitchenmaid,\tsir.\tAnd\tyou\tsee,\tshe\u2019d\tjust\tstepped\tout\tto\tspeak\tto\ta friend,\t and\t she\t was\t passing\t the\t window\u2014the\t study\t window\u2014and\t the\t master was\t there\t with\t the\t lady.\t And\t of\t course\t he\t did\t speak\t very\t loud,\t the\t master\t did, always.\tAnd\tnaturally,\tfeeling\ta\tlittle\tcurious\u2014I\tmean\u2014\u201d \u201cAwfully\t natural,\u201d\t said\t Lawrence,\t \u201cI\t mean\t one\t would\t simply\t have\t to listen.\u201d \u201cBut\t of\t course\t she\t didn\u2019t\t tell\t anyone\u2014except\t me.\t And\t we\t both\t thought\t it very\t odd.\t But\t Gladdie\t couldn\u2019t\t say\t anything,\t you\t see,\t because\t if\t it\t was\t known she\u2019d\t gone\t out\t to\t meet\u2014a\u2014a\t friend\u2014well,\t it\t would\t have\t meant\t a\t lot\t of unpleasantness\t with\t Mrs.\t Pratt,\t that\u2019s\t the\t cook,\t sir.\t But\t I\u2019m\t sure\t she\u2019d\t tell\t you anything,\tsir,\twilling.\u201d \u201cWell,\tcan\tI\tgo\tto\tthe\tkitchen\tand\tspeak\tto\ther?\u201d Rose\twas\thorrified\tby\tthe\tsuggestion. \u201cOh,\t no,\t sir,\t that\t would\t never\t do!\t And\t Gladdie\u2019s\t a\t very\t nervous\t girl anyway.\u201d At\tlast\tthe\tmatter\twas\tsettled,\tafter\ta\tlot\tof\tdiscussion\tover\tdifficult\tpoints.\tA clandestine\tmeeting\twas\tarranged\tin\tthe\tshrubbery. Here,\tin\tdue\tcourse,\tLawrence\twas\tconfronted\tby\tthe\tnervous\tGladdie\twho he\t described\t as\t more\t like\t a\t shivering\t rabbit\t than\t anything\t human.\t Ten\t minutes were\t spent\t in\t trying\t to\t put\t the\t girl\t at\t her\t ease,\t the\t shivering\t Gladys\t explaining that\t she\t couldn\u2019t\t ever\u2014that\t she\t didn\u2019t\t ought,\t that\t she\t didn\u2019t\t think\t Rose\t would","have\tgiven\ther\taway,\tthat\tanyway\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tmeant\tno\tharm,\tindeed\tshe\thadn\u2019t, and\tthat\tshe\u2019d\tcatch\tit\tbadly\tif\tMrs.\tPratt\tever\tcame\tto\thear\tof\tit. Lawrence\treassured,\tcajoled,\tpersuaded\u2014at\tlast\tGladys\tconsented\tto\tspeak. \u201cIf\tyou\u2019ll\tbe\tsure\tit\u2019ll\tgo\tno\tfurther,\tsir.\u201d \u201cOf\tcourse\tit\twon\u2019t.\u201d \u201cAnd\tit\twon\u2019t\tbe\tbrought\tup\tagainst\tme\tin\ta\tcourt\tof\tlaw?\u201d \u201cNever.\u201d \u201cAnd\tyou\twon\u2019t\ttell\tthe\tmistress?\u201d \u201cNot\ton\tany\taccount.\u201d \u201cIf\tit\twere\tto\tget\tto\tMrs.\tPratt\u2019s\tears\u2014\u201d \u201cIt\twon\u2019t.\tNow\ttell\tme,\tGladys.\u201d \u201cIf\tyou\u2019re\tsure\tit\u2019s\tall\tright?\u201d \u201cOf\t course\t it\t is.\t You\u2019ll\t be\t glad\t some\t day\t you\u2019ve\t saved\t me\t from\t being hanged.\u201d Gladys\tgave\ta\tlittle\tshriek. \u201cOh!\tIndeed,\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tlike\tthat,\tsir.\tWell,\tit\u2019s\tvery\tlittle\tI\theard\u2014and\tthat entirely\tby\taccident\tas\tyou\tmight\tsay\u2014\u201d \u201cI\tquite\tunderstand.\u201d \u201cBut\tthe\tmaster,\the\twas\tevidently\tvery\tangry.\t\u2018After\tall\tthese\tyears\u2019\u2014that\u2019s what\t he\t was\t saying\u2014\u2018you\t dare\t to\t come\t here\u2014\u2019\t \u2018It\u2019s\t an\t outrage\u2014\u2019\t I\t couldn\u2019t hear\t what\t the\t lady\t said\u2014but\t after\t a\t bit\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t utterly\t refuse\u2014utterly\u2014\u2019\t I can\u2019t\t remember\t everything\u2014seemed\t as\t though\t they\t were\t at\t it\t hammer\t and tongs,\tshe\twanting\thim\tto\tdo\tsomething\tand\the\trefusing.\t\u2018It\u2019s\ta\tdisgrace\tthat\tyou should\t have\t come\t down\t here,\u2019\t that\u2019s\t one\t thing\t he\t said.\t And\t \u2018You\t shall\t not\t see her\u2014I\t forbid\t it\u2014\u2019\t and\t that\t made\t me\t prick\t up\t my\t ears.\t Looked\t as\t though\t the lady\t wanted\t to\t tell\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t a\t thing\t or\t two,\t and\t he\t was\t afraid\t about\t it. And\t I\t thought\t to\t myself,\t \u2018Well,\t now,\t fancy\t the\t master.\t Him\t so\t particular.\t And maybe\tno\tbeauty\thimself\twhen\tall\u2019s\tsaid\tand\tdone.\tFancy!\u2019\tI\tsaid.\tAnd\t\u2018Men\tare all\t alike,\u2019\t I\t said\t to\t my\t friend\t later.\t Not\t that\t he\u2019d\t agree.\t Argued,\t he\t did.\t But\t he did\t admit\t he\t was\t surprised\t at\t Colonel\t Protheroe\u2014him\t being\t a\t churchwarden and\t handing\t round\t the\t plate\t and\t reading\t the\t lessons\t on\t Sundays.\t \u2018But\t there,\u2019\t I said,\t \u2018that\u2019s\t very\t often\t the\t worst.\u2019\t For\t that\u2019s\t what\t I\u2019ve\t heard\t my\t mother\t say, many\ta\ttime.\u201d Gladdie\t paused\t out\t of\t breath,\t and\t Lawrence\t tried\t tactfully\t to\t get\t back\t to where\tthe\tconversation\thad\tstarted. \u201cDid\tyou\thear\tanything\telse?\u201d \u201cWell,\t it\u2019s\t difficult\t to\t remember\t exactly,\t sir.\t It\t was\t all\t much\t the\t same.\t He said\tonce\tor\ttwice,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tit.\u2019\tJust\tlike\tthat.\t\u2018Whatever\tHaydock\tsays,\tI don\u2019t\tbelieve\tit.\u2019\u201d","\u201cHe\tsaid\tthat,\tdid\the?\t\u2018Whatever\tHaydock\tsays?\u2019\u201d \u201cYes.\tAnd\the\tsaid\tit\twas\tall\ta\tplot.\u201d \u201cYou\tdidn\u2019t\thear\tthe\tlady\tspeak\tat\tall?\u201d \u201cOnly\t just\t at\t the\t end.\t She\t must\t have\t got\t up\t to\t go\t and\t come\t nearer\t the window.\t And\t I\t heard\t what\t she\t said.\t Made\t my\t blood\t run\t cold,\t it\t did.\t I\u2019ll\t never forget\tit.\t\u2018By\tthis\ttime\ttomorrow\tnight,\tyou\tmay\tbe\tdead,\u2019\tshe\tsaid.\tWicked\tthe way\tshe\tsaid\tit.\tAs\tsoon\tas\tI\theard\tthe\tnews,\t\u2018There,\u2019\tI\tsaid\tto\tRose.\t\u2018There!\u2019\u201d Lawrence\t wondered.\t Principally\t he\t wondered\t how\t much\t of\t Gladys\u2019s\t story was\t to\t be\t depended\t upon.\t True\t in\t the\t main,\t he\t suspected\t that\t it\t had\t been embellished\tand\tpolished\tsince\tthe\tmurder.\tIn\tespecial\the\tdoubted\tthe\taccuracy of\tthe\tlast\tremark.\tHe\tthought\tit\thighly\tpossible\tthat\tit\towed\tits\tbeing\tto\tthe\tfact of\tthe\tmurder. He\tthanked\tGladys,\trewarded\ther\tsuitably,\treassured\ther\tas\tto\ther\tmisdoings being\t made\t known\t to\t Mrs.\t Pratt,\t and\t left\t Old\t Hall\t with\t a\t good\t deal\t to\t think over. One\tthing\twas\tclear,\tMrs.\tLestrange\u2019s\tinterview\twith\tColonel\tProtheroe\thad certainly\tnot\tbeen\ta\tpeaceful\tone,\tand\tit\twas\tone\twhich\the\twas\tanxious\tto\tkeep from\tthe\tknowledge\tof\this\twife. I\t thought\t of\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t churchwarden\t with\t his\t separate\t establishment. Was\tthis\ta\tcase\tresembling\tthat? I\t wondered\t more\t than\t ever\t where\t Haydock\t came\t in.\t He\t had\t saved\t Mrs. Lestrange\t from\t having\t to\t give\t evidence\t at\t the\t inquest.\t He\t had\t done\t his\t best\t to protect\ther\tfrom\tthe\tpolice. How\tfar\twould\the\tcarry\tthat\tprotection? Supposing\the\tsuspected\ther\tof\tcrime\u2014would\the\tstill\ttry\tand\tshield\ther? She\t was\t a\t curious\t woman\u2014a\t woman\t of\t very\t strong\t magnetic\t charm.\t I myself\thated\tthe\tthought\tof\tconnecting\ther\twith\tthe\tcrime\tin\tany\tway. Something\tin\tme\tsaid,\t\u201cIt\tcan\u2019t\tbe\ther!\u201d\tWhy? And\t an\t imp\t in\t my\t brain\t replied:\t \u201cBecause\t she\u2019s\t a\t very\t beautiful\t and attractive\twoman.\tThat\u2019s\twhy.\u201d There\tis,\tas\tMiss\tMarple\twould\tsay,\ta\tlot\tof\thuman\tnature\tin\tall\tof\tus.","Twenty \t When\t I\t got\t back\t to\t the\t Vicarage\t I\t found\t that\t we\t were\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t a domestic\tcrisis. Griselda\t met\t me\t in\t the\t hall\t and\t with\t tears\t in\t her\t eyes\t dragged\t me\t into\t the drawing\troom.