["Twenty-three \t On\tthe\tway\tback,\tI\tproposed\tto\tGriselda\tthat\twe\tshould\tmake\ta\tdetour\tand\tgo round\t by\t the\t barrow.\t I\t was\t anxious\t to\t see\t if\t the\t police\t were\t at\t work\t and\t if\t so, what\tthey\thad\tfound.\tGriselda,\thowever,\thad\tthings\tto\tdo\tat\thome,\tso\tI\twas\tleft to\tmake\tthe\texpedition\ton\tmy\town. I\tfound\tConstable\tHurst\tin\tcharge\tof\toperations. \u201cNo\tsign\tso\tfar,\tsir,\u201d\the\treported.\t\u201cAnd\tyet\tit\tstands\tto\treason\tthat\tthis\tis\tthe only\tplace\tfor\ta\tcache.\u201d His\t use\t of\t the\t word\t cache\t puzzled\t me\t for\t a\t moment,\t as\t he\t pronounced\t it catch,\tbut\this\treal\tmeaning\toccurred\tto\tme\talmost\tat\tonce. \u201cWhatimeantersay\t is,\t sir,\t where\t else\t could\t the\t young\t woman\t be\t going starting\t into\t the\t wood\t by\t that\t path?\t It\t leads\t to\t Old\t Hall,\t and\t it\t leads\t here,\t and that\u2019s\tabout\tall.\u201d \u201cI\tsuppose,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cthat\tInspector\tSlack\twould\tdisdain\tsuch\ta\tsimple\tcourse as\tasking\tthe\tyoung\tlady\tstraight\tout.\u201d \u201cAnxious\t not\t to\t put\t the\t wind\t up\t her,\u201d\t said\t Hurst.\t \u201cAnything\t she\t writes\t to Stone\t or\t he\t writes\t to\t her\t may\t throw\t light\t on\t things\u2014once\t she\t knows\t we\u2019re\t on to\ther,\tshe\u2019d\tshut\tup\tlike\tthat.\u201d Like\t what\t exactly\t was\t left\t in\t doubt,\t but\t I\t personally\t doubted\t Miss\t Gladys Cram\tever\tbeing\tshut\tup\tin\tthe\tway\tdescribed.\tIt\twas\timpossible\tto\timagine\ther as\tother\tthan\toverflowing\twith\tconversation. \u201cWhen\ta\tman\u2019s\tan\th\u2019impostor,\tyou\twant\tto\tknow\twhy\the\u2019s\tan\th\u2019impostor,\u201d said\tConstable\tHurst\tdidactically. \u201cNaturally,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cAnd\t the\t answer\t is\t to\t be\t found\t in\t this\t here\t barrow\u2014or\t else\t why\t was\t he forever\tmessing\tabout\twith\tit?\u201d \u201cA\traison\td\u2019\u00eatre\tfor\tprowling\tabout,\u201d\tI\tsuggested,\tbut\tthis\tbit\tof\tFrench\twas too\t much\t for\t the\t constable.\t He\t revenged\t himself\t for\t not\t understanding\t it\t by saying\tcoldly:\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tthe\th\u2019amateur\u2019s\tpoint\tof\tview.\u201d \u201cAnyway,\tyou\thaven\u2019t\tfound\tthe\tsuitcase,\u201d\tI\tsaid.","\u201cWe\tshall\tdo,\tsir.\tNot\ta\tdoubt\tof\tit.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tso\tsure,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tbeen\tthinking.\tMiss\tMarple\tsaid\tit\twas\tquite\ta short\t time\t before\t the\t girl\t reappeared\t empty-handed.\t In\t that\t case,\t she\t wouldn\u2019t have\thad\ttime\tto\tget\tup\there\tand\tback.\u201d \u201cYou\t can\u2019t\t take\t any\t notice\t of\t what\t old\t ladies\t say.\t When\t they\u2019ve\t seen something\t curious,\t and\t are\t waiting\t all\t eager\t like,\t why,\t time\t simply\t flies\t for them.\tAnd\tanyway,\tno\tlady\tknows\tanything\tabout\ttime.\u201d I\t often\t wonder\t why\t the\t whole\t world\t is\t so\t prone\t to\t generalize. Generalizations\tare\tseldom\tif\tever\ttrue\tand\tare\tusually\tutterly\tinaccurate.\tI\thave a\t poor\t sense\t of\t time\t myself\t (hence\t the\t keeping\t of\t my\t clock\t fast)\t and\t Miss Marple,\t I\t should\t say,\t has\t a\t very\t acute\t one.\t Her\t clocks\t keep\t time\t to\t the\t minute and\tshe\therself\tis\trigidly\tpunctual\ton\tevery\toccasion. However,\tI\thad\tno\tintention\tof\targuing\twith\tConstable\tHurst\ton\tthe\tpoint.\tI wished\thim\tgood\tafternoon\tand\tgood\tluck\tand\twent\ton\tmy\tway. It\t was\t just\t as\t I\t was\t nearing\t home\t that\t the\t idea\t came\t to\t me.\t There\t was nothing\tto\tlead\tup\tto\tit.\tIt\tjust\tflashed\tinto\tmy\tbrain\tas\ta\tpossible\tsolution. You\t will\t remember\t that\t on\t my\t first\t search\t of\t the\t path,\t the\t day\t after\t the murder,\tI\thad\tfound\tthe\tbushes\tdisturbed\tin\ta\tcertain\tplace.\tThey\tproved,\tor\tso\tI thought\t at\t the\t time,\t to\t have\t been\t disturbed\t by\t Lawrence,\t bent\t on\t the\t same errand\tas\tmyself. But\tI\tremembered\tthat\tafterwards\the\tand\tI\ttogether\thad\tcome\tupon\tanother faintly\tmarked\ttrail\twhich\tproved\tto\tbe\tthat\tof\tthe\tInspector.\tOn\tthinking\tit\tover, I\t distinctly\t remembered\t that\t the\t first\t trail\t (Lawrence\u2019s)\t had\t been\t much\t more noticeable\t than\t the\t second,\t as\t though\t more\t than\t one\t person\t had\t been\t passing that\t way.\t And\t I\t reflected\t that\t that\t was\t probably\t what\t had\t drawn\t Lawrence\u2019s attention\tto\tit\tin\tthe\tfirst\tinstance.\tSupposing\tthat\tit\thad\toriginally\tbeen\tmade\tby either\tDr.\tStone\tor\telse\tMiss\tCram? I\t remembered,\t or\t else\t I\t imagined\t remembering,\t that\t there\t had\t been\t several withered\t leaves\t on\t broken\t twigs.\t If\t so,\t the\t trail\t could\t not\t have\t been\t made\t the afternoon\tof\tour\tsearch. I\twas\tjust\tapproaching\tthe\tspot\tin\tquestion.\tI\trecognized\tit\teasily\tenough\tand once\t more\t forced\t my\t way\t through\t the\t bushes.\t This\t time\t I\t noticed\t fresh\t twigs broken.\tSomeone\thad\tpassed\tthis\tway\tsince\tLawrence\tand\tmyself. I\tsoon\tcame\tto\tthe\tplace\twhere\tI\thad\tencountered\tLawrence.\tThe\tfaint\ttrail, however,\tpersisted\tfarther,\tand\tI\tcontinued\tto\tfollow\tit.\tSuddenly\tit\twidened\tout into\t a\t little\t clearing,\t which\t showed\t signs\t of\t recent\t upheaval.\t I\t say\t a\t clearing, because\t the\t denseness\t of\t the\t undergrowth\t was\t thinned\t out\t there,\t but\t the branches\tof\tthe\ttrees\tmet\toverhead\tand\tthe\twhole\tplace\twas\tnot\tmore\tthan\ta\tfew feet\tacross.","On\tthe\tother\tside,\tthe\tundergrowth\tgrew\tdensely\tagain,\tand\tit\tseemed\tquite clear\tthat\tno\tone\thad\tforced\ta\tway\tthrough\tit\trecently.\tNevertheless,\tit\tseemed\tto have\tbeen\tdisturbed\tin\tone\tplace. I\twent\tacross\tand\tkneeled\tdown,\tthrusting\tthe\tbushes\taside\twith\tboth\thands. A\tglint\tof\tshiny\tbrown\tsurface\trewarded\tme.\tFull\tof\texcitement,\tI\tthrust\tmy\tarm in\tand\twith\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\tdifficulty\tI\textracted\ta\tsmall\tbrown\tsuitcase. I\tuttered\tan\tejaculation\tof\ttriumph.\tI\thad\tbeen\tsuccessful.\tColdly\tsnubbed\tby Constable\tHurst,\tI\thad\tyet\tproved\tright\tin\tmy\treasoning.\tHere\twithout\tdoubt\twas the\tsuitcase\tcarried\tby\tMiss\tCram.\tI\ttried\tthe\thasp,\tbut\tit\twas\tlocked. As\tI\trose\tto\tmy\tfeet\tI\tnoticed\ta\tsmall\tbrownish\tcrystal\tlying\ton\tthe\tground. Almost\tautomatically,\tI\tpicked\tit\tup\tand\tslipped\tit\tinto\tmy\tpocket. Then\tgrasping\tmy\tfind\tby\tthe\thandle,\tI\tretraced\tmy\tsteps\tto\tthe\tpath. As\tI\tclimbed\tover\tthe\tstile\tinto\tthe\tlane,\tan\tagitated\tvoice\tnear\tat\thand\tcalled out: \u201cOh!\tMr.\tClement.\tYou\u2019ve\tfound\tit!\tHow\tclever\tof\tyou!\u201d Mentally\t registering\t the\t fact\t that\t in\t the\t art\t of\t seeing\t without\t being\t seen, Miss\tMarple\thad\tno\trival,\tI\tbalanced\tmy\tfind\ton\tthe\tpalings\tbetween\tus. \u201cThat\u2019s\tthe\tone,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple\t\u201cI\u2019d\tknow\tit\tanywhere.\u201d This,\t I\t thought,\t was\t a\t slight\t exaggeration.\t There\t are\t thousands\t of\t cheap shiny\tsuitcases\tall\texactly\talike.\tNo\tone\tcould\trecognize\tone\tparticular\tone\tseen from\t such\t a\t distance\t away\t by\t moonlight,\t but\t I\t realized\t that\t the\t whole\t business of\t the\t suitcase\t was\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t particular\t triumph\t and,\t as\t such,\t she\t was entitled\tto\ta\tlittle\tpardonable\texaggeration. \u201cIt\u2019s\tlocked,\tI\tsuppose,\tMr.\tClement?\u201d \u201cYes.\tI\u2019m\tjust\tgoing\tto\ttake\tit\tdown\tto\tthe\tpolice\tstation.\u201d \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tit\twould\tbe\tbetter\tto\ttelephone?\u201d Of\tcourse\tunquestionably\tit\twould\tbe\tbetter\tto\ttelephone.\tTo\tstride\tthrough the\tvillage,\tsuitcase\tin\thand,\twould\tbe\tto\tcourt\ta\tprobably\tundesirable\tpublicity. So\t I\t unlatched\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t garden\t gate\t and\t entered\t the\t house\t by\t the French\twindow,\tand\tfrom\tthe\tsanctity\tof\tthe\tdrawing\troom\twith\tthe\tdoor\tshut,\tI telephoned\tmy\tnews. The\t result\t was\t that\t Inspector\t Slack\t announced\t he\t would\t be\t up\t himself\t in\t a couple\tof\tjiffies. When\the\tarrived\tit\twas\tin\this\tmost\tcantankerous\tmood. \u201cSo\t we\u2019ve\t got\t it,\t have\t we?\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cYou\t know,\t sir,\t you\t shouldn\u2019t\t keep things\tto\tyourself.\tIf\tyou\u2019d\tany\treason\tto\tbelieve\tyou\tknew\twhere\tthe\tarticle\tin question\twas\thidden,\tyou\tought\tto\thave\treported\tit\tto\tthe\tproper\tauthorities.\u201d \u201cIt\twas\ta\tpure\taccident,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cThe\tidea\tjust\thappened\tto\toccur\tto\tme.\u201d \u201cAnd\t that\u2019s\t a\t likely\t tale.\t Nearly\t three-quarters\t of\t a\t mile\t of\t woodland,\t and","you\tgo\tright\tto\tthe\tproper\tspot\tand\tlay\tyour\thand\tupon\tit.\u201d I\t would\t have\t given\t Inspector\t Slack\t the\t steps\t in\t reasoning\t which\t led\t me\t to this\tparticular\tspot,\tbut\the\thad\tachieved\this\tusual\tresult\tof\tputting\tmy\tback\tup.\tI said\tnothing. \u201cWell?\u201d\tsaid\tInspector\tSlack,\teyeing\tthe\tsuitcase\twith\tdislike\tand\twould\tbe indifference,\t\u201cI\tsuppose\twe\tmight\tas\twell\thave\ta\tlook\tat\twhat\u2019s\tinside.\u201d He\t had\t brought\t an\t assortment\t of\t keys\t and\t wire\t with\t him.\t The\t lock\t was\t a cheap\taffair.\tIn\ta\tcouple\tof\tseconds\tthe\tcase\twas\topen. I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\twe\thad\texpected\tto\tfind\u2014something\tsternly\tsensational,\tI imagine.\t But\t the\t first\t thing\t that\t met\t our\t eyes\t was\t a\t greasy\t plaid\t scarf.\t The Inspector\t lifted\t it\t out.\t Next\t came\t a\t faded\t dark\t blue\t overcoat,\t very\t much\t the worse\tfor\twear.\tA\tchecked\tcap\tfollowed. \u201cA\tshoddy\tlot,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tInspector. A\tpair\tof\tboots\tvery\tdown\tat\theel\tand\tbattered\tcame\tnext.\tAt\tthe\tbottom\tof the\tsuitcase\twas\ta\tparcel\tdone\tup\tin\tnewspaper. \u201cFancy\tshirt,\tI\tsuppose,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tInspector\tbitterly,\tas\the\ttore\tit\topen. A\tmoment\tlater\the\thad\tcaught\this\tbreath\tin\tsurprise. For\t inside\t the\t parcel\t were\t some\t demure\t little\t silver\t objects\t and\t a\t round platter\tof\tthe\tsame\tmetal. Miss\tMarple\tgave\ta\tshrill\texclamation\tof\trecognition. \u201cThe\ttrencher\tsalts,\u201d\tshe\texclaimed.\t\u201cColonel\tProtheroe\u2019s\ttrencher\tsalts,\tand the\tCharles\tII\ttazza.\tDid\tyou\tever\thear\tof\tsuch\ta\tthing!