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\tgoing.\u201d \u201cWho\u2019s\tgoing?\u201d \u201cMary.\tShe\u2019s\tgiven\tnotice.\u201d I\treally\tcould\tnot\ttake\tthe\tannouncement\tin\ta\ttragic\tspirit. \u201cWell,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cwe\u2019ll\thave\tto\tget\tanother\tservant.\u201d It\tseemed\tto\tme\ta\tperfectly\treasonable\tthing\tto\tsay.\tWhen\tone\tservant\tgoes, you\tget\tanother.\tI\twas\tat\ta\tloss\tto\tunderstand\tGriselda\u2019s\tlook\tof\treproach. \u201cLen\u2014you\tare\tabsolutely\theartless.\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tcare.\u201d I\t didn\u2019t.\t In\t fact,\t I\t felt\t almost\t lighthearted\t at\t the\t prospect\t of\t no\t more\t burnt puddings\tand\tundercooked\tvegetables. \u201cI\u2019ll\thave\tto\tlook\tfor\ta\tgirl,\tand\tfind\tone,\tand\ttrain\ther,\u201d\tcontinued\tGriselda in\ta\tvoice\tof\tacute\tself-pity. \u201cIs\tMary\ttrained?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cOf\tcourse\tshe\tis.\u201d \u201cI\tsuppose,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cthat\tsomeone\thas\theard\ther\taddress\tus\tas\tsir\tor\tma\u2019am and\t has\t immediately\t wrested\t her\t from\t us\t as\t a\t paragon.\t All\t I\t can\t say\t is,\t they\u2019ll be\tdisappointed.\u201d \u201cIt\t isn\u2019t\t that,\u201d\t said\t Griselda.\t \u201cNobody\t else\t wants\t her.\t I\t don\u2019t\t see\t how\t they could.\t It\u2019s\t her\t feelings.\t They\u2019re\t upset\t because\t Lettice\t Protheroe\t said\t she\t didn\u2019t dust\tproperly.\u201d Griselda\t often\t comes\t out\t with\t surprising\t statements,\t but\t this\t seemed\t to\t me so\tsurprising\tthat\tI\tquestioned\tit.\tIt\tseemed\tto\tme\tthe\tmost\tunlikely\tthing\tin\tthe world\t that\t Lettice\t Protheroe\t should\t go\t out\t of\t her\t way\t to\t interfere\t in\t our domestic\t affairs\t and\t reprove\t our\t maid\t for\t slovenly\t housework.\t It\t was\t so completely\tunLettice-like,\tand\tI\tsaid\tso. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tsee,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cwhat\tour\tdust\thas\tto\tdo\twith\tLettice\tProtheroe.\u201d","\u201cNothing\t at\t all,\u201d\t said\t my\t wife.\t \u201cThat\u2019s\t why\t it\u2019s\t so\t unreasonable.\t I\t wish you\u2019d\tgo\tand\ttalk\tto\tMary\tyourself.\tShe\u2019s\tin\tthe\tkitchen.\u201d I\t had\t no\t wish\t to\t talk\t to\t Mary\t on\t the\t subject,\t but\t Griselda,\t who\t is\t very energetic\t and\t quick,\t fairly\t pushed\t me\t through\t the\t baize\t door\t into\t the\t kitchen before\tI\thad\ttime\tto\trebel. Mary\twas\tpeeling\tpotatoes\tat\tthe\tsink. \u201cEr\u2014good\tafternoon,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tnervously. Mary\tlooked\tup\tand\tsnorted,\tbut\tmade\tno\tother\tresponse. \u201cMrs.\tClement\ttells\tme\tthat\tyou\twish\tto\tleave\tus,\u201d\tI\tsaid. Mary\tcondescended\tto\treply\tto\tthis. \u201cThere\u2019s\t some\t things,\u201d\t she\t said\t darkly,\t \u201cas\t no\t girl\t can\t be\t asked\t to\t put\t up with.\u201d \u201cWill\tyou\ttell\tme\texactly\twhat\tit\tis\tthat\thas\tupset\tyou?\u201d \u201cTell\t you\t that\t in\t two\t words,\t I\t can.\u201d\t (Here,\t I\t may\t say,\t she\t vastly underestimated.)\t \u201cPeople\t coming\t snooping\t round\t here\t when\t my\t back\u2019s\t turned. Poking\tround.\tAnd\twhat\tbusiness\tof\thers\tis\tit,\thow\toften\tthe\tstudy\tis\tdusted\tor turned\tout?\tIf\tyou\tand\tthe\tmissus\tdon\u2019t\tcomplain,\tit\u2019s\tnobody\telse\u2019s\tbusiness.\tIf I\tgive\tsatisfaction\tto\tyou\tthat\u2019s\tall\tthat\tmatters,\tI\tsay.\u201d Mary\t has\t never\t given\t satisfaction\t to\t me.\t I\t confess\t that\t I\t have\t a\t hankering after\t a\t room\t thoroughly\t dusted\t and\t tidied\t every\t morning.\t Mary\u2019s\t practice\t of flicking\t off\t the\t more\t obvious\t deposit\t on\t the\t surface\t of\t low\t tables\t is\t to\t my thinking\t grossly\t inadequate.\t However,\t I\t realized\t that\t at\t the\t moment\t it\t was\t no good\tto\tgo\tinto\tside\tissues. \u201cHad\t to\t go\t to\t that\t inquest,\t didn\u2019t\t I?\t Standing\t up\t before\t twelve\t men,\t a respectable\tgirl\tlike\tme!\tAnd\twho\tknows\twhat\tquestions\tyou\tmay\tbe\tasked.\tI\u2019ll tell\t you\t this.\t I\u2019ve\t never\t before\t been\t in\t a\t place\t where\t they\t had\t a\t murder\t in\t the house,\tand\tI\tnever\twant\tto\tbe\tagain.\u201d \u201cI\thope\tyou\twon\u2019t,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cOn\tthe\tlaw\tof\taverages,\tI\tshould\tsay\tit\twas\tvery unlikely.\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\thold\twith\tthe\tlaw.\tHe\twas\ta\tmagistrate.\tMany\ta\tpoor\tfellow\tsent\tto jail\tfor\tpotting\tat\ta\trabbit\u2014and\thim\twith\this\tpheasants\tand\twhat\tnot.\tAnd\tthen, before\t he\u2019s\t so\t much\t as\t decently\t buried,\t that\t daughter\t of\t his\t comes\t round\t and says\tI\tdon\u2019t\tdo\tmy\twork\tproperly.\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\tmean\tthat\tMiss\tProtheroe\thas\tbeen\there?\u201d \u201cFound\t her\t here\t when\t I\t come\t back\t from\t the\t Blue\t Boar.\t In\t the\t study\t she was.\tAnd\t\u2018Oh!\u2019\tshe\tsays.\t\u2018I\u2019m\tlooking\tfor\tmy\tlittle\tyellow\tberry\u2014a\tlittle\tyellow hat.\t I\t left\t it\t here\t the\t other\t day.\u2019\t \u2018Well,\u2019\t I\t says,\t \u2018I\t haven\u2019t\t seen\t no\t hat.\t It\t wasn\u2019t here\t when\t I\t done\t the\t room\t on\t Thursday\t morning,\u2019\t I\t says.\t And\t \u2018Oh!\u2019\t she\t says, \u2018but\tI\tdare\tsay\tyou\twouldn\u2019t\tsee\tit.\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tspend\tmuch\ttime\tdoing\ta\troom,\tdo","you?\u2019\t And\t with\t that\t she\t draws\t her\t finger\t along\t the\t mantelshelf\t and\t looks\t at\t it. As\tthough\tI\thad\ttime\ton\ta\tmorning\tlike\tthis\tto\ttake\toff\tall\tthem\tornaments\tand put\tthem\tback,\twith\tthe\tpolice\tonly\tunlocking\tthe\troom\tthe\tnight\tbefore.\t\u2018If\tthe Vicar\tand\this\tlady\tare\tsatisfied\tthat\u2019s\tall\tthat\tmatters,\tI\tthink,\tmiss,\u2019\tI\tsaid.\tAnd she\t laughs\t and\t goes\t out\t of\t the\t windows\t and\t says,\t \u2018Oh!\t but\t are\t you\t sure\t they are?\u2019\u201d \u201cI\tsee,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cAnd\tthere\tit\tis!\tA\tgirl\thas\ther\tfeelings!\tI\u2019m\tsure\tI\u2019d\twork\tmy\tfingers\tto\tthe bone\t for\t you\t and\t the\t missus.\t And\t if\t she\t wants\t a\t new-fangled\t dish\t tried,\t I\u2019m always\tready\tto\ttry\tit.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tsure\tyou\tare,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tsoothingly. \u201cBut\tshe\tmust\thave\theard\tsomething\tor\tshe\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tsaid\twhat\tshe\tdid. And\tif\tI\tdon\u2019t\tgive\tsatisfaction\tI\u2019d\trather\tgo.\tNot\tthat\tI\ttake\tany\tnotice\tof\twhat Miss\t Protheroe\t says.\t She\u2019s\t not\t loved\t up\t at\t the\t Hall,\t I\t can\t tell\t you.\t Never\t a please\tor\ta\tthank\tyou,\tand\teverything\tscattered\tright\tand\tleft.\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tset\tany store\tby\tMiss\tLettice\tProtheroe\tmyself\tfor\tall\tthat\tMr.\tDennis\tis\tso\tset\tupon\ther. But\t she\u2019s\t the\t kind\t that\t can\t always\t twist\t a\t young\t gentleman\t round\t her\t little finger.\u201d During\t all\t this,\t Mary\t had\t been\t extracting\t eyes\t from\t potatoes\t with\t such energy\t that\t they\t had\t been\t flying\t round\t the\t kitchen\t like\t hailstones.\t At\t this moment\t one\t hit\t me\t in\t the\t eye\t and\t caused\t a\t momentary\t pause\t in\t the conversation. \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t think,\u201d\t I\t said,\t as\t I\t dabbed\t my\t eye\t with\t my\t handkerchief,\t \u201cthat you\t have\t been\t rather\t too\t inclined\t to\t take\t offence\t where\t none\t is\t meant?\t You know,\tMary,\tyour\tmistress\twill\tbe\tvery\tsorry\tto\tlose\tyou.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve\tnothing\tagainst\tthe\tmistress\u2014or\tagainst\tyou,\tsir,\tfor\tthat\tmatter.\u201d \u201cWell,\tthen,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink\tyou\u2019re\tbeing\trather\tsilly?\u201d Mary\tsniffed. \u201cI\twas\ta\tbit\tupset\tlike\u2014after\tthe\tinquest\tand\tall.\tAnd\ta\tgirl\thas\ther\tfeelings. But\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tlike\tto\tcause\tthe\tmistress\tinconvenience.\u201d \u201cThen\tthat\u2019s\tall\tright,\u201d\tI\tsaid. I\t left\t the\t kitchen\t to\t find\t Griselda\t and\t Dennis\t waiting\t for\t me\t in\t the\t hall. \u201cWell?\u201d\texclaimed\tGriselda. \u201cShe\u2019s\tstaying,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\tsighed. \u201cLen,\u201d\tsaid\tmy\twife,\t\u201cyou\thave\tbeen\tclever.\u201d I\tfelt\trather\tinclined\tto\tdisagree\twith\ther.\tI\tdid\tnot\tthink\tI\thad\tbeen\tclever.\tIt is\tmy\tfirm\topinion\tthat\tno\tservant\tcould\tbe\ta\tworse\tone\tthan\tMary.\tAny\tchange, I\tconsider,\twould\thave\tbeen\ta\tchange\tfor\tthe\tbetter. But\tI\tlike\tto\tplease\tGriselda.\tI\tdetailed\tthe\theads\tof\tMary\u2019s\tgrievance.","\u201cHow\tlike\tLettice,\u201d\tsaid\tDennis.\t\u201cShe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tleft\tthat\tyellow\tberet\tof hers\there\ton\tWednesday.\tShe\twas\twearing\tit\tfor\ttennis\ton\tThursday.\u201d \u201cThat\tseems\tto\tme\thighly\tprobable,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cShe\t never\t knows\t where\t she\u2019s\t left\t anything,\u201d\t said\t Dennis,\t with\t a\t kind\t of affectionate\tpride\tand\tadmiration\tthat\tI\tfelt\twas\tentirely\tuncalled\tfor.\t\u201cShe\tloses about\ta\tdozen\tthings\tevery\tday.\u201d \u201cA\tremarkably\tattractive\ttrait,\u201d\tI\tobserved. Any\tsarcasm\tmissed\tDennis. \u201cShe\t is\t attractive,\u201d\t he\t said,\t with\t a\t deep\t sigh.\t \u201cPeople\t are\t always\t proposing to\ther\u2014she\ttold\tme\tso.\u201d \u201cThey\t must\t be\t illicit\t proposals\t if\t they\u2019re\t made\t to\t her\t down\t here,\u201d\t I remarked.\t\u201cWe\thaven\u2019t\tgot\ta\tbachelor\tin\tthe\tplace.\u201d \u201cThere\u2019s\tDr.\tStone,\u201d\tsaid\tGriselda,\ther\teyes\tdancing. \u201cHe\tasked\ther\tto\tcome\tand\tsee\tthe\tbarrow\tthe\tother\tday,\u201d\tI\tadmitted. \u201cOf\t course\t he\t did,\u201d\t said\t Griselda.\t \u201cShe\t is\t attractive,\t Len.\t Even\t baldheaded archaeologists\tfeel\tit.\u201d \u201cLots\tof\tS.A.,\u201d\tsaid\tDennis\tsapiently. And\t yet\t Lawrence\t Redding\t is\t completely\t untouched\t by\t Lettice\u2019s\t charm. Griselda,\thowever,\texplained\tthat\twith\tthe\tair\tof\tone\twho\tknew\tshe\twas\tright. \u201cLawrence\t has\t got\t lots\t of\t S.A.\t himself.\t That\t kind\t always\t likes\t the\u2014how shall\t I\t put\t it\u2014the\t Quaker\t type.\t Very\t restrained\t and\t diffident.\t The\t kind\t of woman\twhom\teverybody\tcalls\tcold.\tI\tthink\tAnne\tis\tthe\tonly\twoman\twho\tcould ever\thold\tLawrence.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tthey\u2019ll\tever\ttire\tof\teach\tother.\tAll\tthe\tsame,\tI think\t he\u2019s\t been\t rather\t stupid\t in\t one\t way.\tHe\u2019s\t rather\t made\t use\t of\t Lettice,\t you know.\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t he\t ever\t dreamed\t she\t cared\u2014he\u2019s\t awfully\t modest\t in\t some ways\u2014but\tI\thave\ta\tfeeling\tshe\tdoes.\u201d \u201cShe\tcan\u2019t\tbear\thim,\u201d\tsaid\tDennis\tpositively.\t\u201cShe\ttold\tme\tso.\u201d I\t have\t never\t seen\t anything\t like\t the\t pitying\t silence\t with\t which\t Griselda received\tthis\tremark. I\t went\t into\t my\t study.\t There\t was,\t to\t my\t fancy,\t still\t a\t rather\t eerie\t feeling\t in the\t room.\t I\t knew\t that\t I\t must\t get\t over\t this.\t Once\t give\t in\t to\t that\t feeling,\t and\t I should\t probably\t never\t use\t the\t study\t again.\t I\t walked\t thoughtfully\t over\t to\t the writing\ttable.\tHere\tProtheroe\thad\tsat,\tred-faced,\thearty,\tself-righteous,\tand\there, in\t a\t moment\t of\t time,\t he\t had\t been\t struck\t down.\t Here,\t where\t I\t was\t standing,\t an enemy\thad\tstood\u2026. And\tso\u2014no\tmore\tProtheroe\u2026. Here\twas\tthe\tpen\this\tfingers\thad\theld. On\t the\t floor\t was\t a\t faint\t dark\t stain\u2014the\t rug\t had\t been\t sent\t to\t the\t cleaners, but\tthe\tblood\thad\tsoaked\tthrough.","I\tshivered. \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tuse\tthis\troom,\u201d\tI\tsaid\taloud.\t\u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tuse\tit.\u201d Then\tmy\teye\twas\tcaught\tby\tsomething\u2014a\tmere\tspeck\tof\tbright\tblue.\tI\tbent down.\tBetween\tthe\tfloor\tand\tthe\tdesk\tI\tsaw\ta\tsmall\tobject.\tI\tpicked\tit\tup. I\twas\tstanding\tstaring\tat\tit\tin\tthe\tpalm\tof\tmy\thand\twhen\tGriselda\tcame\tin. \u201cI\t forgot\t to\t tell\t you,\t Len.\t Miss\t Marple\t wants\t us\t to\t go\t over\t tonight\t after dinner.\tTo\tamuse\tthe\tnephew.\tShe\u2019s\tafraid\tof\this\tbeing\tdull.\tI\tsaid\twe\u2019d\tgo.\u201d \u201cVery\twell,\tmy\tdear.\u201d \u201cWhat\tare\tyou\tlooking\tat?\u201d \u201cNothing.\u201d I\tclosed\tmy\thand,\tand\tlooking\tat\tmy\twife,\tobserved: \u201cIf\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tamuse\tMaster\tRaymond\tWest,\tmy\tdear,\the\tmust\tbe\tvery\thard to\tplease.\u201d My\twife\tsaid:\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tbe\tridiculous,\tLen,\u201d\tand\tturned\tpink. She\twent\tout\tagain,\tand\tI\tunclosed\tmy\thand. In\tthe\tpalm\tof\tmy\thand\twas\ta\tblue\tlapis\tlazuli\tearring\tset\tin\tseed\tpearls. It\twas\trather\tan\tunusual\tjewel,\tand\tI\tknew\tvery\twell\twhere\tI\thad\tseen\tit\tlast.","Twenty-one \t I\t cannot\t say\t that\t I\t have\t at\t any\t time\t had\t a\t great\t admiration\t for\t Mr.\t Raymond West.\t He\t is,\t I\t know,\t supposed\t to\t be\t a\t brilliant\t novelist\t and\t has\t made\t quite\t a name\tas\ta\tpoet.\tHis\tpoems\thave\tno\tcapital\tletters\tin\tthem,\twhich\tis,\tI\tbelieve,\tthe essence\t of\t modernity.\t His\t books\t are\t about\t unpleasant\t people\t leading\t lives\t of surpassing\tdullness. He\t has\t a\t tolerant\t affection\t for\t \u201cAunt\t Jane,\u201d\t whom\t he\t alludes\t to\t in\t her presence\tas\ta\t\u201csurvival.\u201d She\tlistens\tto\this\ttalk\twith\ta\tflattering\tinterest,\tand\tif\tthere\tis\tsometimes\tan amused\ttwinkle\tin\ther\teye\tI\tam\tsure\the\tnever\tnotices\tit. He\t fastened\t on\t Griselda\t at\t once\t with\t flattering\t abruptness.\t They\t discussed modern\tplays\tand\tfrom\tthere\twent\ton\tto\tmodern\tschemes\tof\tdecoration.\tGriselda affects\t to\t laugh\t at\t Raymond\t West,\t but\t she\t is,\t I\t think,\t susceptible\t to\t his conversation. During\t my\t (dull)\t conversation\t with\t Miss\t Marple,\t I\t heard\t at\t intervals\t the reiteration\t\u201cburied\tas\tyou\tare\tdown\there.\u201d It\tbegan\tat\tlast\tto\tirritate\tme.\tI\tsaid\tsuddenly: \u201cI\tsuppose\tyou\tconsider\tus\tvery\tmuch\tout\tof\tthe\tthings\tdown\there?\u201d Raymond\tWest\twaved\this\tcigarette. \u201cI\tregard\tSt.\tMary\tMead,\u201d\the\tsaid\tauthoritatively,\t\u201cas\ta\tstagnant\tpool.\u201d He\t looked\t at\tus,\tprepared\tfor\tresentment\tat\this\tstatement,\tbut\tsomewhat,\t I think,\tto\this\tchagrin,\tno\tone\tdisplayed\tannoyance. \u201cThat\t is\t really\t not\t a\t very\t good\t simile,\t dear\t Raymond,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple briskly.\t \u201cNothing,\t I\t believe,\t is\t so\t full\t of\t life\t under\t the\t microscope\t as\t a\t drop\t of water\tfrom\ta\tstagnant\tpool.