\u201d The\tInspector\thad\tgot\tvery\tred. \u201cSo\t that\t was\t the\t game,\u201d\t he\t muttered.\t \u201cRobbery.\t But\t I\t can\u2019t\t make\t it\t out. There\u2019s\tbeen\tno\tmention\tof\tthese\tthings\tbeing\tmissing.\u201d \u201cPerhaps\t they\t haven\u2019t\t discovered\t the\t loss,\u201d\t I\t suggested.\t \u201cI\t presume\t these valuable\tthings\twould\tnot\thave\tbeen\tkept\tout\tin\tcommon\tuse.\tColonel\tProtheroe probably\tkept\tthem\tlocked\taway\tin\ta\tsafe.\u201d \u201cI\t must\t investigate\t this,\u201d\t said\t the\t Inspector.\t \u201cI\u2019ll\t go\t right\t up\t to\t Old\t Hall now.\t So\t that\u2019s\t why\t our\t Dr.\t Stone\t made\t himself\t scarce.\t What\t with\t the\t murder and\t one\t thing\t and\t another,\t he\t was\t afraid\t we\u2019d\t get\t wind\t of\t his\t activities.\t As likely\t as\t not\t his\t belongings\t might\t have\t been\t searched.\t He\t got\t the\t girl\t to\t hide them\tin\tthe\twood\twith\ta\tsuitable\tchange\tof\tclothing.\tHe\tmeant\tto\tcome\tback\tby a\t roundabout\t route\t and\t go\t off\t with\t them\t one\t night\t whilst\t she\t stayed\t here\t to disarm\tsuspicion.\tWell,\tthere\u2019s\tone\tthing\tto\tthe\tgood.\tThis\tlets\thim\tout\tover\tthe murder.\tHe\u2019d\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tthat.\tQuite\ta\tdifferent\tgame.\u201d He\t repacked\t the\t suitcase\t and\t took\t his\t departure,\t refusing\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s offer\tof\ta\tglass\tof\tsherry. \u201cWell,\tthat\u2019s\tone\tmystery\tcleared\tup,\u201d\tI\tsaid\twith\ta\tsigh.\t\u201cWhat\tSlack\tsays","is\tquite\ttrue;\tthere\tare\tno\tgrounds\tfor\tsuspecting\thim\tof\tthe\tmurder.\tEverything\u2019s accounted\tfor\tquite\tsatisfactorily.\u201d \u201cIt\t really\t would\t seem\t so,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple.\t \u201cAlthough\t one\t never\t can\t be quite\tcertain,\tcan\tone?\u201d \u201cThere\u2019s\ta\tcomplete\tlack\tof\tmotive,\u201d\tI\tpointed\tout.\t\u201cHe\u2019d\tgot\twhat\the\tcame for\tand\twas\tclearing\tout.\u201d \u201cY\u2014es.\u201d She\twas\tclearly\tnot\tquite\tsatisfied,\tand\tI\tlooked\tat\ther\tin\tsome\tcuriosity.\tShe hastened\tto\tanswer\tmy\tinquiring\tgaze\twith\ta\tkind\tof\tapologetic\teagerness. \u201cI\u2019ve\tno\tdoubt\tI\tam\tquite\twrong.\tI\u2019m\tso\tstupid\tabout\tthese\tthings.\tBut\tI\tjust wondered\u2014I\tmean\tthis\tsilver\tis\tvery\tvaluable,\tis\tit\tnot?\u201d \u201cA\ttazza\tsold\tthe\tother\tday\tfor\tover\ta\tthousand\tpounds,\tI\tbelieve.\u201d \u201cI\tmean\u2014it\u2019s\tnot\tthe\tvalue\tof\tthe\tmetal.\u201d \u201cNo,\tit\u2019s\twhat\tone\tmight\tcall\ta\tconnoisseur\u2019s\tvalue.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t what\t I\t mean.\t The\t sale\t of\t such\t things\t would\t take\t a\t little\t time\t to arrange,\t or\t even\t if\t it\t was\t arranged,\t it\t couldn\u2019t\t be\t carried\t through\t without secrecy.\t I\t mean\u2014if\t the\t robbery\t were\t reported\t and\t a\t hue\t and\t cry\t were\t raised, well,\tthe\tthings\tcouldn\u2019t\tbe\tmarketed\tat\tall.\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tquite\tsee\twhat\tyou\tmean?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\t know\t I\u2019m\t putting\t it\t badly.\u201d\t She\t became\t more\t flustered\t and\t apologetic. \u201cBut\t it\t seems\t to\t me\t that\u2014that\t the\t things\t couldn\u2019t\t just\t have\t been\t abstracted,\t so to\tspeak.\tThe\tonly\tsatisfactory\tthing\tto\tdo\twould\tbe\tto\treplace\tthese\tthings\twith copies.\tThen,\tperhaps,\tthe\trobbery\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tdiscovered\tfor\tsome\ttime.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\ta\tvery\tingenious\tidea,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cIt\twould\tbe\tthe\tonly\tway\tto\tdo\tit,\twouldn\u2019t\tit?\tAnd\tif\tso,\tof\tcourse,\tas\tyou say,\tonce\tthe\tsubstitution\thad\tbeen\taccomplished\tthere\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tany reason\tfor\tmurdering\tColonel\tProtheroe\u2014quite\tthe\treverse.\u201d \u201cExactly,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\twhat\tI\tsaid.\u201d \u201cYes,\tbut\tI\tjust\twondered\u2014I\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\tof\tcourse\u2014and\tColonel\tProtheroe always\t talked\t a\t lot\t about\t doing\t things\t before\t he\t actually\t did\t do\t them,\t and,\t of course,\tsometimes\tnever\tdid\tthem\tat\tall,\tbut\the\tdid\tsay\u2014\u201d \u201cYes?\u201d \u201cThat\t he\t was\t going\t to\t have\t all\t his\t things\t valued\u2014a\t man\t down\t from London.\t For\t probate\u2014no,\t that\u2019s\t when\t you\u2019re\t dead\u2014for\t insurance.\t Someone told\t him\t that\t was\t the\t thing\t to\t do.\t He\t talked\t about\t it\t a\t great\t deal,\t and\t the importance\tof\thaving\tit\tdone.\tOf\tcourse,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tif\the\thad\tmade\tany\tactual arrangements,\tbut\tif\the\thad\u2026.\u201d \u201cI\tsee,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tslowly. \u201cOf\t course,\t the\t moment\t the\t expert\t saw\t the\t silver,\t he\u2019d\t know,\t and\t then","Colonel\t Protheroe\t would\t remember\t having\t shown\t the\t things\t to\t Dr.\t Stone\u2014I wonder\t if\t it\t was\t done\t then\u2014legerdemain,\t don\u2019t\t they\t call\t it?\t So\t clever\u2014and then,\twell,\tthe\tfat\twould\tbe\tin\tthe\tfire,\tto\tuse\tan\told-fashioned\texpression.\u201d \u201cI\tsee\tyour\tidea,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tthink\twe\tought\tto\tfind\tout\tfor\tcertain.\u201d I\t went\t once\t more\t to\t the\t telephone.\t In\t a\t few\t minutes\t I\t was\t through\t to\t Old Hall\tand\tspeaking\tto\tAnne\tProtheroe. \u201cNo,\t it\u2019s\t nothing\t very\t important.\t Has\t the\t Inspector\t arrived\t yet?\t Oh!\t Well, he\u2019s\ton\this\tway.\tMrs.\tProtheroe,\tcan\tyou\ttell\tme\tif\tthe\tcontents\tof\tOld\tHall\twere ever\tvalued?\tWhat\u2019s\tthat\tyou\tsay?\u201d Her\tanswer\tcame\tclear\tand\tprompt.\tI\tthanked\ther,\treplaced\tthe\treceiver,\tand turned\tto\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cThat\u2019s\t very\t definite.\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t had\t made\t arrangements\t for\t a\t man to\t come\t down\t from\t London\t on\t Monday\u2014tomorrow\u2014to\t make\t a\t full\t valuation. Owing\tto\tthe\tColonel\u2019s\tdeath,\tthe\tmatter\thas\tbeen\tput\toff.\u201d \u201cThen\tthere\twas\ta\tmotive,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple\tsoftly. \u201cA\t motive,\t yes.\t But\t that\u2019s\t all.\t You\t forget.\t When\t the\t shot\t was\t fired,\t Dr. Stone\thad\tjust\tjoined\tthe\tothers,\tor\twas\tclimbing\tover\tthe\tstile\tin\torder\tto\tdo\tso.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple\tthoughtfully.\t\u201cSo\tthat\trules\thim\tout.\u201d","Twenty-four \t I\t returned\t to\t the\t Vicarage\t to\t find\t Hawes\t waiting\t for\t me\t in\t my\t study.\t He\t was pacing\tup\tand\tdown\tnervously,\tand\twhen\tI\tentered\tthe\troom\the\tstarted\tas\tthough he\thad\tbeen\tshot. \u201cYou\t must\t excuse\t me,\u201d\t he\t said,\t wiping\t his\t forehead.\t \u201cMy\t nerves\t are\t all\t to pieces\tlately.\u201d \u201cMy\t dear\t fellow,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cyou\t positively\t must\t get\t away\t for\t a\t change.\t We shall\thave\tyou\tbreaking\tdown\taltogether,\tand\tthat\twill\tnever\tdo.\u201d \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\tdesert\tmy\tpost.\tNo,\tthat\tis\ta\tthing\tI\twill\tnever\tdo.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tnot\ta\tcase\tof\tdesertion.\tYou\tare\till.\tI\u2019m\tsure\tHaydock\twould\tagree\twith me.\u201d \u201cHaydock\u2014Haydock.\t What\t kind\t of\t a\t doctor\t is\t he?\t An\t ignorant\t country practitioner.\u201d \u201cI\t think\t you\u2019re\t unfair\t to\t him.\t He\t has\t always\t been\t considered\t a\t very\t able man\tin\this\tprofession.\u201d \u201cOh!\t Perhaps.\t Yes,\t I\t dare\t say.\t But\t I\t don\u2019t\t like\t him.\t However,\t that\u2019s\t not what\t I\t came\t to\t say.\t I\t came\t to\t ask\t you\t if\t you\t would\t be\t kind\t enough\t to\t preach tonight\tinstead\tof\tme.\tI\u2014I\treally\tdo\tnot\tfeel\tequal\tto\tit.\u201d \u201cWhy,\tcertainly.\tI\twill\ttake\tthe\tservice\tfor\tyou.\u201d \u201cNo,\t no.\t I\t wish\t to\t take\t the\t service.\t I\t am\t perfectly\t fit.\t It\t is\t only\t the\t idea\t of getting\tup\tin\tthe\tpulpit,\tof\tall\tthose\teyes\tstaring\tat\tme\u2026.\u201d He\tshut\this\teyes\tand\tswallowed\tconvulsively. It\t is\t clear\t to\t me\t that\t there\t is\t something\t very\t wrong\t indeed\t the\t matter\t with Hawes.\t He\t seemed\t aware\t of\t my\t thoughts,\t for\t he\t opened\t his\t eyes\t and\t said quickly: \u201cThere\t is\t nothing\t really\t wrong\t with\t me.\t It\t is\t just\t these\t headaches\u2014these awful\tracking\theadaches.\tI\twonder\tif\tyou\tcould\tlet\tme\thave\ta\tglass\tof\twater.\u201d \u201cCertainly,\u201d\tI\tsaid. I\twent\tand\tfetched\tit\tmyself\tfrom\tthe\ttap.\tRinging\tbells\tis\ta\tprofitless\tform of\texercise\tin\tour\thouse.","I\t brought\t the\t water\t to\t him\t and\t he\t thanked\t me.\t He\t took\t from\t his\t pocket\t a small\t cardboard\t box,\t and\t opening\t it,\t extracted\t a\t rice\t paper\t capsule,\t which\t he swallowed\twith\tthe\taid\tof\tthe\twater. \u201cA\theadache\tpowder,\u201d\the\texplained. I\tsuddenly\twondered\twhether\tHawes\tmight\thave\tbecome\taddicted\tto\tdrugs. It\twould\texplain\ta\tgreat\tmany\tof\this\tpeculiarities. \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\ttake\ttoo\tmany,\tI\thope,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cNo\u2014oh,\t no.\t Dr.\t Haydock\t warned\t me\t against\t that.\t But\t it\t is\t really wonderful.\tThey\tbring\tinstant\trelief.\u201d Indeed\the\talready\tseemed\tcalmer\tand\tmore\tcomposed. He\tstood\tup. \u201cThen\tyou\twill\tpreach\ttonight?\tIt\u2019s\tvery\tgood\tof\tyou,\tsir.\u201d \u201cNot\tat\tall.\tAnd\tI\tinsist\ton\ttaking\tthe\tservice\ttoo.\tGet\talong\thome\tand\trest. No,\tI\twon\u2019t\thave\tany\targument.\tNot\tanother\tword.\u201d He\tthanked\tme\tagain.\tThen\the\tsaid,\this\teyes\tsliding\tpast\tme\tto\tthe\twindow: \u201cYou\u2014have\tbeen\tup\tat\tOld\tHall\ttoday,\thaven\u2019t\tyou,\tsir?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cExcuse\tme\u2014but\twere\tyou\tsent\tfor?\u201d I\tlooked\tat\thim\tin\tsurprise,\tand\the\tflushed. \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry,\t sir.\t I\u2014I\t just\t thought\t some\t new\t development\t might\t have\t arisen and\tthat\twas\twhy\tMrs.\tProtheroe\thad\tsent\tfor\tyou.\u201d I\thad\tnot\tthe\tfaintest\tintention\tof\tsatisfying\tHawes\u2019s\tcuriosity. \u201cShe\twanted\tto\tdiscuss\tthe\tfuneral\tarrangements\tand\tone\tor\ttwo\tother\tsmall matters\twith\tme,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cOh!\tThat\twas\tall.\tI\tsee.\u201d I\tdid\tnot\tspeak.\tHe\tfidgeted\tfrom\tfoot\tto\tfoot,\tand\tfinally\tsaid: \u201cMr.\tRedding\tcame\tto\tsee\tme\tlast\tnight.\tI\u2014I\tcan\u2019t\timagine\twhy.\u201d \u201cDidn\u2019t\the\ttell\tyou?\u201d \u201cHe\u2014he\tjust\tsaid\the\tthought\the\u2019d\tlook\tme\tup.\tSaid\tit\twas\ta\tbit\tlonely\tin\tthe evenings.\tHe\u2019s\tnever\tdone\tsuch\ta\tthing\tbefore.\u201d \u201cWell,\the\u2019s\tsupposed\tto\tbe\tpleasant\tcompany,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tsmiling. \u201cWhat\tdoes\the\twant\tto\tcome\tand\tsee\tme\tfor?\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tit.\u201d\tHis\tvoice\trose shrilly.\t \u201cHe\t spoke\t of\t dropping\t in\t again.\t What\t does\t it\t all\t mean?\t What\t idea\t do you\tthink\the\thas\tgot\tinto\this\thead?\u201d \u201cWhy\tshould\tyou\tsuppose\the\thas\tany\tulterior\tmotive?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tit,\u201d\trepeated\tHawes\tobstinately.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tnever\tgone\tagainst\thim\tin any\tway.\tI\tnever\tsuggested\tthat\the\twas\tguilty\u2014even\twhen\the\taccused\thimself\tI said\t it\t seemed\t most\t incomprehensible.\t If\t I\u2019ve\t had\t suspicions\t of\t anybody\t it\u2019s been\t of\t Archer\u2014never\t of\t him.\t Archer\t is\t a\t totally\t different\t proposition\u2014a","godless\tirreligious\truffian.\tA\tdrunken\tblackguard.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t think\t you\u2019re\t being\t a\t little\t harsh?\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cAfter\t all,\t we\t really know\tvery\tlittle\tabout\tthe\tman.\u201d \u201cA\tpoacher,\tin\tand\tout\tof\tprison,\tcapable\tof\tanything.\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\treally\tthink\the\tshot\tColonel\tProtheroe?\u201d\tI\tasked\tcuriously. Hawes\t has\t an\t inveterate\t dislike\t of\t answering\t yes\t or\t no.\t I\t have\t noticed\t it several\ttimes\tlately. \u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\tthink\tyourself,\tsir,\tthat\tit\u2019s\tthe\tonly\tpossible\tsolution?\u201d \u201cAs\tfar\tas\twe\tknow,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cthere\u2019s\tno\tevidence\tof\tany\tkind\tagainst\thim.\u201d \u201cHis\tthreats,\u201d\tsaid\tHawes\teagerly.\t\u201cYou\tforget\tabout\this\tthreats.\u201d I\t am\t sick\t and\t tired\t of\t hearing\t about\t Archer\u2019s\t threats.\t As\t far\t as\t I\t can\t make out,\tthere\tis\tno\tdirect\tevidence\tthat\the\tever\tmade\tany. \u201cHe\t was\t determined\t to\t be\t revenged\t on\t Colonel\t Protheroe.\t He\t primed himself\twith\tdrink\tand\tthen\tshot\thim.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tpure\tsupposition.\u201d \u201cBut\tyou\twill\tadmit\tthat\tit\u2019s\tperfectly\tprobable?\u201d \u201cNo,\tI\tdon\u2019t.\u201d \u201cPossible,\tthen?\u201d \u201cPossible,\tyes.\u201d Hawes\tglanced\tat\tme\tsideways. \u201cWhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink\tit\u2019s\tprobable?\u201d \u201cBecause,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201ca\tman\tlike\tArcher\twouldn\u2019t\tthink\tof\tshooting\ta\tman\twith a\tpistol.\tIt\u2019s\tthe\twrong\tweapon.\u201d Hawes\t seemed\t taken\t aback\t by\t my\t argument.\t Evidently\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t the objection\the\thad\texpected. \u201cDo\tyou\treally\tthink\tthe\tobjection\tis\tfeasible?\u201d\the\tasked\tdoubtingly. \u201cTo\tmy\tmind\tit\tis\ta\tcomplete\tstumbling\tblock\tto\tArcher\u2019s\thaving\tcommitted the\tcrime,\u201d\tI\tsaid. In\tface\tof\tmy\tpositive\tassertion,\tHawes\tsaid\tno\tmore.\tHe\tthanked\tme\tagain and\tleft. I\thad\tgone\tas\tfar\tas\tthe\tfront\tdoor\twith\thim,\tand\ton\tthe\thall\ttable\tI\tsaw\tfour notes.\tThey\thad\tcertain\tcharacteristics\tin\tcommon.\tThe\thandwriting\twas\talmost unmistakably\tfeminine,\tthey\tall\tbore\tthe\twords,\t\u201cBy\thand,\tUrgent,\u201d\tand\tthe\tonly difference\tI\tcould\tsee\twas\tthat\tone\twas\tnoticeably\tdirtier\tthan\tthe\trest. Their\t similarity\t gave\t me\t a\t curious\t feeling\t of\t seeing\u2014not\t double\t but quadruple. Mary\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\tkitchen\tand\tcaught\tme\tstaring\tat\tthem. \u201cCome\tby\thand\tsince\tlunchtime,\u201d\tshe\tvolunteered.\t\u201cAll\tbut\tone.\tI\tfound\tthat in\tthe\tbox.\u201d","I\tnodded,\tgathered\tthem\tup\tand\ttook\tthem\tinto\tthe\tstudy. The\tfirst\tone\tran\tthus: \u201cDear\t Mr.\t Clement,\u2014Something\t has\t come\t to\t my\t knowledge\t which\t I\t feel you\t ought\t to\t know.\t It\t concerns\t the\t death\t of\t poor\t Colonel\t Protheroe.\t I should\t much\t appreciate\t your\t advice\t on\t the\t matter\u2014whether\t to\t go\t to\t the police\tor\tnot.\tSince\tmy\tdear\thusband\u2019s\tdeath,\tI\thave\tsuch\ta\tshrinking\tfrom every\t kind\t of\t publicity.\t Perhaps\t you\t could\t run\t in\t and\t see\t me\t for\t a\t few minutes\tthis\tafternoon. Yours\tsincerely, Martha\tPrice\tRidley.\u201d \t I\topened\tthe\tsecond: \u201cDear\t Mr.\t Clement,\u2014I\t am\t so\t troubled\u2014so\t excited\t in\t my\t mind\u2014to\t know what\t I\t ought\t to\t do.\t Something\t has\t come\t to\t my\t ears\t that\t I\t feel\t may\t be important.\t I\t have\t such\t a\t horror\t of\t being\t mixed\t up\t with\t the\t police\t in\t any way.\tI\tam\tso\tdisturbed\tand\tdistressed.\tWould\tit\tbe\tasking\ttoo\tmuch\tof\tyou, dear\t Vicar,\t to\t drop\t in\t for\t a\t few\t minutes\t and\t solve\t my\t doubts\t and perplexities\tfor\tme\tin\tthe\twonderful\tway\tyou\talways\tdo? Forgive\tmy\ttroubling\tyou, Yours\tvery\tsincerely, Caroline\tWetherby.\u201d \t The\tthird,\tI\tfelt,\tI\tcould\talmost\thave\trecited\tbeforehand. \u201cDear\t Mr.\t Clement,\u2014Something\t most\t important\t has\t come\t to\t my\t ears.\t I feel\tyou\tshould\tbe\tthe\tfirst\tto\tknow\tabout\tit.\tWill\tyou\tcall\tin\tand\tsee\tme\tthis afternoon\tsome\ttime?\tI\twill\twait\tin\tfor\tyou.\u201d \t This\tmilitant\tepistle\twas\tsigned\t\u201cAmanda\tHartnell.\u201d I\topened\tthe\tfourth\tmissive.\tIt\thas\tbeen\tmy\tgood\tfortune\tto\tbe\ttroubled\twith very\t few\t anonymous\t letters.\t An\t anonymous\t letter\t is,\t I\t think,\t the\t meanest\t and cruellest\tweapon\tthere\tis.\tThis\tone\twas\tno\texception.\tIt\tpurported\tto\tbe\twritten by\t an\t illiterate\t person,\t but\t several\t things\t inclined\t me\t to\t disbelieve\t that","assumption. \u201cDear\tVicar,\u2014I\tthink\tyou\tought\tto\tknow\twhat\tis\tGoing\tOn.\tYour\tlady\thas been\t seen\t coming\t out\t of\t Mr.\t Redding\u2019s\t cottage\t in\t a\t surreptitious\t manner. You\tknow\twot\ti\tmean.\tThe\ttwo\tare\tCarrying\tOn\ttogether.\ti\tthink\tyou\tought to\tknow. A\tFriend.\u201d \t I\t made\t a\t faint\t exclamation\t of\t disgust\t and\t crumpling\t up\t the\t paper\t tossed\t it into\tthe\topen\tgrate\tjust\tas\tGriselda\tentered\tthe\troom. \u201cWhat\u2019s\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tthrowing\tdown\tso\tcontemptuously?\u201d\tshe\tasked. \u201cFilth,\u201d\tI\tsaid. Taking\t a\t match\t from\t my\t pocket,\t I\t struck\t it\t and\t bent\t down.\t Griselda, however,\t was\t too\t quick\t for\t me.\t She\t had\t stooped\t down\t and\t caught\t up\t the crumpled\tball\tof\tpaper\tand\tsmoothed\tit\tout\tbefore\tI\tcould\tstop\ther. She\t read\t it,\t gave\t a\t little\t exclamation\t of\t disgust,\t and\t tossed\t it\t back\t to\t me, turning\taway\tas\tshe\tdid\tso.\tI\tlighted\tit\tand\twatched\tit\tburn. Griselda\thad\tmoved\taway.\tShe\twas\tstanding\tby\tthe\twindow\tlooking\tout\tinto the\tgarden. \u201cLen,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\twithout\tturning\tround. \u201cYes,\tmy\tdear.\u201d \u201cI\u2019d\tlike\tto\ttell\tyou\tsomething.\tYes,\tdon\u2019t\tstop\tme.\tI\twant\tto,\tplease.\tWhen \u2014when\tLawrence\tRedding\tcame\there,\tI\tlet\tyou\tthink\tthat\tI\thad\tonly\tknown\thim slightly\tbefore.\tThat\twasn\u2019t\ttrue.\tI\u2014had\tknown\thim\trather\twell.\tIn\tfact,\tbefore\tI met\t you,\t I\t had\t been\t rather\t in\t love\t with\t him.\t I\t think\t most\t people\t are\t with Lawrence.\t I\t was\u2014well,\t absolutely\t silly\t about\t him\t at\t one\t time.\t I\t don\u2019t\t mean\t I wrote\t him\t compromising\t letters\t or\t anything\t idiotic\t like\t they\t do\t in\t books.\t But\t I was\trather\tkeen\ton\thim\tonce.\u201d \u201cWhy\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\ttell\tme?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cOh!\t Because!\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t exactly\t except\t that\u2014well,\t you\u2019re\t foolish\t in some\tways.\tJust\tbecause\tyou\u2019re\tso\tmuch\tolder\tthan\tI\tam,\tyou\tthink\tthat\tI\u2014well, that\tI\u2019m\tlikely\tto\tlike\tother\tpeople.\tI\tthought\tyou\u2019d\tbe\ttiresome,\tperhaps,\tabout me\tand\tLawrence\tbeing\tfriends.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\tvery\tclever\tat\tconcealing\tthings,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tremembering\twhat\tshe\thad told\t me\t in\t that\t room\t less\t than\t a\t week\t ago,\t and\t the\t ingenuous\t way\t she\t had talked. \u201cYes,\tI\u2019ve\talways\tbeen\table\tto\thide\tthings.\tIn\ta\tway,\tI\tlike\tdoing\tit.\u201d","Her\tvoice\theld\ta\tchildlike\tring\tof\tpleasure\tto\tit. \u201cBut\t it\u2019s\t quite\t true\t what\t I\t said.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t about\t Anne,\t and\t I\t wondered why\tLawrence\twas\tso\tdifferent,\tnot\u2014well,\treally\tnot\tnoticing\tme.\tI\u2019m\tnot\tused to\tit.\u201d There\twas\ta\tpause. \u201cYou\tdo\tunderstand,\tLen?\u201d\tsaid\tGriselda\tanxiously. \u201cYes,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cI\tunderstand.\u201d But\tdid\tI?","Twenty-five \t I\t found\t it\t hard\t to\t shake\t off\t the\t impression\t left\t by\t the\t anonymous\t letter.\t Pitch soils. However,\t I\t gathered\t up\t the\t other\t three\t letters,\t glanced\t at\t my\t watch,\t and started\tout. I\twondered\tvery\tmuch\twhat\tthis\tmight\tbe\tthat\thad\t\u201ccome\tto\tthe\tknowledge\u201d of\t three\t ladies\t simultaneously.\t I\t took\t it\t to\t be\t the\t same\t piece\t of\t news.\t In\t this,\t I was\tto\trealize\tthat\tmy\tpsychology\twas\tat\tfault. I\t cannot\t pretend\t that\t my\t calls\t took\t me\t past\t the\t police\t station.\t My\t feet gravitated\t there\t of\t their\t own\t accord.\t I\t was\t anxious\t to\t know\t whether\t Inspector Slack\thad\treturned\tfrom\tOld\tHall. I\tfound\tthat\the\thad,\tand\tfurther,\tthat\tMiss\tCram\thad\treturned\twith\thim.\tThe fair\t Gladys\t was\t seated\t in\t the\t police\t station\t carrying\t off\t matters\t with\t a\t high hand.\tShe\tdenied\tabsolutely\thaving\ttaken\tthe\tsuitcase\tto\tthe\twoods. \u201cJust\t because\t one\t of\t these\t gossiping\t old\t cats\t had\t nothing\t better\t to\t do\t than look\tout\tof\ther\twindow\tall\tnight\tyou\tgo\tand\tpitch\tupon\tme.\tShe\u2019s\tbeen\tmistaken once,\t remember,\t when\t she\t said\t she\t saw\t me\t at\t the\t end\t of\t the\t lane\t on\t the afternoon\tof\tthe\tmurder,\tand\tif\tshe\twas\tmistaken\tthen,\tin\tdaylight,\thow\tcan\tshe possibly\thave\trecognized\tme\tby\tmoonlight? \u201cWicked\tit\tis,\tthe\tway\tthese\told\tladies\tgo\ton\tdown\there.