\u201d \u201cLife\u2014of\ta\tkind,\u201d\tadmitted\tthe\tnovelist. \u201cIt\u2019s\tall\tmuch\tthe\tsame\tkind,\treally,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cYou\tcompare\tyourself\tto\ta\tdenizen\tof\ta\tstagnant\tpond,\tAunt\tJane?\u201d \u201cMy\tdear,\tyou\tsaid\tsomething\tof\tthe\tsort\tin\tyour\tlast\tbook,\tI\tremember.\u201d No\t clever\t young\t man\t likes\t having\t his\t works\t quoted\t against\t himself.","Raymond\tWest\twas\tno\texception. \u201cThat\twas\tentirely\tdifferent,\u201d\the\tsnapped. \u201cLife\tis,\tafter\tall,\tvery\tmuch\tthe\tsame\teverywhere,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple\tin\ther placid\t voice.\t \u201cGetting\t born,\t you\t know,\t and\t growing\t up\u2014and\t coming\t into contact\t with\t other\t people\u2014getting\t jostled\u2014and\t then\t marriage\t and\t more\t babies \u2014\u201d \u201cAnd\t finally\t death,\u201d\t said\t Raymond\t West.\t \u201cAnd\t not\t death\t with\t a\t death certificate\talways.\tDeath\tin\tlife.\u201d \u201cTalking\tof\tdeath,\u201d\tsaid\tGriselda.\t\u201cYou\tknow\twe\u2019ve\thad\ta\tmurder\there?\u201d Raymond\tWest\twaved\tmurder\taway\twith\this\tcigarette. \u201cMurder\tis\tso\tcrude,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cI\ttake\tno\tinterest\tin\tit.\u201d That\tstatement\tdid\tnot\ttake\tme\tin\tfor\ta\tmoment.\tThey\tsay\tall\tthe\tworld\tloves a\tlover\u2014apply\tthat\tsaying\tto\tmurder\tand\tyou\thave\tan\teven\tmore\tinfallible\ttruth. No\t one\t can\t fail\t to\t be\t interested\t in\t a\t murder.\t Simple\t people\t like\t Griselda\t and myself\t can\t admit\t the\t fact,\t but\t anyone\t like\t Raymond\t West\t has\t to\t pretend\t to\t be bored\u2014at\tany\trate\tfor\tthe\tfirst\tfive\tminutes. Miss\tMarple,\thowever,\tgave\ther\tnephew\taway\tby\tremarking: \u201cRaymond\tand\tI\thave\tbeen\tdiscussing\tnothing\telse\tall\tthrough\tdinner.\u201d \u201cI\t take\t a\t great\t interest\t in\t all\t the\t local\t news,\u201d\t said\t Raymond\t hastily.\t He smiled\tbenignly\tand\ttolerantly\tat\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cHave\tyou\ta\ttheory,\tMr.\tWest?\u201d\tasked\tGriselda. \u201cLogically,\u201d\t said\t Raymond\t West,\t again\t flourishing\t his\t cigarette,\t \u201conly\t one person\tcould\thave\tkilled\tProtheroe.\u201d \u201cYes?\u201d\tsaid\tGriselda. We\thung\tupon\this\twords\twith\tflattering\tattention. \u201cThe\tVicar,\u201d\tsaid\tRaymond,\tand\tpointed\tan\taccusing\tfinger\tat\tme. I\tgasped. \u201cOf\tcourse,\u201d\the\treassured\tme,\t\u201cI\tknow\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\tdo\tit.\tLife\tis\tnever\twhat\tit should\t be.\t But\t think\t of\t the\t drama\u2014the\t fitness\u2014churchwarden\t murdered\t in\t the Vicar\u2019s\tstudy\tby\tthe\tVicar.\tDelicious!\u201d \u201cAnd\tthe\tmotive?\u201d\tI\tinquired. \u201cOh!\t That\u2019s\t interesting.\u201d\t He\t sat\t up\u2014allowed\t his\t cigarette\t to\t go\t out. \u201cInferiority\t complex,\t I\t think.\t Possibly\t too\t many\t inhibitions.\t I\t should\t like\t to write\t the\t story\t of\t the\t affair.\t Amazingly\t complex.\t Week\t after\t week,\t year\t after year,\t he\u2019s\t seen\t the\t man\u2014at\t vestry\t meetings\u2014at\t choirboys\u2019\t outings\u2014handing round\tthe\tbag\tin\tchurch\u2014bringing\tit\tto\tthe\taltar.\tAlways\the\tdislikes\tthe\tman\u2014 always\the\tchokes\tdown\this\tdislike.\tIt\u2019s\tunChristian,\the\twon\u2019t\tencourage\tit.\tAnd so\tit\tfesters\tunderneath,\tand\tone\tday\u2014\u201d He\tmade\ta\tgraphic\tgesture.","Griselda\tturned\tto\tme. \u201cHave\tyou\tever\tfelt\tlike\tthat,\tLen?\u201d \u201cNever,\u201d\tI\tsaid\ttruthfully. \u201cYet\t I\t hear\t you\t were\t wishing\t him\t out\t of\t the\t world\t not\t so\t long\t ago,\u201d remarked\tMiss\tMarple. (That\t miserable\t Dennis!\t But\t my\t fault,\t of\t course,\t for\t ever\t making\t the remark.) \u201cI\u2019m\tafraid\tI\twas,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cIt\twas\ta\tstupid\tremark\tto\tmake,\tbut\treally\tI\u2019d\thad a\tvery\ttrying\tmorning\twith\thim.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t disappointing,\u201d\t said\t Raymond\t West.\t \u201cBecause,\t of\t course,\t if\t your subconscious\twere\treally\tplanning\tto\tdo\thim\tin,\tit\twould\tnever\thave\tallowed\tyou to\tmake\tthat\tremark.\u201d He\tsighed. \u201cMy\ttheory\tfalls\tto\tthe\tground.\tThis\tis\tprobably\ta\tvery\tordinary\tmurder\u2014a revengeful\tpoacher\tor\tsomething\tof\tthat\tsort.\u201d \u201cMiss\tCram\tcame\tto\tsee\tme\tthis\tafternoon,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cI\tmet\ther\tin the\tvillage\tand\tI\tasked\ther\tif\tshe\twould\tlike\tto\tsee\tmy\tgarden.\u201d \u201cIs\tshe\tfond\tof\tgardens?\u201d\tasked\tGriselda. \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t think\t so,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple,\t with\t a\t faint\t twinkle.\t \u201cBut\t it\t makes\t a very\tuseful\texcuse\tfor\ttalk,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink?\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\tyou\tmake\tof\ther?\u201d\tasked\tGriselda.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tbelieve\tshe\u2019s\treally\tso bad.\u201d \u201cShe\t volunteered\t a\t lot\t of\t information\u2014really\t a\t lot\t of\t information,\u201d\t said Miss\t Marple.\t \u201cAbout\t herself,\t you\t know,\t and\t her\t people.\t They\t all\t seem\t to\t be dead\t or\t in\t India.\t Very\t sad.\t By\t the\t way,\t she\t has\t gone\t to\t Old\t Hall\t for\t the weekend.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d \u201cYes,\t it\t seems\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t asked\t her\u2014or\t she\t suggested\t it\t to\t Mrs. Protheroe\u2014I\t don\u2019t\t quite\t know\t which\t way\t about\t it\t was.\t To\t do\t some\t secretarial work\t for\t her\u2014there\t are\t so\t many\t letters\t to\t cope\t with.\t It\t turned\t out\t rather fortunately.\t Dr.\t Stone\t being\t away,\t she\t has\t nothing\t to\t do.\t What\t an\t excitement this\tbarrow\thas\tbeen.\u201d \u201cStone?\u201d\tsaid\tRaymond.\t\u201cIs\tthat\tthe\tarchaeologist\tfellow?\u201d \u201cYes,\the\tis\texcavating\ta\tbarrow.\tOn\tthe\tProtheroe\tproperty.\u201d \u201cHe\u2019s\ta\tgood\tman,\u201d\tsaid\tRaymond.\t\u201cWonderfully\tkeen\ton\this\tjob.\tI\tmet\thim at\ta\tdinner\tnot\tlong\tago\tand\twe\thad\ta\tmost\tinteresting\ttalk.\tI\tmust\tlook\thim\tup.\u201d \u201cUnfortunately,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201che\u2019s\t just\t gone\t to\t London\t for\t the\t weekend.\t Why, you\tactually\tran\tinto\thim\tat\tthe\tstation\tthis\tafternoon.\u201d \u201cI\tran\tinto\tyou.\tYou\thad\ta\tlittle\tfat\tman\twith\tyou\u2014with\tglasses\ton.\u201d","\u201cYes\u2014Dr.\tStone.\u201d \u201cBut,\tmy\tdear\tfellow\u2014that\twasn\u2019t\tStone.\u201d \u201cNot\tStone?\u201d \u201cNot\t the\t archaeologist.\t I\t know\t him\t quite\t well.\t The\t man\t wasn\u2019t\t Stone\u2014not the\tfaintest\tresemblance.\u201d We\tstared\tat\teach\tother.\tIn\tparticular\tI\tstared\tat\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cExtraordinary,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cThe\tsuitcase,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cBut\twhy?\u201d\tsaid\tGriselda. \u201cIt\t reminds\t me\t of\t the\t time\t the\t man\t went\t round\t pretending\t to\t be\t the\t Gas Inspector,\u201d\tmurmured\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cQuite\ta\tlittle\thaul,\the\tgot.\u201d \u201cAn\timpostor,\u201d\tsaid\tRaymond\tWest.\t\u201cNow\tthis\tis\treally\tinteresting.\u201d \u201cThe\tquestion\tis,\thas\tit\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tmurder?\u201d\tsaid\tGriselda. \u201cNot\tnecessarily,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\u2014\u201d\tI\tlooked\tat\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cIt\tis,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\t\u201ca\tPeculiar\tThing.\tAnother\tPeculiar\tThing.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\trising.\t\u201cI\trather\tfeel\tthe\tInspector\tought\tto\tbe\ttold\tabout\tthis\tat once.\u201d","Twenty-two \t Inspector\t Slack\u2019s\t orders,\t once\t I\t had\t got\t him\t on\t the\t telephone,\t were\t brief\t and emphatic.\t Nothing\t was\t to\t \u201cget\t about.\u201d\t In\t particular,\t Miss\t Cram\t was\t not\t to\t be alarmed.\t In\t the\t meantime,\t a\t search\t was\t to\t be\t instituted\t for\t the\t suitcase\t in\t the neighbourhood\tof\tthe\tbarrow. Griselda\t and\t I\t returned\t home\t very\t excited\t over\t this\t new\t development.\t We could\tnot\tsay\tmuch\twith\tDennis\tpresent,\tas\twe\thad\tfaithfully\tpromised\tInspector Slack\tto\tbreath\tno\tword\tto\tanybody. In\tany\tcase,\tDennis\twas\tfull\tof\this\town\ttroubles.\tHe\tcame\tinto\tmy\tstudy\tand began\t fingering\t things\t and\t shuffling\t his\t feet\t and\t looking\t thoroughly embarrassed. \u201cWhat\tis\tit,\tDennis?\u201d\tI\tsaid\tat\tlast. \u201cUncle\tLen,\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tgo\tto\tsea.\u201d I\t was\t astonished.\t The\t boy\t had\t been\t so\t very\t decided\t about\t his\t career\t up\t to now. \u201cBut\tyou\twere\tso\tkeen\ton\tit.\u201d \u201cYes,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\tchanged\tmy\tmind.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tdo?\u201d \u201cI\twant\tto\tgo\tinto\tfinance.\u201d I\twas\teven\tmore\tsurprised. \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean\u2014finance?\u201d \u201cJust\tthat.\tI\twant\tto\tgo\tinto\tthe\tcity.\u201d \u201cBut,\tmy\tdear\tboy,\tI\tam\tsure\tyou\twould\tnot\tlike\tthe\tlife.\tEven\tif\tI\tobtained\ta post\tfor\tyou\tin\ta\tbank\u2014\u201d Dennis\t said\t that\t wasn\u2019t\t what\t he\t meant.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t go\t into\t a\t bank.\t I asked\t him\t what\t exactly\t he\t did\t mean,\t and\t of\t course,\t as\t I\t suspected,\t the\t boy didn\u2019t\treally\tknow. By\t \u201cgoing\t into\t finance,\u201d\t he\t simply\t meant\t getting\t rich\t quickly,\t which\t with the\toptimism\tof\tyouth\the\timagined\twas\ta\tcertainty\tif\tone\t\u201cwent\tinto\tthe\tcity.\u201d\tI disabused\thim\tof\tthis\tnotion\tas\tgently\tas\tI\tcould.","\u201cWhat\u2019s\tput\tit\tinto\tyour\thead?\u201d\tI\tasked.\t\u201cYou\twere\tso\tsatisfied\twith\tthe\tidea of\tgoing\tto\tsea.\u201d \u201cI\tknow,\tUncle\tLen,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tthinking.\tI\tshall\twant\tto\tmarry\tsome\tday \u2014and,\tI\tmean,\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tbe\trich\tto\tmarry\ta\tgirl.\u201d \u201cFacts\tdisprove\tyour\ttheory,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\tknow\u2014but\ta\treal\tgirl.\tI\tmean,\ta\tgirl\twho\u2019s\tused\tto\tthings.\u201d It\twas\tvery\tvague,\tbut\tI\tthought\tI\tknew\twhat\the\tmeant. \u201cYou\tknow,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tgently,\t\u201call\tgirls\taren\u2019t\tlike\tLettice\tProtheroe.\u201d He\tfired\tup\tat\tonce. \u201cYou\u2019re\t awfully\t unfair\t to\t her.\t You\t don\u2019t\t like\t her.\t Griselda\t doesn\u2019t\t either. She\tsays\tshe\u2019s\ttiresome.\u201d From\tthe\tfeminine\tpoint\tof\tview\tGriselda\tis\tquite\tright.\tLettice\tis\ttiresome.\tI could\tquite\trealize,\thowever,\tthat\ta\tboy\twould\tresent\tthe\tadjective. \u201cIf\t only\t people\t made\t a\t few\t allowances.\t Why\t even\t the\t Hartley\t Napiers\t are going\tabout\tgrousing\tabout\ther\tat\ta\ttime\tlike\tthis!\tJust\tbecause\tshe\tleft\ttheir\told tennis\t party\t a\t bit\t early.\t Why\t should\t she\t stay\t if\t she\t was\t bored?\t Jolly\t decent\t of her\tto\tgo\tat\tall,\tI\tthink.\u201d \u201cQuite\ta\tfavour,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tbut\tDennis\tsuspected\tno\tmalice.\tHe\twas\tfull\tof\this own\tgrievances\ton\tLettice\u2019s\tbehalf. \u201cShe\u2019s\t awfully\t unselfish\t really.\t Just\t to\t show\t you,\t she\t made\t me\t stay. Naturally\tI\twanted\tto\tgo\ttoo.\tBut\tshe\twouldn\u2019t\thear\tof\tit.\tSaid\tit\twas\ttoo\tbad\ton the\tNapiers.\tSo,\tjust\tto\tplease\ther,\tI\tstopped\ton\ta\tquarter\tof\tan\thour.\u201d The\tyoung\thave\tvery\tcurious\tviews\ton\tunselfishness. \u201cAnd\t now\t I\t hear\t Susan\t Hartley\t Napier\t is\t going\t about\t everywhere\t saying Lettice\thas\trotten\tmanners.\u201d \u201cIf\tI\twere\tyou,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cI\tshouldn\u2019t\tworry.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tall\tvery\twell,\tbut\u2014\u201d He\tbroke\toff. \u201cI\u2019d\u2014I\u2019d\tdo\tanything\tfor\tLettice.\u201d \u201cVery\t few\t of\t us\t can\t do\t anything\t for\t anyone\t else,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cHowever\t much we\twish\tit,\twe\tare\tpowerless.\u201d \u201cI\twish\tI\twere\tdead,\u201d\tsaid\tDennis. Poor\tlad.\tCalf\tlove\tis\ta\tvirulent\tdisease.\tI\tforebore\tto\tsay\tany\tof\tthe\tobvious and\tprobably\tirritating\tthings\twhich\tcome\tso\teasily\tto\tone\u2019s\tlips.\tInstead,\tI\tsaid goodnight,\tand\twent\tup\tto\tbed. I\t took\t the\t eight\t o\u2019clock\t service\t the\t following\t morning\t and\t when\t I\t returned found\tGriselda\tsitting\tat\tthe\tbreakfast\ttable\twith\tan\topen\tnote\tin\ther\thand.\tIt\twas from\tAnne\tProtheroe.","\u201cDear\t Griselda,\u2014If\t you\t and\t the\t Vicar\t could\t come\t up\t and\t lunch\t here quietly\t today,\t I\t should\t be\t so\t very\t grateful.\t Something\t very\t strange\t has occurred,\tand\tI\tshould\tlike\tMr.\tClement\u2019s\tadvice. Please\t don\u2019t\t mention\t this\t when\t you\t come,\t as\t I\t have\t said\t nothing\t to anyone. With\tlove, Yours\taffectionately, Anne\tProtheroe.\u201d \t \u201cWe\tmust\tgo,\tof\tcourse,\u201d\tsaid\tGriselda. I\tagreed. \u201cI\twonder\twhat\tcan\thave\thappened?\u201d I\twondered\ttoo. \u201cYou\tknow,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tto\tGriselda,\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tfeel\twe\tare\treally\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthis case\tyet.\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\tnot\ttill\tsomeone\thas\treally\tbeen\tarrested?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t mean\t that.\t I\t mean\t that\t there\t are\t ramifications, undercurrents,\t that\t we\t know\t nothing\t about.\t There\t are\t a\t whole\t lot\t of\t things\t to clear\tup\tbefore\twe\tget\tat\tthe\ttruth.\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\tthings\tthat\tdon\u2019t\treally\tmatter,\tbut\tthat\tget\tin\tthe\tway?\u201d \u201cYes,\tI\tthink\tthat\texpresses\tmy\tmeaning\tvery\twell.\u201d \u201cI\t think\t we\u2019re\t all\t making\t a\t great\t fuss,\u201d\t said\t Dennis,\t helping\t himself\t to marmalade.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t a\t jolly\t good\t thing\t old\t Protheroe\t is\t dead.\t Nobody\t liked\t him. Oh!\tI\tknow\tthe\tpolice\thave\tgot\tto\tworry\u2014it\u2019s\ttheir\tjob.\tBut\tI\trather\thope\tmyself they\u2019ll\tnever\tfind\tout.\tI\tshould\thate\tto\tsee\tSlack\tpromoted\tgoing\tabout\tswelling with\timportance\tover\this\tcleverness.\u201d I\tam\thuman\tenough\tto\tfeel\tthat\tI\tagree\tover\tthe\tmatter\tof\tSlack\u2019s\tpromotion. A\tman\twho\tgoes\tabout\tsystematically\trubbing\tpeople\tup\tthe\twrong\tway\tcannot hope\tto\tbe\tpopular. \u201cDr.\t Haydock\t thinks\t rather\t like\t I\t do,\u201d\t went\t on\t Dennis.\t \u201cHe\u2019d\t never\t give\t a murderer\tup\tto\tjustice.