\tSay\tanything,\tthey will.\tAnd\tme\tasleep\tin\tmy\tbed\tas\tinnocent\tas\tcan\tbe.\tYou\tought\tto\tbe\tashamed of\tyourselves,\tthe\tlot\tof\tyou.\u201d \u201cAnd\t supposing\t the\t landlady\t of\t the\t Blue\t Boar\t identifies\t the\t suitcase\t as yours,\tMiss\tCram?\u201d \u201cIf\tshe\tsays\tanything\tof\tthe\tkind,\tshe\u2019s\twrong.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tname\ton\tit.\tNearly everybody\u2019s\t got\t a\t suitcase\t like\t that.\t As\t for\t poor\t Dr.\t Stone,\t accusing\t him\t of being\ta\tcommon\tburglar!\tAnd\the\thas\ta\tlot\tof\tletters\tafter\this\tname.\u201d \u201cYou\trefuse\tto\tgive\tus\tany\texplanation,\tthen,\tMiss\tCram?\u201d \u201cNo\t refusing\t about\t it.\t You\u2019ve\t made\t a\t mistake,\t that\u2019s\t all.\t You\t and\t your meddlesome\t Marples.\t I\t won\u2019t\t say\t a\t word\t more\u2014not\t without\t my\t solicitor","present.\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tthis\tminute\u2014unless\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tarrest\tme.\u201d For\t answer,\t the\t Inspector\t rose\t and\t opened\t the\t door\t for\t her,\t and\t with\t a\t toss of\tthe\thead,\tMiss\tCram\twalked\tout. \u201cThat\u2019s\t the\t line\t she\t takes,\u201d\t said\t Slack,\t coming\t back\t to\t his\t chair.\t \u201cAbsolute denial.\t And,\t of\t course,\t the\t old\t lady\t may\t have\t been\t mistaken.\t No\t jury\t would believe\tyou\tcould\trecognize\tanyone\tfrom\tthat\tdistance\ton\ta\tmoonlit\tnight.\tAnd, of\tcourse,\tas\tI\tsay,\tthe\told\tlady\tmay\thave\tmade\ta\tmistake.\u201d \u201cShe\t may,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cbut\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t she\t did.\t Miss\t Marple\t is\t usually\t right. That\u2019s\twhat\tmakes\ther\tunpopular.\u201d The\tInspector\tgrinned. \u201cThat\u2019s\twhat\tHurst\tsays.\tLord,\tthese\tvillages!\u201d \u201cWhat\tabout\tthe\tsilver,\tInspector?\u201d \u201cSeemed\tto\tbe\tperfectly\tin\torder.\tOf\tcourse,\tthat\tmeant\tone\tlot\tor\tthe\tother must\tbe\ta\tfake.\tThere\u2019s\ta\tvery\tgood\tman\tin\tMuch\tBenham,\tan\tauthority\ton\told silver.\t I\u2019ve\t phoned\t over\t to\t him\t and\t sent\t a\t car\t to\t fetch\t him.\t We\u2019ll\t soon\t know which\tis\twhich.\tEither\tthe\tburglary\twas\tan\taccomplished\tfact,\tor\telse\tit\twas\tonly planned.\tDoesn\u2019t\tmake\ta\tfrightful\tlot\tof\tdifference\teither\tway\u2014I\tmean\tas\tfar\tas we\u2019re\tconcerned.\tRobbery\u2019s\ta\tsmall\tbusiness\tcompared\twith\tmurder.\tThese\ttwo aren\u2019t\tconcerned\twith\tthe\tmurder.\tWe\u2019ll\tmaybe\tget\ta\tline\ton\thim\tthrough\tthe\tgirl \u2014that\u2019s\twhy\tI\tlet\ther\tgo\twithout\tany\tmore\tfuss.\u201d \u201cI\twondered,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cA\tpity\tabout\tMr.\tRedding.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\toften\tyou\tfind\ta\tman\twho\tgoes\tout\tof\this way\tto\toblige\tyou.\u201d \u201cI\tsuppose\tnot,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tsmiling\tslightly. \u201cWomen\tcause\ta\tlot\tof\ttrouble,\u201d\tmoralized\tthe\tInspector. He\t sighed\t and\t then\t went\t on,\t somewhat\t to\t my\t surprise:\t \u201cOf\t course,\t there\u2019s Archer.\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cYou\u2019ve\tthought\tof\thim?\u201d \u201cWhy,\t naturally,\t sir,\t first\t thing.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t need\t any\t anonymous\t letters\t to\t put me\ton\this\ttrack.\u201d \u201cAnonymous\tletters,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tsharply.\t\u201cDid\tyou\tget\tone,\tthen?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t nothing\t new,\t sir.\t We\t get\t a\t dozen\t a\t day,\t at\t least.\t Oh,\t yes,\t we\t were put\t wise\t to\t Archer.\t As\t though\t the\t police\t couldn\u2019t\t look\t out\t for\t themselves! Archer\u2019s\t been\t under\t suspicion\t from\t the\t first.\t The\t trouble\t of\t it\t is,\t he\u2019s\t got\t an alibi.\tNot\tthat\tit\tamounts\tto\tanything,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tawkward\tto\tget\tover.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean\tby\tits\tnot\tamounting\tto\tanything?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cWell,\tit\tappears\the\twas\twith\ta\tcouple\tof\tpals\tall\tthe\tafternoon.\tNot,\tas\tI\tsay, that\t that\t counts\t much.\t Men\t like\t Archer\t and\t his\t pals\t would\t swear\t to\t anything. There\u2019s\tno\tbelieving\ta\tword\tthey\tsay.\tWe\tknow\tthat.\tBut\tthe\tpublic\tdoesn\u2019t,\tand","the\tjury\u2019s\ttaken\tfrom\tthe\tpublic,\tmore\u2019s\tthe\tpity.\tThey\tknow\tnothing,\tand\tten\tto one\t believe\t everything\t that\u2019s\t said\t in\t the\t witness\t box,\t no\t matter\t who\t it\t is\t that says\tit.\tAnd\tof\tcourse\tArcher\thimself\twill\tswear\ttill\the\u2019s\tblack\tin\tthe\tface\tthat\the didn\u2019t\tdo\tit.\u201d \u201cNot\tso\tobliging\tas\tMr.\tRedding,\u201d\tI\tsaid\twith\ta\tsmile. \u201cNot\the,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tInspector,\tmaking\tthe\tremark\tas\ta\tplain\tstatement\tof\tfact. \u201cIt\tis\tnatural,\tI\tsuppose,\tto\tcling\tto\tlife,\u201d\tI\tmused. \u201cYou\u2019d\tbe\tsurprised\tif\tyou\tknew\tthe\tmurderers\tthat\thave\tgot\toff\tthrough\tthe softheartedness\tof\tthe\tjury,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tInspector\tgloomily. \u201cBut\tdo\tyou\treally\tthink\tthat\tArcher\tdid\tit?\u201d\tI\tasked. It\thas\tstruck\tme\tas\tcurious\tall\talong\tthat\tInspector\tSlack\tnever\tseems\tto\thave any\t personal\t views\t of\t his\t own\t on\t the\t murder.\t The\t easiness\t or\t difficulty\t of getting\ta\tconviction\tare\tthe\tonly\tpoints\tthat\tseem\tto\tappeal\tto\thim. \u201cI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tbe\ta\tbit\tsurer,\u201d\the\tadmitted.\t\u201cA\tfingerprint\tnow,\tor\ta\tfootprint,\tor seen\tin\tthe\tvicinity\tabout\tthe\ttime\tof\tthe\tcrime.\tCan\u2019t\trisk\tarresting\thim\twithout something\t of\t that\t kind.\t He\u2019s\t been\t seen\t round\t Mr.\t Redding\u2019s\t house\t once\t or twice,\tbut\the\u2019d\tsay\tthat\twas\tto\tspeak\tto\this\tmother.\tA\tdecent\tbody,\tshe\tis.\tNo,\ton the\twhole,\tI\u2019m\tfor\tthe\tlady.\tIf\tI\tcould\tonly\tget\tdefinite\tproof\tof\tblackmail\u2014but you\tcan\u2019t\tget\tdefinite\tproof\tof\tanything\tin\tthis\tcrime!\tIt\u2019s\ttheory,\ttheory,\ttheory. It\u2019s\t a\t sad\t pity\t that\t there\u2019s\t not\t a\t single\t spinster\t lady\t living\t along\t your\t road,\t Mr. Clement.\tI\tbet\tshe\u2019d\thave\tseen\tsomething\tif\tthere\thad\tbeen.\u201d His\t words\t reminded\t me\t of\t my\t calls,\t and\t I\t took\t leave\t of\t him.\t It\t was\t about the\tsolitary\tinstance\twhen\tI\thad\tseen\thim\tin\ta\tgenial\tmood. My\t first\t call\t was\t on\t Miss\t Hartnell.\t She\t must\t have\t been\t watching\t me\t from the\t window,\t for\t before\t I\t had\t time\t to\t ring\t she\t had\t opened\t the\t front\t door,\t and clasping\tmy\thand\tfirmly\tin\thers,\thad\tled\tme\tover\tthe\tthreshold. \u201cSo\tgood\tof\tyou\tto\tcome.\tIn\there.\tMore\tprivate.\u201d We\tentered\ta\tmicroscopic\troom,\tabout\tthe\tsize\tof\ta\thencoop.\tMiss\tHartnell shut\t the\t door\t and\t with\t an\t air\t of\t deep\t secrecy\t waved\t me\t to\t a\t seat\t (there\t were only\tthree).\tI\tperceived\tthat\tshe\twas\tenjoying\therself. \u201cI\u2019m\tnever\tone\tto\tbeat\tabout\tthe\tbush,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tin\ther\tjolly\tvoice,\tthe\tlatter slightly\t toned\t down\t to\t meet\t the\t requirements\t of\t the\t situation.\t \u201cYou\t know\t how things\tgo\tthe\trounds\tin\ta\tvillage\tlike\tthis.\u201d \u201cUnfortunately,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cI\tdo.\u201d \u201cI\t agree\t with\t you.\t Nobody\t dislikes\t gossip\t more\t than\t I\t do.\t But\t there\t it\t is.\t I thought\t it\t my\t duty\t to\t tell\t the\t police\t inspector\t that\t I\u2019d\t called\t on\t Mrs.\t Lestrange the\tafternoon\tof\tthe\tmurder\tand\tthat\tshe\twas\tout.\tI\tdon\u2019t\texpect\tto\tbe\tthanked\tfor doing\tmy\tduty,\tI\tjust\tdo\tit.\tIngratitude\tis\twhat\tyou\tmeet\twith\tfirst\tand\tlast\tin\tthis life.\tWhy,\tonly\tyesterday\tthat\timpudent\tMrs.\tBaker\u2014\u201d","\u201cYes,\tyes,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\thoping\tto\tavert\tthe\tusual\ttirade.\t\u201cVery\tsad,\tvery\tsad.\tBut you\twere\tsaying.\u201d \u201cThe\t lower\t classes\t don\u2019t\t know\t who\t are\t their\t best\t friends,\u201d\t said\t Miss Hartnell.\t \u201cI\t always\t say\t a\t word\t in\t season\t when\t I\u2019m\t visiting.\t Not\t that\t I\u2019m\t ever thanked\tfor\tit.\u201d \u201cYou\t were\t telling\t the\t Inspector\t about\t your\t call\t upon\t Mrs.\t Lestrange,\u201d\t I prompted. \u201cExactly\u2014and\tby\tthe\tway,\the\tdidn\u2019t\tthank\tme.\tSaid\the\u2019d\task\tfor\tinformation when\t he\t wanted\t it\u2014not\t those\t words\t exactly,\t but\t that\t was\t the\t spirit.\t There\u2019s\t a different\tclass\tof\tmen\tin\tthe\tpolice\tforce\tnowadays.\u201d \u201cVery\tprobably,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\tyou\twere\tgoing\ton\tto\tsay\tsomething?\u201d \u201cI\t decided\t that\t this\t time\t I\t wouldn\u2019t\t go\t near\t any\t wretched\t inspector.\t After all,\ta\tclergyman\tis\ta\tgentleman\u2014at\tleast\tsome\tare,\u201d\tshe\tadded. I\tgathered\tthat\tthe\tqualification\twas\tintended\tto\tinclude\tme. \u201cIf\tI\tcan\thelp\tyou\tin\tany\tway,\u201d\tI\tbegan. \u201cIt\u2019s\ta\tmatter\tof\tduty,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tHartnell,\tand\tclosed\ther\tmouth\twith\ta\tsnap. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\thave\tto\tsay\tthese\tthings.\tNo\tone\tlikes\tit\tless.\tBut\tduty\tis\tduty.\u201d I\twaited. \u201cI\u2019ve\t been\t given\t to\t understand,\u201d\t went\t on\t Miss\t Hartnell,\t turning\t rather\t red, \u201cthat\tMrs.\tLestrange\tgives\tout\tthat\tshe\twas\tat\thome\tall\tthe\ttime\u2014that\tshe\tdidn\u2019t answer\t the\t door\t because\u2014well,\t she\t didn\u2019t\t choose.\t Such\t airs\t and\t graces.\t I\t only called\tas\ta\tmatter\tof\tduty,\tand\tto\tbe\ttreated\tlike\tthat!\u201d \u201cShe\thas\tbeen\till,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tmildly. \u201cIll?\t Fiddlesticks.\t You\u2019re\t too\t unworldly,\t Mr.\t Clement.\t There\u2019s\t nothing\t the matter\twith\tthat\twoman.\tToo\till\tto\tattend\tthe\tinquest\tindeed!\tMedical\tcertificate from\t Dr.\t Haydock!\t She\t can\t wind\t him\t round\t her\t little\t finger,\t everyone\t knows that.\tWell,\twhere\twas\tI?\u201d I\t didn\u2019t\t quite\t know.\t It\t is\t difficult\t with\t Miss\t Hartnell\t to\t know\t where narrative\tends\tand\tvituperation\tbegins. \u201cOh,\t about\t calling\t on\t her\t that\t afternoon.\t Well,\t it\u2019s\t fiddlesticks\t to\t say\t she was\tin\tthe\thouse.\tShe\twasn\u2019t.\tI\tknow.\u201d \u201cHow\tcan\tyou\tpossibly\tknow?