\tHe\tsaid\tso.\u201d I\t think\t that\t that\t is\t the\t danger\t of\t Haydock\u2019s\t views.\t They\t may\t be\t sound\t in themselves\u2014it\t is\t not\t for\t me\t to\t say\u2014but\t they\t produce\t an\t impression\t on\t the young\tcareless\tmind\twhich\tI\tam\tsure\tHaydock\thimself\tnever\tmeant\tto\tconvey. Griselda\tlooked\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\tremarked\tthat\tthere\twere\treporters\tin the\tgarden. \u201cI\tsuppose\tthey\u2019re\tphotographing\tthe\tstudy\twindows\tagain,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\twith\ta sigh.","We\thad\tsuffered\ta\tgood\tdeal\tin\tthis\tway.\tThere\twas\tfirst\tthe\tidle\tcuriosity\tof the\tvillage\u2014everyone\thad\tcome\tto\tgape\tand\tstare.\tThere\twere\tnext\tthe\treporters armed\twith\tcameras,\tand\tthe\tvillage\tagain\tto\twatch\tthe\treporters.\tIn\tthe\tend\twe had\tto\thave\ta\tconstable\tfrom\tMuch\tBenham\ton\tduty\toutside\tthe\twindow. \u201cWell,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cthe\t funeral\t is\t tomorrow\t morning.\t After\t that,\t surely,\t the excitement\twill\tdie\tdown.\u201d I\t noticed\t a\t few\t reporters\t hanging\t about\t Old\t Hall\t when\t we\t arrived\t there. They\t accosted\t me\t with\t various\t queries\t to\t which\t I\t gave\t the\t invariable\t answer (we\thad\tfound\tit\tthe\tbest),\tthat,\t\u201cI\thad\tnothing\tto\tsay.\u201d We\t were\t shown\t by\t the\t butler\t into\t the\t drawing\t room,\t the\t sole\t occupant\t of which\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\tMiss\tCram\u2014apparently\tin\ta\tstate\tof\thigh\tenjoyment. \u201cThis\t is\t a\t surprise,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\u201d\t she\t said,\t as\t she\t shook\t hands.\t \u201cI\t never\t should have\t thought\t of\t such\t a\t thing,\t but\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t is\t kind,\t isn\u2019t\t she?\t And,\t of course,\tit\tisn\u2019t\twhat\tyou\tmight\tcall\tnice\tfor\ta\tyoung\tgirl\tto\tbe\tstaying\talone\tat\ta place\t like\t the\t Blue\t Boar,\t reporters\t about\t and\t all.\t And,\t of\t course,\t it\u2019s\t not\t as though\tI\thaven\u2019t\tbeen\table\tto\tmake\tmyself\tuseful\u2014you\treally\tneed\ta\tsecretary\tat a\ttime\tlike\tthis,\tand\tMiss\tProtheroe\tdoesn\u2019t\tdo\tanything\tto\thelp,\tdoes\tshe?\u201d I\t was\t amused\t to\t notice\t that\t the\t old\t animosity\t against\t Lettice\t persisted,\t but that\tthe\tgirl\thad\tapparently\tbecome\ta\twarm\tpartisan\tof\tAnne\u2019s.\tAt\tthe\tsame\ttime I\twondered\tif\tthe\tstory\tof\ther\tcoming\there\twas\tstrictly\taccurate.\tIn\ther\taccount the\t initiative\t had\t come\t from\t Anne,\t but\t I\t wondered\t if\t that\t were\t really\t so.\t The first\tmention\t of\t disliking\t to\t be\t at\t the\tBlue\t Boar\t alone\t might\t have\t easily\t come from\tthe\tgirl\therself.\tWhilst\tkeeping\tan\topen\tmind\ton\tthe\tsubject,\tI\tdid\tnot\tfancy that\tMiss\tCram\twas\tstrictly\ttruthful. At\tthat\tmoment\tAnne\tProtheroe\tentered\tthe\troom. She\t was\t dressed\t very\t quietly\t in\t black.\t She\t carried\t in\t her\t hand\t a\t Sunday paper\twhich\tshe\theld\tout\tto\tme\twith\ta\trueful\tglance. \u201cI\u2019ve\tnever\thad\tany\texperience\tof\tthis\tsort\tof\tthing.\tIt\u2019s\tpretty\tghastly,\tisn\u2019t it?\t I\t saw\t a\t reporter\t at\t the\t inquest.\t I\t just\t said\t that\t I\t was\t terribly\t upset\t and\t had nothing\t to\t say,\t and\t then\t he\t asked\t me\t if\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t very\t anxious\t to\t find\t my husband\u2019s\t murderer,\t and\t I\t said\t \u2018Yes.\u2019\t And\t then\t whether\t I\t had\t any\t suspicions, and\tI\tsaid\t\u2018No.\u2019\tAnd\twhether\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tthe\tcrime\tshowed\tlocal\tknowledge, and\tI\tsaid\tit\tseemed\tto\tcertainly.\tAnd\tthat\twas\tall.\tAnd\tnow\tlook\tat\tthis!\u201d In\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tpage\twas\ta\tphotograph,\tevidently\ttaken\tat\tleast\tten\tyears ago\u2014Heaven\tknows\twhere\tthey\thad\tdug\tit\tout.\tThere\twere\tlarge\theadlines: WIDOW\t DECLARES\t SHE\t WILL\t NEVER\t REST\t TILL\t SHE\t HAS\t HUNTED\t DOWN HUSBAND\u2019S\tMURDERER.","Mrs.\t Protheroe,\t the\t widow\t of\t the\t murdered\t man,\t is\t certain\t that\t the murderer\t must\t be\t looked\t for\t locally.\t She\t has\t suspicions,\t but\t no\t certainty. She\tdeclared\therself\tprostrated\twith\tgrief,\tbut\treiterated\ther\tdetermination to\thunt\tdown\tthe\tmurderer. \t \u201cIt\tdoesn\u2019t\tsound\tlike\tme,\tdoes\tit?\u201d\tsaid\tAnne. \u201cI\tdare\tsay\tit\tmight\thave\tbeen\tworse,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\thanding\tback\tthe\tpaper. \u201cImpudent,\t aren\u2019t\t they?\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Cram.\t \u201cI\u2019d\t like\t to\t see\t one\t of\t those fellows\ttrying\tto\tget\tsomething\tout\tof\tme.\u201d By\t the\t twinkle\t in\t Griselda\u2019s\t eye,\t I\t was\t convinced\t that\t she\t regarded\t this statement\tas\tbeing\tmore\tliterally\ttrue\tthan\tMiss\tCram\tintended\tit\tto\tappear. Luncheon\t was\t announced,\t and\t we\t went\t in.\t Lettice\t did\t not\t come\t in\t till halfway\tthrough\tthe\tmeal,\twhen\tshe\tdrifted\tinto\tthe\tempty\tplace\twith\ta\tsmile\tfor Griselda\tand\ta\tnod\tfor\tme.\tI\twatched\ther\twith\tsome\tattention,\tfor\treasons\tof\tmy own,\tbut\tshe\tseemed\tmuch\tthe\tsame\tvague\tcreature\tas\tusual.\tExtremely\tpretty\u2014 that\t in\t fairness\t I\t had\t to\t admit.\t She\t was\t still\t not\t wearing\t mourning,\t but\t was dressed\t in\t a\t shade\t of\t pale\t green\t that\t brought\t out\t all\t the\t delicacy\t of\t her\t fair colouring. After\twe\thad\thad\tcoffee,\tAnne\tsaid\tquietly: \u201cI\t want\t to\t have\t a\t little\t talk\t with\t the\t Vicar.\t I\t will\t take\t him\t up\t to\t my\t sitting room.\u201d At\tlast\tI\twas\tto\tlearn\tthe\treason\tof\tour\tsummons.\tI\trose\tand\tfollowed\ther\tup the\t stairs.\t She\t paused\t at\t the\t door\t of\t the\t room.\t As\t I\t was\t about\t to\t speak,\t she stretched\t out\t a\t hand\t to\t stop\t me.\t She\t remained\t listening,\t looking\t down\t towards the\thall. \u201cGood.\t They\t are\t going\t out\t into\t the\t garden.\t No\u2014don\u2019t\t go\t in\t there.\t We\t can go\tstraight\tup.\u201d Much\t to\t my\t surprise\t she\t led\t the\t way\t along\t the\t corridor\t to\t the\t extremity\t of the\t wing.\t Here\t a\t narrow\t ladder-like\t staircase\t rose\t to\t the\t floor\t above,\t and\t she mounted\t it,\t I\t following.\t We\t found\t ourselves\t in\t a\t dusty\t boarded\t passage.\t Anne opened\t a\t door\t and\t led\t me\t into\t a\t large\t dim\t attic\t which\t was\t evidently\t used\t as\t a lumber\t room.\t There\t were\t trunks\t there,\t old\t broken\t furniture,\t a\t few\t stacked pictures,\tand\tthe\tmany\tcountless\todds\tand\tends\twhich\ta\tlumber\troom\tcollects. My\tsurprise\twas\tso\tevident\tthat\tshe\tsmiled\tfaintly. \u201cFirst\tof\tall,\tI\tmust\texplain.\tI\tam\tsleeping\tvery\tlightly\tjust\tnow.\tLast\tnight\u2014","or\trather\tthis\tmorning\tabout\tthree\to\u2019clock,\tI\twas\tconvinced\tthat\tI\theard\tsomeone moving\tabout\tthe\thouse.\tI\tlistened\tfor\tsome\ttime,\tand\tat\tlast\tgot\tup\tand\tcame\tout to\tsee.\tOut\ton\tthe\tlanding\tI\trealized\tthat\tthe\tsounds\tcame,\tnot\tfrom\tdown\tbelow, but\t from\t up\t above.\t I\t came\t along\t to\t the\t foot\t of\t these\t stairs.\t Again\t I\t thought\t I heard\t a\t sound.\t I\t called\t up,\t \u2018Is\t anybody\t there?\u2019\t But\t there\t was\t no\t answer,\t and\t I heard\tnothing\tmore,\tso\tI\tassumed\tthat\tmy\tnerves\thad\tbeen\tplaying\ttricks\ton\tme, and\twent\tback\tto\tbed. \u201cHowever,\tearly\tthis\tmorning,\tI\tcame\tup\there\u2014simply\tout\tof\tcuriosity.