\u201d Miss\tHartnell\u2019s\tface\tturned\tredder.\tIn\tsomeone\tless\ttruculent,\ther\tdemeanour might\thave\tbeen\tcalled\tembarrassed. \u201cI\u2019d\t knocked\t and\t rung,\u201d\t she\t explained.\t \u201cTwice.\t If\t not\t three\t times.\t And\t it occurred\tto\tme\tsuddenly\tthat\tthe\tbell\tmight\tbe\tout\tof\torder.\u201d She\twas,\tI\twas\tglad\tto\tnote,\tunable\tto\tlook\tme\tin\tthe\tface\twhen\tsaying\tthis. The\t same\t builder\t builds\t all\t our\t houses\t and\t the\t bells\t he\t installs\t are\t clearly audible\twhen\tstanding\ton\tthe\tmat\toutside\tthe\tfront\tdoor.\tBoth\tMiss\tHartnell\tand","I\tknew\tthis\tperfectly\twell,\tbut\tI\tsuppose\tdecencies\thave\tto\tbe\tpreserved. \u201cYes?\u201d\tI\tmurmured. \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t push\t my\t card\t through\t the\t letter\t box.\t That\t would\t seem\t so rude,\tand\twhatever\tI\tam,\tI\tam\tnever\trude.\u201d She\tmade\tthis\tamazing\tstatement\twithout\ta\ttremor. \u201cSo\tI\tthought\tI\twould\tjust\tgo\tround\tthe\thouse\tand\u2014and\ttap\ton\tthe\twindow pane,\u201d\tshe\tcontinued\tunblushingly.\t\u201cI\twent\tall\tround\tthe\thouse\tand\tlooked\tin\tat all\tthe\twindows,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tthe\thouse\tat\tall.\u201d I\t understood\t her\t perfectly.\t Taking\t advantage\t of\t the\t fact\t that\t the\t house\t was empty,\t Miss\t Hartnell\t had\t given\t unbridled\t rein\t to\t her\t curiosity\t and\t had\t gone round\tthe\thouse\texamining\tthe\tgarden\tand\tpeering\tin\tat\tall\tthe\twindows\tto\tsee\tas much\t as\t she\t could\t of\t the\t interior.\t She\t had\t chosen\t to\t tell\t her\t story\t to\t me, believing\t that\t I\t should\t be\t a\t more\t sympathetic\t and\t lenient\t audience\t than\t the police.\t The\t clergy\t are\t supposed\t to\t give\t the\t benefit\t of\t the\t doubt\t to\t their parishioners. I\tmade\tno\tcomment\ton\tthe\tsituation.\tI\tmerely\tasked\ta\tquestion. \u201cWhat\ttime\twas\tthis,\tMiss\tHartnell?\u201d \u201cAs\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\tremember,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tHartnell,\t\u201cit\tmust\thave\tbeen\tclose\ton six\to\u2019clock.\tI\twent\tstraight\thome\tafterwards,\tand\tI\tgot\tin\tabout\tten\tpast\tsix,\tand Mrs.\tProtheroe\tcame\tin\tsomewhere\tround\tabout\tthe\thalf\thour,\tleaving\tDr.\tStone and\t Mr.\t Redding\t outside,\t and\t we\t talked\t about\t bulbs.\t And\t all\t the\t time\t the\t poor Colonel\tlying\tmurdered.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tsad\tworld.\u201d \u201cIt\tis\tsometimes\ta\trather\tunpleasant\tone,\u201d\tI\tsaid. I\trose. \u201cAnd\tthat\tis\tall\tyou\thave\tto\ttell\tme?\u201d \u201cI\tjust\tthought\tit\tmight\tbe\timportant.\u201d \u201cIt\tmight,\u201d\tI\tagreed. And\trefusing\tto\tbe\tdrawn\tfurther,\tmuch\tto\tMiss\tHartnell\u2019s\tdisappointment,\tI took\tmy\tleave. Miss\tWetherby,\twhom\tI\tvisited\tnext,\treceived\tme\tin\ta\tkind\tof\tflutter. \u201cDear\tVicar,\thow\ttruly\tkind.\tYou\u2019ve\thad\ttea?\tReally,\tyou\twon\u2019t?\tA\tcushion for\tyour\tback?\tIt\tis\tso\tkind\tof\tyou\tto\tcome\tround\tso\tpromptly.\tAlways\twilling\tto put\tyourself\tout\tfor\tothers.\u201d There\twas\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\tthis\tbefore\twe\tcame\tto\tthe\tpoint,\tand\teven\tthen\tit was\tapproached\twith\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\tcircumlocution. \u201cYou\tmust\tunderstand\tthat\tI\theard\tthis\ton\tthe\tbest\tauthority.\u201d In\tSt.\tMary\tMead\tthe\tbest\tauthority\tis\talways\tsomebody\telse\u2019s\tservant. \u201cYou\tcan\u2019t\ttell\tme\twho\ttold\tyou?\u201d \u201cI\t promised,\t dear\t Mr.\t Clement.\t And\t I\t always\t think\t a\t promise\t should\t be\t a","sacred\tthing.\u201d She\tlooked\tvery\tsolemn. \u201cShall\twe\tsay\ta\tlittle\tbird\ttold\tme?\tThat\tis\tsafe\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u201d I\tlonged\tto\tsay,\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tdamned\tsilly.\u201d\tI\trather\twish\tI\thad.\tI\tshould\thave\tliked to\tobserve\tthe\teffect\ton\tMiss\tWetherby. \u201cWell,\t this\t little\t bird\t told\t that\t she\t saw\t a\t certain\t lady,\t who\t shall\t be nameless.\u201d \u201cAnother\tkind\tof\tbird?\u201d\tI\tinquired. To\t my\t great\t surprise\t Miss\t Wetherby\t went\t off\t into\t paroxysms\t of\t laughter and\ttapped\tme\tplayfully\ton\tthe\tarm\tsaying: \u201cOh,\tVicar,\tyou\tmust\tnot\tbe\tso\tnaughty!\u201d When\tshe\thad\trecovered,\tshe\twent\ton. \u201cA\t certain\t lady,\t and\t where\t do\t you\t think\t this\t certain\t lady\t was\t going?\t She turned\tinto\tthe\tVicarage\troad,\tbut\tbefore\tshe\tdid\tso,\tshe\tlooked\tup\tand\tdown\tthe road\t in\t a\t most\t peculiar\t way\u2014to\t see\t if\t anyone\t she\t knew\t were\t noticing\t her,\t I imagine.\u201d \u201cAnd\tthe\tlittle\tbird\u2014\u201d\tI\tinquired. \u201cPaying\ta\tvisit\tto\tthe\tfishmonger\u2019s\u2014in\tthe\troom\tover\tthe\tshop.\u201d I\t know\t where\t maids\t go\t on\t their\t days\t out.\t I\t know\t there\t is\t one\t place\t they never\tgo\tif\tthey\tcan\thelp\u2014anywhere\tin\tthe\topen\tair. \u201cAnd\t the\t time,\u201d\t continued\t Miss\t Wetherby,\t leaning\t forward\t mysteriously, \u201cwas\tjust\tbefore\tsix\to\u2019clock.\u201d \u201cOn\twhich\tday?\u201d Miss\tWetherby\tgave\ta\tlittle\tscream. \u201cThe\tday\tof\tthe\tmurder,\tof\tcourse,\tdidn\u2019t\tI\tsay\tso?\u201d \u201cI\tinferred\tit,\u201d\tI\treplied.\t\u201cAnd\tthe\tname\tof\tthe\tlady?\u201d \u201cBegins\twith\tan\tL,\u201d\tsaid\tWetherby,\tnodding\ther\thead\tseveral\ttimes. Feeling\t that\t I\t had\t got\t to\t the\t end\t of\t the\t information\t Miss\t Wetherby\t had\t to impart,\tI\trose\tto\tmy\tfeet. \u201cYou\twon\u2019t\tlet\tthe\tpolice\tcross-question\tme,\twill\tyou?\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tWetherby, pathetically,\tas\tshe\tclasped\tmy\thand\tin\tboth\tof\thers.\t\u201cI\tdo\tshrink\tfrom\tpublicity. And\tto\tstand\tup\tin\tcourt!\u201d \u201cIn\tspecial\tcases,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cthey\tlet\twitnesses\tsit\tdown.\u201d And\tI\tescaped. There\t was\t still\t Mrs.\t Price\t Ridley\t to\t see.\t That\t lady\t put\t me\t in\t my\t place\t at once. \u201cI\twill\tnot\tbe\tmixed\tup\tin\tany\tpolice\tcourt\tbusiness,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tgrimly,\tafter shaking\tmy\thand\tcoldly.\t\u201cYou\tunderstand\tthat,\ton\tthe\tother\thand,\thaving\tcome across\ta\tcircumstance\twhich\tneeds\texplaining,\tI\tthink\tit\tshould\tbe\tbrought\tto\tthe","notice\tof\tthe\tauthorities.\u201d \u201cDoes\tit\tconcern\tMrs.\tLestrange?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cWhy\tshould\tit?\u201d\tdemanded\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley\tcoldly. She\thad\tme\tat\ta\tdisadvantage\tthere. \u201cIt\u2019s\ta\tvery\tsimple\tmatter,\u201d\tshe\tcontinued.\t\u201cMy\tmaid,\tClara,\twas\tstanding\tat the\tfront\tgate,\tshe\twent\tdown\tthere\tfor\ta\tminute\tor\ttwo\u2014she\tsays\tto\tget\ta\tbreath of\t fresh\t air.\t Most\t unlikely,\t I\t should\t say.\t Much\t more\t probable\t that\t she\t was looking\t out\t for\t the\t fishmonger\u2019s\t boy\u2014if\t he\t calls\t himself\t a\t boy\u2014impudent young\t jackanapes,\t thinks\t because\t he\u2019s\t seventeen\t he\t can\t joke\t with\t all\t the\t girls. Anyway,\tas\tI\tsay,\tshe\twas\tstanding\tat\tthe\tgate\tand\tshe\theard\ta\tsneeze.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\twaiting\tfor\tmore. \u201cThat\u2019s\tall.\tI\ttell\tyou\tshe\theard\ta\tsneeze.\tAnd\tdon\u2019t\tstart\ttelling\tme\tI\u2019m\tnot so\tyoung\tas\tI\tonce\twas\tand\tmay\thave\tmade\ta\tmistake,\tbecause\tit\twas\tClara\twho heard\tit\tand\tshe\u2019s\tonly\tnineteen.\u201d \u201cBut,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cwhy\tshouldn\u2019t\tshe\thave\theard\ta\tsneeze?\u201d Mrs.\tPrice\tRidley\tlooked\tat\tme\tin\tobvious\tpity\tfor\tmy\tpoorness\tof\tintellect. \u201cShe\t heard\t a\t sneeze\t on\t the\t day\t of\t the\t murder\t at\t a\t time\t when\t there\t was\t no one\tin\tyour\thouse.\tDoubtless\tthe\tmurderer\twas\tconcealed\tin\tthe\tbushes\twaiting his\topportunity.\tWhat\tyou\thave\tto\tlook\tfor\tis\ta\tman\twith\ta\tcold\tin\this\thead.\u201d \u201cOr\t a\t sufferer\t from\t hay\t fever,\u201d\t I\t suggested.\t \u201cBut\t as\t a\t matter\t of\t fact,\t Mrs. Price\tRidley,\tI\tthink\tthat\tmystery\thas\ta\tvery\teasy\tsolution.\tOur\tmaid,\tMary,\thas been\t suffering\t from\t a\t severe\t cold\t in\t the\t head.\t In\t fact,\t her\t sniffing\t has\t tried\t us very\tmuch\tlately.\tIt\tmust\thave\tbeen\ther\tsneeze\tyour\tmaid\theard.\u201d \u201cIt\t was\t a\t man\u2019s\t sneeze,\u201d\t said\t Mrs.\t Price\t Ridley\t firmly.\t \u201cAnd\t you\t couldn\u2019t hear\tyour\tmaid\tsneeze\tin\tyour\tkitchen\tfrom\tour\tgate.\u201d \u201cYou\tcouldn\u2019t\thear\tanyone\tsneezing\tin\tthe\tstudy\tfrom\tyour\tgate,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cOr at\tleast,\tI\tvery\tmuch\tdoubt\tit.\u201d \u201cI\t said\t the\t man\t might\t have\t been\t concealed\t in\t the\t shrubbery,\u201d\t said\t Mrs. Price\tRidley.\t\u201cDoubtless\twhen\tClara\thad\tgone\tin,\the\teffected\tan\tentrance\tby\tthe front\tdoor.\u201d \u201cWell,\tof\tcourse,\tthat\u2019s\tpossible,\u201d\tI\tsaid. I\ttried\tnot\tto\tmake\tmy\tvoice\tconsciously\tsoothing,\tbut\tI\tmust\thave\tfailed,\tfor Mrs.\tPrice\tRidley\tglared\tat\tme\tsuddenly. \u201cI\tam\taccustomed\tnot\tto\tbe\tlistened\tto,\tbut\tI\tmight\tmention\talso\tthat\tto\tleave a\t tennis\t racquet\t carelessly\t flung\t down\t on\t the\t grass\t without\t a\t press\t completely ruins\tit.\tAnd\ttennis\tracquets\tare\tvery\texpensive\tnowadays.\u201d There\tdid\tnot\tseem\tto\tbe\trhyme\tor\treason\tin\tthis\tflank\tattack.\tIt\tbewildered me\tutterly. \u201cBut\tperhaps\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tagree,\u201d\tsaid\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley.","\u201cOh!\tI\tdo\u2014certainly.\u201d \u201cI\t am\t glad.\t Well,\t that\t is\t all\t I\t have\t to\t say.\t I\t wash\t my\t hands\t of\t the\t whole affair.\u201d She\tleaned\tback\tand\tclosed\ther\teyes\tlike\tone\tweary\tof\tthis\tworld.\tI\tthanked her\tand\tsaid\tgood-bye. On\tthe\tdoorstep,\tI\tventured\tto\task\tClara\tabout\ther\tmistress\u2019s\tstatement. \u201cIt\u2019s\tquite\ttrue,\tsir,\tI\theard\ta\tsneeze.\tAnd\tit\twasn\u2019t\tan\tordinary\tsneeze\u2014not by\tany\tmeans.\u201d Nothing\tabout\ta\tcrime\tis\tever\tordinary.\tThe\tshot\twas\tnot\tan\tordinary\tkind\tof shot.\t The\t sneeze\t was\t not\t a\t usual\t kind\t of\t sneeze.\t It\t was,\t I\t presume,\t a\t special murderer\u2019s\t sneeze.\t I\t asked\t the\t girl\t what\t time\t this\t had\t been,\t but\t she\t was\t very vague,\t some\t time\t between\t a\t quarter\t and\t half\t past\t six\t she\t thought.\t Anyway,\t \u201cit was\tbefore\tthe\tmistress\thad\tthe\ttelephone\tcall\tand\twas\ttook\tbad.