\tAnd I\tfound\tthis!\u201d She\t stooped\t down\t and\t turned\t round\t a\t picture\t that\t was\t leaning\t against\t the wall\twith\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tcanvas\ttowards\tus. I\tgave\ta\tgasp\tof\tsurprise.\tThe\tpicture\twas\tevidently\ta\tportrait\tin\toils,\tbut\tthe face\t had\t been\t hacked\t and\t cut\t in\t such\t a\t savage\t way\t as\t to\t render\t it unrecognizable.\tMoreover,\tthe\tcuts\twere\tclearly\tquite\tfresh. \u201cWhat\tan\textraordinary\tthing,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cIsn\u2019t\tit?\tTell\tme,\tcan\tyou\tthink\tof\tany\texplanation?\u201d I\tshook\tmy\thead. \u201cThere\u2019s\t a\t kind\t of\t savagery\t about\t it,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cthat\t I\t don\u2019t\t like.\t It\t looks\t as though\tit\thad\tbeen\tdone\tin\ta\tfit\tof\tmaniacal\trage.\u201d \u201cYes,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tI\tthought.\u201d \u201cWhat\tis\tthe\tportrait?\u201d \u201cI\thaven\u2019t\tthe\tleast\tidea.\tI\thave\tnever\tseen\tit\tbefore.\tAll\tthese\tthings\twere\tin the\tattic\twhen\tI\tmarried\tLucius\tand\tcame\there\tto\tlive.\tI\thave\tnever\tbeen\tthrough them\tor\tbothered\tabout\tthem.\u201d \u201cExtraordinary,\u201d\tI\tcommented. I\tstooped\tdown\tand\texamined\tthe\tother\tpictures.\tThey\twere\tvery\tmuch\twhat you\t would\t expect\t to\t find\u2014some\t very\t mediocre\t landscapes,\t some\t oleographs and\ta\tfew\tcheaply-framed\treproductions. There\twas\tnothing\telse\thelpful.\tA\tlarge\told-fashioned\ttrunk,\tof\tthe\tkind\tthat used\t to\t be\t called\t an\t \u201cark,\u201d\t had\t the\t initials\t E.P.\t upon\t it.\t I\t raised\t the\t lid.\t It\t was empty.\tNothing\telse\tin\tthe\tattic\twas\tthe\tleast\tsuggestive. \u201cIt\treally\tis\ta\tmost\tamazing\toccurrence,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tso\u2014senseless.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tsaid\tAnne.\t\u201cThat\tfrightens\tme\ta\tlittle.\u201d There\twas\tnothing\tmore\tto\tsee.\tI\taccompanied\ther\tdown\tto\ther\tsitting\troom where\tshe\tclosed\tthe\tdoor. \u201cDo\tyou\tthink\tI\tought\tto\tdo\tanything\tabout\tit?\tTell\tthe\tpolice?\u201d I\thesitated. \u201cIt\u2019s\thard\tto\tsay\ton\tthe\tface\tof\tit\twhether\u2014\u201d \u201cIt\t has\t anything\t to\t do\t with\t the\t murder\t or\t not,\u201d\t finished\t Anne.\t \u201cI\t know.","That\u2019s\t what\t is\t so\t difficult.\t On\t the\t face\t of\t it,\t there\t seems\t no\t connection whatever.\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cbut\tit\tis\tanother\tPeculiar\tThing.\u201d We\tboth\tsat\tsilent\twith\tpuzzled\tbrows. \u201cWhat\tare\tyour\tplans,\tif\tI\tmay\task?\u201d\tI\tsaid\tpresently. She\tlifted\ther\thead. \u201cI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tlive\there\tfor\tat\tleast\tanother\tsix\tmonths!\u201d\tShe\tsaid\tit\tdefiantly. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto.\tI\thate\tthe\tidea\tof\tliving\there.\tBut\tI\tthink\tit\u2019s\tthe\tonly\tthing\tto be\t done.\t Otherwise\t people\t will\t say\t that\t I\t ran\t away\u2014that\t I\t had\t a\t guilty conscience.\u201d \u201cSurely\tnot.\u201d \u201cOh!\t Yes,\t they\t will.\t Especially\t when\u2014\u201d\t She\t paused\t and\t then\t said:\t \u201cWhen the\t six\t months\t are\t up\u2014I\t am\t going\t to\t marry\t Lawrence.\u201d\t Her\t eyes\t met\t mine. \u201cWe\u2019re\tneither\tof\tus\tgoing\tto\twait\tany\tlonger.\u201d \u201cI\tsupposed,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cthat\tthat\twould\thappen.\u201d Suddenly\tshe\tbroke\tdown,\tburying\ther\thead\tin\ther\thands. \u201cYou\t don\u2019t\t know\t how\t grateful\t I\t am\t to\t you\u2014you\t don\u2019t\t know.\t We\u2019d\t said good-bye\t to\t each\t other\u2014he\t was\t going\t away.\t I\t feel\u2014I\t feel\t so\t awful\t about Lucius\u2019s\tdeath.\tIf\twe\u2019d\tbeen\tplanning\tto\tgo\taway\ttogether,\tand\the\u2019d\tdied\tthen\u2014 it\t would\t be\t so\t awful\t now.\t But\t you\t made\t us\t both\t see\t how\t wrong\t it\t would\t be. That\u2019s\twhy\tI\u2019m\tgrateful.\u201d \u201cI,\ttoo,\tam\tthankful,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tgravely. \u201cAll\t the\t same,\t you\t know,\u201d\t she\t sat\t up.\t \u201cUnless\t the\t real\t murderer\t is\t found they\u2019ll\talways\tthink\tit\twas\tLawrence\u2014oh!\tYes,\tthey\twill.\tAnd\tespecially\twhen he\tmarries\tme.\u201d \u201cMy\tdear,\tDr.\tHaydock\u2019s\tevidence\tmade\tit\tperfectly\tclear\u2014\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tpeople\tcare\tabout\tevidence?\tThey\tdon\u2019t\teven\tknow\tabout\tit.\tAnd medical\t evidence\t never\t means\t anything\t to\t outsiders\t anyway.\t That\u2019s\t another reason\twhy\tI\u2019m\tstaying\ton\there.\tMr.\tClement,\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tfind\tout\tthe\ttruth.\u201d Her\teyes\tflashed\tas\tshe\tspoke.\tShe\tadded: \u201cThat\u2019s\twhy\tI\tasked\tthat\tgirl\there.\u201d \u201cMiss\tCram?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cYou\tdid\task\ther,\tthen.\tI\tmean,\tit\twas\tyour\tidea?\u201d \u201cEntirely.\tOh!\tAs\ta\tmatter\tof\tfact,\tshe\twhined\ta\tbit.\tAt\tthe\tinquest\u2014she\twas there\twhen\tI\tarrived.\tNo,\tI\tasked\ther\there\tdeliberately.\u201d \u201cBut\t surely,\u201d\t I\t cried,\t \u201cyou\t don\u2019t\t think\t that\t that\t silly\t young\t woman\t could have\tanything\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tcrime?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tawfully\teasy\tto\tappear\tsilly,\tMr.\tClement.\tIt\u2019s\tone\tof\tthe\teasiest\tthings","in\tthe\tworld.\u201d \u201cThen\tyou\treally\tthink\u2014?\u201d \u201cNo,\t I\t don\u2019t.\t Honestly,\t I\t don\u2019t.\t What\t I\t do\t think\t is\t that\t that\t girl\t knows something\u2014or\tmight\tknow\tsomething.\tI\twanted\tto\tstudy\ther\tat\tclose\tquarters.\u201d \u201cAnd\tthe\tvery\tnight\tshe\tarrives,\tthat\tpicture\tis\tslashed,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tthoughtfully. \u201cYou\tthink\tshe\tdid\tit?\tBut\twhy?\tIt\tseems\tso\tutterly\tabsurd\tand\timpossible.\u201d \u201cIt\tseems\tto\tme\tutterly\timpossible\tand\tabsurd\tthat\tyour\thusband\tshould\thave been\tmurdered\tin\tmy\tstudy,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tbitterly.\t\u201cBut\the\twas.\u201d \u201cI\t know.\u201d\t She\t laid\t her\t hand\t on\t my\t arm.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t dreadful\t for\t you.\t I\t do\t realize that,\tthough\tI\thaven\u2019t\tsaid\tvery\tmuch\tabout\tit.\u201d I\ttook\tthe\tblue\tlapis\tlazuli\tearring\tfrom\tmy\tpocket\tand\theld\tit\tout\tto\ther. \u201cThis\tis\tyours,\tI\tthink?\u201d \u201cOh,\tyes!\u201d\tShe\theld\tout\ther\thand\tfor\tit\twith\ta\tpleased\tsmile.\t\u201cWhere\tdid\tyou find\tit?\u201d But\tI\tdid\tnot\tput\tthe\tjewel\tinto\ther\toutstretched\thand. \u201cWould\tyou\tmind,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cif\tI\tkept\tit\ta\tlittle\tlonger?\u201d \u201cWhy,\tcertainly.\u201d\tShe\tlooked\tpuzzled\tand\ta\tlittle\tinquiring.\tI\tdid\tnot\tsatisfy her\tcuriosity. Instead\tI\tasked\ther\thow\tshe\twas\tsituated\tfinancially. \u201cIt\tis\tan\timpertinent\tquestion,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cbut\tI\treally\tdo\tnot\tmean\tit\tas\tsuch.\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tit\u2019s\timpertinent\tat\tall.\tYou\tand\tGriselda\tare\tthe\tbest\tfriends\tI have\there.\tAnd\tI\tlike\tthat\tfunny\told\tMiss\tMarple.\tLucius\twas\tvery\twell\toff,\tyou know.\t He\t left\t things\t pretty\t equally\t divided\t between\t me\t and\t Lettice.\t Old\t Hall goes\tto\tme,\tbut\tLettice\tis\tto\tbe\tallowed\tto\tchoose\tenough\tfurniture\tto\tfurnish\ta small\thouse,\tand\tshe\tis\tleft\ta\tseparate\tsum\tfor\tthe\tpurpose\tof\tbuying\tone,\tso\tas to\teven\tthings\tup.\u201d \u201cWhat\tare\ther\tplans,\tdo\tyou\tknow?\u201d Anne\tmade\ta\tcomical\tgrimace. \u201cShe\t doesn\u2019t\t tell\t them\t to\t me.\t I\t imagine\t she\t will\t leave\t here\t as\t soon\t as possible.\t She\t doesn\u2019t\t like\t me\u2014she\t never\t has.\t I\t dare\t say\t it\u2019s\t my\t fault,\t though I\u2019ve\t really\t always\t tried\t to\t be\t decent.\t But\t I\t suppose\t any\t girl\t resents\t a\t young stepmother.\u201d \u201cAre\tyou\tfond\tof\ther?\u201d\tI\tasked\tbluntly. She\tdid\tnot\treply\tat\tonce,\twhich\tconvinced\tme\tthat\tAnne\tProtheroe\tis\ta\tvery honest\twoman. \u201cI\twas\tat\tfirst,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cShe\twas\tsuch\ta\tpretty\tlittle\tgirl.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\tam now.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t why.\t Perhaps\t it\u2019s\t because\t she\t doesn\u2019t\t like\t me.\t I\t like\t being liked,\tyou\tknow.\u201d \u201cWe\tall\tdo,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\tAnne\tProtheroe\tsmiled.","I\t had\t one\t more\t task\t to\t perform.\t That\t was\t to\t get\t a\t word\t alone\t with\t Lettice Protheroe.\t I\t managed\t that\t easily\t enough,\t catching\t sight\t of\t her\t in\t the\t deserted drawing\troom.\tGriselda\tand\tGladys\tCram\twere\tout\tin\tthe\tgarden. I\twent\tin\tand\tshut\tthe\tdoor. \u201cLettice,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cI\twant\tto\tspeak\tto\tyou\tabout\tsomething.\u201d She\tlooked\tup\tindifferently. \u201cYes?\u201d I\t had\t thought\t beforehand\t what\t to\t say.\t I\t held\t out\t the\t lapis\t earring\t and\t said quietly: \u201cWhy\tdid\tyou\tdrop\tthat\tin\tmy\tstudy?\u201d I\t saw\t her\t stiffen\t for\t a\t moment\u2014it\t was\t almost\t instantaneous.\t Her\t recovery was\tso\tquick\tthat\tI\tmyself\tcould\thardly\thave\tsworn\tto\tthe\tmovement.\tThen\tshe said\tcarelessly: \u201cI\tnever\tdropped\tanything\tin\tyour\tstudy.\tThat\u2019s\tnot\tmine.\tThat\u2019s\tAnne\u2019s.\u201d \u201cI\tknow\tthat,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cWell,\twhy\task\tme,\tthen?\tAnne\tmust\thave\tdropped\tit.\u201d \u201cMrs.\tProtheroe\thas\tonly\tbeen\tin\tmy\tstudy\tonce\tsince\tthe\tmurder,\tand\tthen she\twas\twearing\tblack\tand\tso\twould\tnot\thave\tbeen\tlikely\tto\thave\thad\ton\ta\tblue earring.\u201d \u201cIn\tthat\tcase,\u201d\tsaid\tLettice,\t\u201cI\tsuppose\tshe\tmust\thave\tdropped\tit\tbefore.\u201d\tShe added:\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tonly\tlogical.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\t very\t logical,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cI\t suppose\t you\t don\u2019t\t happen\t to\t remember\t when your\tstepmother\twas\twearing\tthese\tearrings\tlast?\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d\tShe\tlooked\tat\tme\twith\ta\tpuzzled,\ttrustful\tgaze.\t\u201cIs\tit\tvery\timportant?\u201d \u201cIt\tmight\tbe,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\u2019ll\t try\t and\t think.\u201d\t She\t sat\t there\t knitting\t her\t brows.\t I\t have\t never\t seen Lettice\t Protheroe\t look\t more\t charming\t than\t she\t did\t at\t that\t moment.\t \u201cOh,\t yes!\u201d she\tsaid\tsuddenly.\t\u201cShe\thad\tthem\ton\u2014on\tThursday.\tI\tremember\tnow.\u201d \u201cThursday,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tslowly,\t\u201cwas\tthe\tday\tof\tthe\tmurder.\tMrs.\tProtheroe\tcame to\t the\t study\t in\t the\t garden\t that\t day,\t but\t if\t you\t remember,\t in\t her\t evidence,\t she only\tcame\tas\tfar\tas\tthe\tstudy\twindow,\tnot\tinside\tthe\troom.\u201d \u201cWhere\tdid\tyou\tfind\tthis?\u201d \u201cRolled\tunderneath\tthe\tdesk.\u201d \u201cThen\tit\tlooks,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit,\u201d\tsaid\tLettice\tcoolly,\t\u201cas\tthough\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tspoken the\ttruth?\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\tthat\tshe\tcame\tright\tin\tand\tstood\tby\tthe\tdesk?\u201d \u201cWell,\tit\tlooks\tlike\tit,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\u201d Her\teyes\tmet\tmine\tserenely. \u201cIf\t you\t want\t to\t know,\u201d\t she\t said\t calmly,\t \u201cI\t never\t have\t thought\t she\t was","speaking\tthe\ttruth.\u201d \u201cAnd\tI\tknow\tyou\tare\tnot,\tLettice.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u201d She\twas\tstartled. \u201cI\tmean,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cthat\tthe\tlast\ttime\tI\tsaw\tthis\tearring\twas\ton\tFriday\tmorning when\tI\tcame\tup\there\twith\tColonel\tMelchett.\tIt\twas\tlying\twith\tits\tfellow\ton\tyour stepmother\u2019s\tdressing\ttable.\tI\tactually\thandled\tthem\tboth.\u201d \u201cOh\u2014!\u201d\tShe\twavered,\tthen\tsuddenly\tflung\therself\tsideways\tover\tthe\tarm\tof her\tchair\tand\tburst\tinto\ttears.\tHer\tshort\tfair\thair\thung\tdown\talmost\ttouching\tthe floor.\tIt\twas\ta\tstrange\tattitude\u2014beautiful\tand\tunrestrained. I\tlet\ther\tsob\tfor\tsome\tmoments\tin\tsilence\tand\tthen\tI\tsaid\tvery\tgently: \u201cLettice,\twhy\tdid\tyou\tdo\tit?\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d She\t sprang\t up,\t flinging\t her\t hair\t wildly\t back.\t She\t looked\t wild\u2014almost terrified. \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u201d \u201cWhat\tmade\tyou\tdo\tit?\tWas\tit\tjealousy?\tDislike\tof\tAnne?\u201d \u201cOh!\u2014Oh,\t yes!\u201d\t She\t pushed\t the\t hair\t back\t from\t her\t face\t and\t seemed suddenly\tto\tregain\tcomplete\tself-possession.\t\u201cYes,\tyou\tcan\tcall\tit\tjealousy.\tI\u2019ve always\t disliked\t Anne\u2014ever\t since\t she\t came\t queening\t it\t here.\t I\t put\t the\t damned thing\tunder\tthe\tdesk.\tI\thoped\tit\twould\tget\ther\tinto\ttrouble.\tIt\twould\thave\tdone\tif you\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t such\t a\t Nosey\t Parker,\t fingering\t things\t on\t dressing\t tables. Anyway,\tit\tisn\u2019t\ta\tclergyman\u2019s\tbusiness\tto\tgo\tabout\thelping\tthe\tpolice.\u201d It\t was\t a\t spiteful,\t childish\t outburst.\t I\t took\t no\t notice\t of\t it.\t Indeed,\t at\t that moment,\tshe\tseemed\ta\tvery\tpathetic\tchild\tindeed. Her\t childish\t attempt\t at\t vengeance\t against\t Anne\t seemed\t hardly\t to\t be\t taken seriously.\tI\ttold\ther\tso,\tand\tadded\tthat\tI\tshould\treturn\tthe\tearring\tto\ther\tand\tsay nothing\tof\tthe\tcircumstances\tin\twhich\tI\thad\tfound\tit.\tShe\tseemed\trather\ttouched by\tthat. \u201cThat\u2019s\tnice\tof\tyou,\u201d\tshe\tsaid. She\t paused\t a\t minute\t and\t then\t said,\t keeping\t her\t face\t averted\t and\t evidently choosing\ther\twords\twith\tcare: \u201cYou\t know,\t Mr.\t Clement,\t I\t should\u2014I\t should\t get\t Dennis\t away\t from\t here soon,\tif\tI\twere\tyou\tI\u2014think\tit\twould\tbe\tbetter.\u201d \u201cDennis?\u201d\t I\t raised\t my\t eyebrows\t in\t slight\t surprise\t but\t with\t a\t trace\t of amusement\ttoo. \u201cI\t think\t it\t would\t be\t better.\u201d\t She\t added,\t still\t in\t the\t same\t awkward\t manner: \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry\tabout\tDennis.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\the\u2014anyway,\tI\u2019m\tsorry.\u201d We\tleft\tit\tat\tthat."]
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- 156
- 157
- 158
- 159
- 160
- 161
- 162
- 163
- 164
- 165
- 166
- 167
- 168
- 169
- 170
- 171
- 172
- 173
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- 180
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- 191
- 192
- 193
- 194
- 195
- 196
- 197
- 198
- 199
- 200
- 201
- 202
- 203
- 204
- 205
- 206
- 207
- 208
- 209
- 210
- 211
- 212
- 213
- 214
- 215
- 216
- 217
- 218
- 219
- 220
- 221
- 222
- 223
- 224
- 225
- 226
- 227