\u201d I\t asked\t her\t if\t she\t had\t heard\t a\t shot\t of\t any\t kind.\t And\t she\t said\t the\t shots\t had been\tsomething\tawful.\tAfter\tthat,\tI\tplaced\tvery\tlittle\tcredence\tin\ther\tstatements. I\twas\tjust\tturning\tin\tat\tmy\town\tgate\twhen\tI\tdecided\tto\tpay\ta\tfriend\ta\tvisit. Glancing\t at\t my\t watch,\t I\t saw\t that\t I\t had\t just\t time\t for\t it\t before\t taking Evensong.\t I\t went\t down\t the\t road\t to\t Haydock\u2019s\t house.\t He\t came\t out\t on\t the doorstep\tto\tmeet\tme. I\t noticed\t afresh\t how\t worried\t and\t haggard\t he\t looked.\t This\t business\t seemed to\thave\taged\thim\tout\tof\tall\tknowledge. \u201cI\u2019m\tglad\tto\tsee\tyou,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tthe\tnews?\u201d I\ttold\thim\tthe\tlatest\tStone\tdevelopment. \u201cA\t high-class\t thief,\u201d\t he\t commented.\t \u201cWell,\t that\t explains\t a\t lot\t of\t things. He\u2019d\t read\t up\t his\t subject,\t but\t he\t made\t slips\t from\t time\t to\t time\t to\t me.\t Protheroe must\thave\tcaught\thim\tout\tonce.\tYou\tremember\tthe\trow\tthey\thad.\tWhat\tdo\tyou think\tabout\tthe\tgirl?\tIs\tshe\tin\tit\ttoo?\u201d \u201cOpinion\tas\tto\tthat\tis\tundecided,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cFor\tmy\town\tpart,\tI\tthink\tthe\tgirl\tis all\tright. \u201cShe\u2019s\tsuch\ta\tprize\tidiot,\u201d\tI\tadded. \u201cOh!\t I\t wouldn\u2019t\t say\t that.\t She\u2019s\t rather\t shrewd,\t is\t Miss\t Gladys\t Cram.\t A remarkably\thealthy\tspecimen.\tNot\tlikely\tto\ttrouble\tmembers\tof\tmy\tprofession.\u201d I\t told\t him\t that\t I\t was\t worried\t about\t Hawes,\t and\t that\t I\t was\t anxious\t that\t he should\tget\taway\tfor\ta\treal\trest\tand\tchange. Something\t evasive\t came\t into\t his\t manner\t when\t I\t said\t this.\t His\t answer\t did not\tring\tquite\ttrue. \u201cYes,\u201d\t he\t said\t slowly.\t \u201cI\t suppose\t that\t would\t be\t the\t best\t thing.\t Poor\t chap. Poor\tchap.\u201d \u201cI\tthought\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\tlike\thim.\u201d","\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\u2014not\tmuch.\tBut\tI\u2019m\tsorry\tfor\ta\tlot\tof\tpeople\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike.\u201d\tHe\tadded after\ta\tminute\tor\ttwo:\t\u201cI\u2019m\teven\tsorry\tfor\tProtheroe.\tPoor\tfellow\u2014nobody\tever liked\t him\t much.\t Too\t full\t of\t his\t own\t rectitude\t and\t too\t self-assertive.\t It\u2019s\t an unlovable\tmixture.\tHe\twas\talways\tthe\tsame\u2014even\tas\ta\tyoung\tman.\u201d \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tyou\tknew\thim\tthen.\u201d \u201cOh,\t yes!\t When\t we\t lived\t in\t Westmorland,\t I\t had\t a\t practice\t not\t far\t away. That\u2019s\ta\tlong\ttime\tago\tnow.\tNearly\ttwenty\tyears.\u201d I\t sighed.\t Twenty\t years\t ago\t Griselda\t was\t five\t years\t old.\t Time\t is\t an\t odd thing\u2026. \u201cIs\tthat\tall\tyou\tcame\tto\tsay\tto\tme,\tClement?\u201d I\tlooked\tup\twith\ta\tstart.\tHaydock\twas\twatching\tme\twith\tkeen\teyes. \u201cThere\u2019s\tsomething\telse,\tisn\u2019t\tthere?\u201d\the\tsaid. I\tnodded. I\t had\t been\t uncertain\t whether\t to\t speak\t or\t not\t when\t I\t came\t in,\t but\t now\t I decided\t to\t do\t so.\t I\t like\t Haydock\t as\t well\t as\t any\t man\t I\t know.\t He\t is\t a\t splendid fellow\tin\tevery\tway.\tI\tfelt\tthat\twhat\tI\thad\tto\ttell\tmight\tbe\tuseful\tto\thim. I\trecited\tmy\tinterviews\twith\tMiss\tHartnell\tand\tMiss\tWetherby. He\twas\tsilent\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime\tafter\tI\u2019d\tspoken. \u201cIt\u2019s\t quite\t true,\t Clement,\u201d\t he\t said\t at\t last.\t \u201cI\u2019ve\t been\t trying\t to\t shield\t Mrs. Lestrange\tfrom\tany\tinconvenience\tthat\tI\tcould.\tAs\ta\tmatter\tof\tfact,\tshe\u2019s\tan\told friend.\t But\t that\u2019s\t not\t my\t only\t reason.\t That\t medical\t certificate\t of\t mine\t isn\u2019t\t the put-up\tjob\tyou\tall\tthink\tit\twas.\u201d He\tpaused,\tand\tthen\tsaid\tgravely: \u201cThis\tis\tbetween\tyou\tand\tme,\tClement.\tMrs.\tLestrange\tis\tdoomed.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s\ta\tdying\twoman.\tI\tgive\ther\ta\tmonth\tat\tlongest.\tDo\tyou\twonder\tthat\tI want\tto\tkeep\ther\tfrom\tbeing\tbadgered\tand\tquestioned?\u201d He\twent\ton: \u201cWhen\t she\t turned\t into\t this\t road\t that\t evening\t it\t was\t here\t she\t came\u2014to\t this house.\u201d \u201cYou\thaven\u2019t\tsaid\tso\tbefore.\u201d \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t create\t talk.\t Six\t to\t seven\t isn\u2019t\t my\t time\t for\t seeing\t patients, and\teveryone\tknows\tthat.\tBut\tyou\tcan\ttake\tmy\tword\tfor\tit\tthat\tshe\twas\there.\u201d \u201cShe\twasn\u2019t\there\twhen\tI\tcame\tfor\tyou,\tthough.\tI\tmean,\twhen\twe\tdiscovered the\tbody.\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\the\tseemed\tperturbed.\t\u201cShe\u2019d\tleft\u2014to\tkeep\tan\tappointment.\u201d \u201cIn\twhat\tdirection\twas\tthe\tappointment?\tIn\ther\town\thouse?\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\tClement.\tOn\tmy\thonour,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u201d I\tbelieved\thim,\tbut\u2014","\u201cAnd\tsupposing\tan\tinnocent\tman\tis\thanged?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cNo,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cNo\tone\twill\tbe\thanged\tfor\tthe\tmurder\tof\tColonel\tProtheroe. You\tcan\ttake\tmy\tword\tfor\tthat.\u201d But\t that\t is\t just\t what\t I\t could\t not\t do.\t And\t yet\t the\t certainty\t in\t his\t voice\t was very\tgreat. \u201cNo\tone\twill\tbe\thanged,\u201d\the\trepeated. \u201cThis\tman,\tArcher\u2014\u201d He\tmade\tan\timpatient\tmovement. \u201cHasn\u2019t\tgot\tbrains\tenough\tto\twipe\this\tfingerprints\toff\tthe\tpistol.\u201d \u201cPerhaps\tnot,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tdubiously. Then\t I\t remembered\t something,\t and\t taking\t the\t little\t brownish\t crystal\t I\t had found\t in\t the\t wood\t from\t my\t pocket,\t I\t held\t it\t out\t to\t him\t and\t asked\t him\t what\t it was. \u201cH\u2019m,\u201d\the\thesitated.\t\u201cLooks\tlike\tpicric\tacid.\tWhere\tdid\tyou\tfind\tit?\u201d \u201cThat,\u201d\tI\treplied,\t\u201cis\tSherlock\tHolmes\u2019s\tsecret.\u201d He\tsmiled. \u201cWhat\tis\tpicric\tacid?\u201d \u201cWell,\tit\u2019s\tan\texplosive.\u201d \u201cYes,\tI\tknow\tthat,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tgot\tanother\tuse,\thasn\u2019t\tit?\u201d He\tnodded. \u201cIt\u2019s\tused\tmedically\u2014in\tsolution\tfor\tburns.\tWonderful\tstuff.\u201d I\theld\tout\tmy\thand,\tand\trather\treluctantly\the\thanded\tit\tback\tto\tme. \u201cIt\u2019s\t of\t no\t consequence\t probably,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cBut\t I\t found\t it\t in\t rather\t an unusual\tplace.\u201d \u201cYou\twon\u2019t\ttell\tme\twhere?\u201d Rather\tchildishly,\tI\twouldn\u2019t. He\thad\this\tsecrets.\tWell,\tI\twould\thave\tmine. I\twas\ta\tlittle\thurt\tthat\the\thad\tnot\tconfided\tin\tme\tmore\tfully.","Twenty-six \t I\twas\tin\ta\tstrange\tmood\twhen\tI\tmounted\tthe\tpulpit\tthat\tnight. The\t church\t was\t unusually\t full.\t I\t cannot\t believe\t that\t it\t was\t the\t prospect\t of Hawes\t preaching\t which\t had\t attracted\t so\t many.\t Hawes\u2019s\t sermons\t are\t dull\t and dogmatic.\t And\t if\t the\t news\t had\t got\t round\t that\t I\t was\t preaching\t instead,\t that would\t not\t have\t attracted\t them\t either.\t For\t my\t sermons\t are\t dull\t and\t scholarly. Neither,\tI\tam\tafraid,\tcan\tI\tattribute\tit\tto\tdevotion. Everybody\t had\t come,\t I\t concluded,\t to\t see\t who\t else\t was\t there,\t and\t possibly exchange\ta\tlittle\tgossip\tin\tthe\tchurch\tporch\tafterwards. Haydock\twas\tin\tchurch,\twhich\tis\tunusual,\tand\talso\tLawrence\tRedding.\tAnd to\t my\t surprise,\t beside\t Lawrence\t I\t saw\t the\t white\t strained\t face\t of\t Hawes.\t Anne Protheroe\twas\tthere,\tbut\tshe\tusually\tattends\tEvensong\ton\tSundays,\tthough\tI\thad hardly\t thought\t she\t would\t today.\t I\t was\t far\t more\t surprised\t to\t see\t Lettice. Churchgoing\t was\t compulsory\t on\t Sunday\t morning\u2014Colonel\t Protheroe\t was adamant\ton\tthat\tpoint,\tbut\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tLettice\tat\tevening\tservice\tbefore. Gladys\tCram\twas\tthere,\tlooking\trather\tblatantly\tyoung\tand\thealthy\tagainst\ta background\tof\twizened\tspinsters,\tand\tI\tfancied\tthat\ta\tdim\tfigure\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe church\twho\thad\tslipped\tin\tlate,\twas\tMrs.\tLestrange. I\tneed\thardly\tsay\tthat\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley,\tMiss\tHartnell,\tMiss\tWetherby,\tand Miss\t Marple\t were\t there\t in\t full\t force.\t All\t the\t village\t people\t were\t there,\t with hardly\t a\t single\t exception.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t when\t we\t have\t had\t such\t a\t crowded congregation. Crowds\t are\t queer\t things.\t There\t was\t a\t magnetic\t atmosphere\t that\t night,\t and the\tfirst\tperson\tto\tfeel\tits\tinfluence\twas\tmyself. As\ta\trule,\tI\tprepare\tmy\tsermons\tbeforehand.\tI\tam\tcareful\tand\tconscientious over\tthem,\tbut\tno\tone\tis\tbetter\taware\tthan\tmyself\tof\ttheir\tdeficiencies. Tonight\t I\t was\t of\t necessity\t preaching\t extempore,\t and\t as\t I\t looked\t down\t on the\tsea\tof\tupturned\tfaces,\ta\tsudden\tmadness\tentered\tmy\tbrain.\tI\tceased\tto\tbe\tin any\tsense\ta\tMinister\tof\tGod.\tI\tbecame\tan\tactor.\tI\thad\tan\taudience\tbefore\tme\tand I\twanted\tto\tmove\tthat\taudience\u2014and\tmore,\tI\tfelt\tthe\tpower\tto\tmove\tit.","I\t am\t not\t proud\t of\t what\t I\t did\t that\t night.\t I\t am\t an\t utter\t disbeliever\t in\t the emotional\t Revivalist\t spirit.\t Yet\t that\t night\t I\t acted\t the\t part\t of\t a\t raving,\t ranting evangelist. I\tgave\tout\tmy\ttext\tslowly. I\tcame\tnot\tto\tcall\tthe\trighteous,\tbut\tsinners\tto\trepentance. I\t repeated\t it\t twice,\t and\t I\t heard\t my\t own\t voice,\t a\t resonant,\t ringing\t voice unlike\tthe\tvoice\tof\tthe\teveryday\tLeonard\tClement. I\tsaw\tGriselda\tfrom\ther\tfront\tpew\tlook\tup\tin\tsurprise\tand\tDennis\tfollow\ther example. I\theld\tmy\tbreath\tfor\ta\tmoment\tor\ttwo,\tand\tthen\tI\tlet\tmyself\trip. The\t congregation\t in\t that\t church\t were\t in\t a\t state\t of\t pent-up\t emotion,\t ripe\t to be\t played\t upon.\t I\t played\t upon\t them.\t I\t exhorted\t sinners\t to\t repentance.\t I\t lashed myself\t into\t a\t kind\t of\t emotional\t frenzy.\t Again\t and\t again\t I\t threw\t out\t a denouncing\thand\tand\treiterated\tthe\tphrase. \u201cI\tam\tspeaking\tto\tyou.\u2026\u201d And\t each\t time,\t from\t different\t parts\t of\t the\t church,\t a\t kind\t of\t sighing\t gasp went\tup. Mass\temotion\tis\ta\tstrange\tand\tterrible\tthing. I\t finished\t up\t with\t those\t beautiful\t and\t poignant\t words\u2014perhaps\t the\t most poignant\twords\tin\tthe\twhole\tBible: \u201cThis\tnight\tthy\tsoul\tshall\tbe\trequired\tof\tthee\u2026.\u201d It\twas\ta\tstrange,\tbrief\tpossession.\tWhen\tI\tgot\tback\tto\tthe\tVicarage\tI\twas\tmy usual\tfaded,\tindeterminate\tself.\tI\tfound\tGriselda\trather\tpale.\tShe\tslipped\ther\tarm through\tmine. \u201cLen,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201cyou\t were\t rather\t terrible\t tonight.\t I\u2014I\t didn\u2019t\t like\t it.\t I\u2019ve never\theard\tyou\tpreach\tlike\tthat\tbefore.\u201d \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t suppose\t you\t ever\t will\t again,\u201d\tI\t said,\t sinking\tdown\t wearily\t on\tthe sofa.\tI\twas\ttired. \u201cWhat\tmade\tyou\tdo\tit?\u201d \u201cA\tsudden\tmadness\tcame\tover\tme.\u201d \u201cOh!\tIt\u2014it\twasn\u2019t\tsomething\tspecial?\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean\u2014something\tspecial?\u201d \u201cI\t wondered\u2014that\t was\t all.\t You\u2019re\t very\t unexpected,\t Len.\t I\t never\t feel\t I really\tknow\tyou.\u201d We\tsat\tdown\tto\tcold\tsupper,\tMary\tbeing\tout. \u201cThere\u2019s\t a\t note\t for\t you\t in\t the\t hall,\u201d\t said\t Griselda.\t \u201cGet\t it,\t will\t you, Dennis?\u201d Dennis,\twho\thad\tbeen\tvery\tsilent,\tobeyed. I\ttook\tit\tand\tgroaned.\tAcross\tthe\ttop\tleft-hand\tcorner\twas\twritten:\tBy\thand\u2014","Urgent. \u201cThis,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cmust\tbe\tfrom\tMiss\tMarple.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tone\telse\tleft.\u201d I\thad\tbeen\tperfectly\tcorrect\tin\tmy\tassumption. \u201cDear\t Mr.\t Clement,\u2014I\t should\t so\t much\t like\t to\t have\t a\t little\t chat\t with\t you about\t one\t or\t two\t things\t that\t have\t occurred\t to\t me.\t I\t feel\t we\t should\t all\t try and\t help\t in\t elucidating\t this\t sad\t mystery.\t I\t will\t come\t over\t about\t half\t past nine\tif\tI\tmay,\tand\ttap\ton\tyour\tstudy\twindow.\tPerhaps\tdear\tGriselda\twould be\t so\t very\t kind\t as\t to\t run\t over\t here\t and\t cheer\t up\t my\t nephew.\t And\t Mr. Dennis\t too,\t of\t course,\t if\t he\t cares\t to\t come.\t If\t I\t do\t not\t hear,\t I\t will\t expect them\tand\twill\tcome\tover\tmyself\tat\tthe\ttime\tI\thave\tstated. Yours\tvery\tsincerely, Jane\tMarple.\u201d \t I\thanded\tthe\tnote\tto\tGriselda. \u201cOh,\twe\u2019ll\tgo!\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tcheerfully.\t\u201cA\tglass\tor\ttwo\tof\thomemade\tliqueur\tis just\twhat\tone\tneeds\ton\tSunday\tevening.\tI\tthink\tit\u2019s\tMary\u2019s\tblancmange\tthat\tis\tso frightfully\tdepressing.\tIt\u2019s\tlike\tsomething\tout\tof\ta\tmortuary.\u201d Dennis\tseemed\tless\tcharmed\tat\tthe\tprospect. \u201cIt\u2019s\t all\t very\t well\t for\t you,\u201d\t he\t grumbled.\t \u201cYou\t can\t talk\t all\t this\t highbrow stuff\t about\t art\t and\t books.\t I\t always\t feel\t a\t perfect\t fool\t sitting\t and\t listening\t to you.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t good\t for\t you,\u201d\t said\t Griselda\t serenely.\t \u201cIt\t puts\t you\t in\t your\t place. Anyway,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tMr.\tRaymond\tWest\tis\tso\tfrightfully\tclever\tas\the\tpretends to\tbe.\u201d \u201cVery\tfew\tof\tus\tare,\u201d\tI\tsaid. I\t wondered\t very\t much\t what\t exactly\t it\t was\t that\t Miss\t Marple\t wished\t to\t talk over.\tOf\tall\tthe\tladies\tin\tmy\tcongregation,\tI\tconsidered\ther\tby\tfar\tthe\tshrewdest. Not\tonly\tdoes\tshe\tsee\tand\thear\tpractically\teverything\tthat\tgoes\ton,\tbut\tshe\tdraws amazingly\t neat\t and\t apposite\t deductions\t from\t the\t facts\t that\t come\t under\t her notice. If\t I\t were\t at\t any\t time\t to\t set\t out\t on\t a\t career\t of\t deceit,\t it\t would\t be\t of\t Miss Marple\tthat\tI\tshould\tbe\tafraid. What\t Griselda\t called\t the\t Nephew\t Amusing\t Party\t started\t off\t at\t a\t little\t after nine,\t and\t whilst\t I\t was\t waiting\t for\t Miss\t Marple\t to\t arrive\t I\t amused\t myself\t by drawing\tup\ta\tkind\tof\tschedule\tof\tthe\tfacts\tconnected\twith\tthe\tcrime.\tI\tarranged them\tso\tfar\tas\tpossible\tin\tchronological\torder.\tI\tam\tnot\ta\tpunctual\tperson,\tbut\tI","am\ta\tneat\tone,\tand\tI\tlike\tthings\tjotted\tdown\tin\ta\tmethodical\tfashion. At\thalf\tpast\tnine\tpunctually,\tthere\twas\ta\tlittle\ttap\ton\tthe\twindow,\tand\tI\trose and\tadmitted\tMiss\tMarple. She\thad\ta\tvery\tfine\tShetland\tshawl\tthrown\tover\ther\thead\tand\tshoulders\tand was\tlooking\trather\told\tand\tfrail.\tShe\tcame\tin\tfull\tof\tlittle\tfluttering\tremarks. \u201cSo\tgood\tof\tyou\tto\tlet\tme\tcome\u2014and\tso\tgood\tof\tdear\tGriselda\u2014Raymond admires\t her\t so\t much\u2014the\t perfect\t Greuze\t he\t always\t calls\t her\t \u2026\t No,\t I\t won\u2019t have\ta\tfootstool.\u201d I\tdeposited\tthe\tShetland\tshawl\ton\ta\tchair\tand\treturned\tto\ttake\ta\tchair\tfacing my\t guest.\t We\t looked\t at\t each\t other,\t and\t a\t little\t deprecating\t smile\t broke\t out\t on her\tface. \u201cI\tfeel\tthat\tyou\tmust\tbe\twondering\twhy\u2014why\tI\tam\tso\tinterested\tin\tall\tthis. You\t may\t possibly\t think\t it\u2019s\t very\t unwomanly.\t No\u2014please\u2014I\t should\t like\t to explain\tif\tI\tmay.\u201d She\tpaused\ta\tmoment,\ta\tpink\tcolour\tsuffusing\ther\tcheeks. \u201cYou\tsee,\u201d\tshe\tbegan\tat\tlast,\t\u201cliving\talone,\tas\tI\tdo,\tin\ta\trather\tout-of-the-way part\t of\t the\t world,\t one\t has\t to\t have\t a\t hobby.\t There\t is,\t of\t course,\t woolwork,\t and Guides,\t and\t Welfare,\t and\t sketching,\t but\t my\t hobby\t is\u2014and\t always\t has\t been\u2014 Human\t Nature.\t So\t varied\u2014and\t so\t very\t fascinating.\t And,\t of\t course,\t in\t a\t small village,\t with\t nothing\t to\t distract\t one,\t one\t has\t such\t ample\t opportunity\t for becoming\twhat\tI\tmight\tcall\tproficient\tin\tone\u2019s\tstudy.\tOne\tbegins\tto\tclass\tpeople, quite\t definitely,\t just\t as\t though\t they\t were\t birds\t or\t flowers,\t group\t so-and-so, genus\tthis,\tspecies\tthat.\tSometimes,\tof\tcourse,\tone\tmakes\tmistakes,\tbut\tless\tand less\tas\ttime\tgoes\ton.\tAnd\tthen,\ttoo,\tone\ttests\toneself.\tOne\ttakes\ta\tlittle\tproblem \u2014for\tinstance,\tthe\tgill\tof\tpicked\tshrimps\tthat\tamused\tdear\tGriselda\tso\tmuch\u2014a quite\t unimportant\t mystery\t but\t absolutely\t incomprehensible\t unless\t one\t solves\t it right.\t And\t then\t there\t was\t that\t matter\t of\t the\t changed\t cough\t drops,\t and\t the butcher\u2019s\t wife\u2019s\t umbrella\u2014the\t last\t absolutely\t meaningless\t unless\t on\t the assumption\t that\t the\t greengrocer\t was\t not\t behaving\t at\t all\t nicely\t with\t the chemist\u2019s\twife\u2014which,\tof\tcourse,\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\tthe\tcase.\tIt\tis\tso\tfascinating, you\tknow,\tto\tapply\tone\u2019s\tjudgment\tand\tfind\tthat\tone\tis\tright.\u201d \u201cYou\tusually\tare,\tI\tbelieve,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tsmiling. \u201cThat,\t I\t am\t afraid,\t is\t what\t has\t made\t me\t a\t little\t conceited,\u201d\t confessed\t Miss Marple.\t\u201cBut\tI\thave\talways\twondered\twhether,\tif\tsome\tday\ta\treally\tbig\tmystery came\t along,\t I\t should\t be\t able\t to\t do\t the\t same\t thing.\t I\t mean\u2014just\t solve\t it correctly.\t Logically,\t it\t ought\t to\t be\t exactly\t the\t same\t thing.\t After\t all,\t a\t tiny working\tmodel\tof\ta\ttorpedo\tis\tjust\tthe\tsame\tas\ta\treal\ttorpedo.\u201d \u201cYou\t mean\t it\u2019s\t all\t a\t question\t of\t relativity,\u201d\t I\t said\t slowly.\t \u201cIt\t should\t be\u2014 logically,\tI\tadmit.\tBut\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhether\tit\treally\tis.\u201d","\u201cSurely\tit\tmust\tbe\tthe\tsame,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cThe\u2014what\tone\tused\tto\tcall the\t factors\t at\t school\u2014are\t the\t same.\t There\u2019s\t money,\t and\t the\t mutual\t attraction people\t of\t an\u2014er\u2014opposite\t sex\u2014and\t there\u2019s\t queerness\t of\t course\u2014so\t many people\tare\ta\tlittle\tqueer,\taren\u2019t\tthey?\u2014in\tfact,\tmost\tpeople\tare\twhen\tyou\tknow them\t well.\t And\t normal\t people\t do\t such\t astonishing\t things\t sometimes,\t and abnormal\tpeople\tare\tsometimes\tso\tvery\tsane\tand\tordinary.\tIn\tfact,\tthe\tonly\tway is\tto\tcompare\tpeople\twith\tother\tpeople\tyou\thave\tknown\tor\tcome\tacross.\tYou\u2019d be\tsurprised\tif\tyou\tknew\thow\tvery\tfew\tdistinct\ttypes\tthere\tare\tin\tall.\u201d \u201cYou\tfrighten\tme,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tfeel\tI\u2019m\tbeing\tput\tunder\tthe\tmicroscope.\u201d \u201cOf\t course,\t I\t wouldn\u2019t\t dream\t of\t saying\t any\t of\t this\t to\t Colonel\t Melchett\u2014 such\tan\tautocratic\tman,\tisn\u2019t\the?\u2014and\tpoor\tInspector\tSlack\u2014well,\the\u2019s\texactly like\tthe\tyoung\tlady\tin\tthe\tboot\tshop\twho\twants\tto\tsell\tyou\tpatent\tleather\tbecause she\u2019s\t got\t it\t in\t your\t size,\t and\t doesn\u2019t\t take\t any\t notice\t of\t the\t fact\t that\t you\t want brown\tcalf.\u201d That,\treally,\tis\ta\tvery\tgood\tdescription\tof\tSlack. \u201cBut\t you,\t Mr.\t Clement,\t know,\t I\u2019m\t sure,\t quite\t as\t much\t about\t the\t crime\t as Inspector\tSlack.\tI\tthought,\tif\twe\tcould\twork\ttogether\u2014\u201d \u201cI\twonder,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tthink\teach\tone\tof\tus\tin\this\tsecret\theart\tfancies\thimself as\tSherlock\tHolmes.\u201d Then\tI\ttold\ther\tof\tthe\tthree\tsummonses\tI\thad\treceived\tthat\tafternoon.\tI\ttold her\t of\t Anne\u2019s\t discovery\t of\t the\t picture\t with\t the\t slashed\t face.\t I\t also\t told\t her\t of Miss\t Cram\u2019s\t attitude\t at\t the\t police\t station,\t and\t I\t described\t Haydock\u2019s identification\tof\tthe\tcrystal\tI\thad\tpicked\tup. \u201cHaving\tfound\tthat\tmyself,\u201d\tI\tfinished\tup,\t\u201cI\tshould\tlike\tit\tto\tbe\timportant. But\tit\u2019s\tprobably\tgot\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tcase.\u201d \u201cI\t have\t been\t reading\t a\t lot\t of\t American\t detective\t stories\t from\t the\t library lately,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple,\t\u201choping\tto\tfind\tthem\thelpful.\u201d \u201cWas\tthere\tanything\tin\tthem\tabout\tpicric\tacid?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tafraid\tnot.\tI\tdo\tremember\treading\ta\tstory\tonce,\tthough,\tin\twhich\ta\tman was\tpoisoned\tby\tpicric\tacid\tand\tlanoline\tbeing\trubbed\ton\thim\tas\tan\tointment.\u201d \u201cBut\t as\t nobody\t has\t been\t poisoned\t here,\t that\t doesn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t enter\t into\t the question,\u201d\tI\tsaid. Then\tI\ttook\tup\tmy\tschedule\tand\thanded\tit\tto\ther. \u201cI\u2019ve\t tried,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cto\t recapitulate\t the\t facts\t of\t the\t case\t as\t clearly\t as possible.\u201d MY\tSCHEDULE Thursday,\t21st\tinst.","12:30\t p.m.\u2014Colonel\t Protheroe\t alters\t his\t appointment\t from\t six\t to\t six fifteen.\tOverheard\tby\thalf\tvillage\tvery\tprobably. 12:45\u2014Pistol\t last\t seen\t in\t its\t proper\t place.\t (But\t this\t is\t doubtful,\t as\t Mrs. Archer\thad\tpreviously\tsaid\tshe\tcould\tnot\tremember.) 5:30\t (approx.)\u2014Colonel\t and\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t leave\t Old\t Hall\t for\t village\t in car. 5:30\tFake\tcall\tput\tthrough\tto\tme\tfrom\tthe\tNorth\tLodge,\tOld\tHall. 6:15\t(or\ta\tminute\tor\ttwo\tearlier)\u2014Colonel\tProtheroe\tarrives\tat\tVicarage.\tIs shown\tinto\tstudy\tby\tMary. 6:20\u2014Mrs.\t Protheroe\t comes\t along\t back\t lane\t and\t across\t garden\t to\t study window.\tColonel\tProtheroe\tnot\tvisible. 6:29\u2014Call\t from\t Lawrence\t Redding\u2019s\t cottage\t put\t through\t to\t Mrs.\t Price Ridley\t(according\tto\tExchange). 6:30\u20136:35\u2014Shot\t heard.\t (Accepting\t telephone\t call\t time\t as\t correct.) Lawrence\t Redding,\t Anne\t Protheroe\t and\t Dr.\t Stone\u2019s\t evidence\t seem\t to point\tto\tits\tbeing\tearlier,\tbut\tMrs.\tP.R.\tprobably\tright. 6:45\u2014Lawrence\tRedding\tarrives\tVicarage\tand\tfinds\tthe\tbody. 6:48\u2014I\tmeet\tLawrence\tRedding. 6:49\u2014Body\tdiscovered\tby\tme. 6:55\u2014Haydock\texamines\tbody. \t NOTE.\u2014The\t only\t two\t people\t who\t have\t no\t kind\t of\t alibi\t for\t 6:30\u20136:35\t are Miss\tCram\tand\tMrs.\tLestrange.\tMiss\tCram\tsays\tshe\twas\tat\tthe\tbarrow,\tbut no\tconfirmation.\tIt\tseems\treasonable,\thowever,\tto\tdismiss\ther\tfrom\tcase\tas there\t seems\t nothing\t to\t connect\t her\t with\t it.\t Mrs.\t Lestrange\t left\t Dr. Haydock\u2019s\t house\t some\t time\t after\t six\t to\t keep\t an\t appointment.\t Where\t was the\t appointment,\t and\t with\t whom?\t It\t could\t hardly\t have\t been\t with\t Colonel Protheroe,\t as\t he\t expected\t to\t be\t engaged\t with\t me.\t It\t is\t true\t that\t Mrs. Lestrange\t was\t near\t the\t spot\t at\t the\t time\t the\t crime\t was\t committed,\t but\t it seems\tdoubtful\twhat\tmotive\tshe\tcould\thave\thad\tfor\tmurdering\thim.\tShe\tdid","not\t gain\t by\t his\t death,\t and\t the\t Inspector\u2019s\t theory\t of\t blackmail\t I\t cannot accept.\t Mrs.\t Lestrange\t is\t not\t that\t kind\t of\t woman.\t Also\t it\t seems\t unlikely that\tshe\tshould\thave\tgot\thold\tof\tLawrence\tRedding\u2019s\tpistol. \t \u201cVery\t clear,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple,\t nodding\t her\t head\t in\t approval.\t \u201cVery\t clear indeed.\tGentlemen\talways\tmake\tsuch\texcellent\tmemoranda.\u201d \u201cYou\tagree\twith\twhat\tI\thave\twritten?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cOh,\tyes\u2014you\thave\tput\tit\tall\tbeautifully.\u201d I\tasked\ther\tthe\tquestion\tthen\tthat\tI\thad\tbeen\tmeaning\tto\tput\tall\talong. \u201cMiss\tMarple,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cWho\tdo\tyou\tsuspect?\tYou\tonce\tsaid\tthat\tthere\twere seven\tpeople.\u201d \u201cQuite\tthat,\tI\tshould\tthink,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple\tabsently.\t\u201cI\texpect\tevery\tone of\tus\tsuspects\tsomeone\tdifferent.\tIn\tfact,\tone\tcan\tsee\tthey\tdo.\u201d She\tdidn\u2019t\task\tme\twho\tI\tsuspected. \u201cThe\t point\t is,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201cthat\t one\t must\t provide\t an\t explanation\t for everything.\tEach\tthing\thas\tgot\tto\tbe\texplained\taway\tsatisfactorily.\tIf\tyou\thave\ta theory\t that\t fits\t every\t fact\u2014well,\t then,\t it\t must\t be\t the\t right\t one.\t But\t that\u2019s extremely\tdifficult.\tIf\tit\twasn\u2019t\tfor\tthat\tnote\u2014\u201d \u201cThe\tnote?\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tsurprised. \u201cYes,\t you\t remember,\t I\t told\t you.\t That\t note\t has\t worried\t me\t all\t along.\t It\u2019s wrong,\tsomehow.\u201d \u201cSurely,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cthat\tis\texplained\tnow.\tIt\twas\twritten\tat\tsix\tthirty\tfive\tand another\thand\u2014the\tmurderer\u2019s\u2014put\tthe\tmisleading\t6:20\tat\tthe\ttop.\tI\tthink\tthat\tis clearly\testablished.\u201d \u201cBut\teven\tthen,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple,\t\u201cit\u2019s\tall\twrong.\u201d \u201cBut\twhy?\u201d \u201cListen.\u201d\t Miss\t Marple\t leant\t forward\t eagerly.\t \u201cMrs.\t Protheroe\t passed\t my garden,\tas\tI\ttold\tyou,\tand\tshe\twent\tas\tfar\tas\tthe\tstudy\twindow\tand\tshe\tlooked\tin and\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tColonel\tProtheroe.\u201d \u201cBecause\the\twas\twriting\tat\tthe\tdesk,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cAnd\tthat\u2019s\twhat\u2019s\tall\twrong.\tThat\twas\tat\ttwenty\tpast\tsix.\tWe\tagreed\tthat\the wouldn\u2019t\t sit\t down\t to\t say\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t wait\t any\t longer\t until\t after\t half\t past\t six\u2014 so,\twhy\twas\the\tsitting\tat\tthe\twriting\ttable\tthen?\u201d \u201cI\tnever\tthought\tof\tthat,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tslowly. \u201cLet\tus,\tdear\tMr.\tClement,\tjust\tgo\tover\tit\tagain.\tMrs.\tProtheroe\tcomes\tto\tthe window\t and\t she\t thinks\t the\t room\t is\t empty\u2014she\t must\t have\t thought\t so,\t because otherwise\tshe\twould\tnever\thave\tgone\tdown\tto\tthe\tstudio\tto\tmeet\tMr.\tRedding.\tIt wouldn\u2019t\t have\t been\t safe.\t The\t room\t must\t have\t been\t absolutely\t silent\t if\t she","thought\tit\twas\tempty.\tAnd\tthat\tleaves\tus\tthree\talternatives,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\u2014\u201d \u201cWell,\tthe\tfirst\talternative\twould\tbe\tthat\tColonel\tProtheroe\twas\tdead\talready \u2014but\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tthat\u2019s\tthe\tmost\tlikely\tone.\tTo\tbegin\twith\the\u2019d\tonly\tbeen\tthere about\t five\t minutes\t and\t she\t or\t I\t would\t have\t heard\t the\t shot,\t and\t secondly,\t the same\t difficulty\t remains\t about\t his\t being\t at\t the\t writing\t table.\t The\t second alternative\tis,\tof\tcourse,\tthat\the\twas\tsitting\tat\tthe\twriting\ttable\twriting\ta\tnote,\tbut in\t that\t case\t it\t must\t have\t been\t a\t different\t note\t altogether.\t It\t can\u2019t\t have\t been\t to say\the\tcouldn\u2019t\twait.\tAnd\tthe\tthird\u2014\u201d \u201cYes?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cWell,\t the\t third\t is,\t of\t course,\t that\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t was\t right,\t and\t that\t the room\twas\tactually\tempty.\u201d \u201cYou\t mean\t that,\t after\t he\t had\t been\t shown\t in,\t he\t went\t out\t again\t and\t came back\tlater?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cBut\twhy\tshould\the\thave\tdone\tthat?\u201d Miss\tMarple\tspread\tout\ther\thands\tin\ta\tlittle\tgesture\tof\tbewilderment. \u201cThat\t would\t mean\t looking\t at\t the\t case\t from\t an\t entirely\t different\t angle,\u201d\t I said. \u201cOne\tso\toften\thas\tto\tdo\tthat\u2014about\teverything.\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tthink\tso?\u201d I\tdid\tnot\treply.\tI\twas\tgoing\tover\tcarefully\tin\tmy\tmind\tthe\tthree\talternatives that\tMiss\tMarple\thad\tsuggested. With\ta\tslight\tsigh\tthe\told\tlady\trose\tto\ther\tfeet. \u201cI\tmust\tbe\tgetting\tback.\tI\tam\tvery\tglad\tto\thave\thad\tthis\tlittle\tchat\u2014though we\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tvery\tfar,\thave\twe?\u201d \u201cTo\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tas\tI\tfetched\ther\tshawl,\t\u201cthe\twhole\tthing\tseems to\tme\ta\tbewildering\tmaze.\u201d \u201cOh!\t I\t wouldn\u2019t\t say\t that.\t I\t think,\t on\t the\t whole,\t one\t theory\t fits\t nearly everything.\t That\t is,\t if\t you\t admit\t one\t coincidence\u2014and\t I\t think\t one\t coincidence is\tallowable.\tMore\tthan\tone,\tof\tcourse,\tis\tunlikely.\u201d \u201cDo\t you\t really\t think\t that?\t About\t the\t theory,\t I\t mean?\u201d\t I\t asked,\t looking\t at her. \u201cI\t admit\t that\t there\t is\t one\t flaw\t in\t my\t theory\u2014one\t fact\t that\t I\t can\u2019t\t get\t over. Oh!\tIf\tonly\tthat\tnote\thad\tbeen\tsomething\tquite\tdifferent\u2014\u201d She\t sighed\t and\t shook\t her\t head.\t She\t moved\t towards\t the\t window\t and absentmindedly\treached\tup\ther\thand\tand\tfelt\tthe\trather\tdepressed-looking\tplant that\tstood\tin\ta\tstand. \u201cYou\tknow,\tdear\tMr.\tClement,\tthis\tshould\tbe\twatered\toftener.\tPoor\tthing,\tit needs\t it\t badly.\t Your\t maid\t should\t water\t it\t every\t day.\t I\t suppose\t it\t is\t she\t who","attends\tto\tit?\u201d \u201cAs\tmuch,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cas\tshe\tattends\tto\tanything.\u201d \u201cA\tlittle\traw\tat\tpresent,\u201d\tsuggested\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cYes,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cAnd\tGriselda\tsteadily\trefuses\tto\tattempt\tto\tsack\ther.\tHer\tidea is\tthat\tonly\ta\tthoroughly\tundesirable\tmaid\twill\tremain\twith\tus.\tHowever,\tMary herself\tgave\tus\tnotice\tthe\tother\tday.\u201d \u201cIndeed.\tI\talways\timagined\tshe\twas\tvery\tfond\tof\tyou\tboth.\u201d \u201cI\t haven\u2019t\t noticed\t it,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cBut,\t as\t a\t matter\t of\t fact,\t it\t was\t Lettice Protheroe\t who\t upset\t her.\t Mary\t came\t back\t from\t the\t inquest\t in\t rather\t a temperamental\tstate\tand\tfound\tLettice\there\tand\u2014well,\tthey\thad\twords.\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple.\t She\t was\t just\t about\t to\t step\t through\t the\t window when\tshe\tstopped\tsuddenly,\tand\ta\tbewildering\tseries\tof\tchanges\tpassed\tover\ther face. \u201cOh,\t dear!\u201d\t she\t muttered\t to\t herself.\t \u201cI\t have\t been\t stupid.\t So\t that\t was\t it. Perfectly\tpossible\tall\tthe\ttime.\u201d \u201cI\tbeg\tyour\tpardon?\u201d She\tturned\ta\tworried\tface\tupon\tme. \u201cNothing.\t An\t idea\t that\t has\t just\t occurred\t to\t me.\t I\t must\t go\t home\t and\t think things\t out\t thoroughly.\t Do\t you\t know,\t I\t believe\t I\t have\t been\t extremely\t stupid\u2014 almost\tincredibly\tso.\u201d \u201cI\tfind\tthat\thard\tto\tbelieve,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tgallantly. I\tescorted\ther\tthrough\tthe\twindow\tand\tacross\tthe\tlawn. \u201cCan\tyou\ttell\tme\twhat\tit\tis\tthat\thas\toccurred\tto\tyou\tso\tsuddenly?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cI\twould\trather\tnot\u2014just\tat\tpresent.\tYou\tsee,\tthere\tis\tstill\ta\tpossibility\tthat\tI may\t be\t mistaken.\t But\t I\t do\t not\t think\t so.\t Here\t we\t are\t at\t my\t garden\t gate.\t Thank you\tso\tmuch.\tPlease\tdo\tnot\tcome\tany\tfurther.\u201d \u201cIs\tthe\tnote\tstill\ta\tstumbling\tblock?\u201d\tI\tasked,\tas\tshe\tpassed\tthrough\tthe\tgate and\tlatched\tit\tbehind\ther. She\tlooked\tat\tme\tabstractedly. \u201cThe\t note?\t Oh!\t Of\t course\t that\t wasn\u2019t\t the\t real\t note.\t I\t never\t thought\t it\t was. Goodnight,\tMr.\tClement.\u201d She\twent\trapidly\tup\tthe\tpath\tto\tthe\thouse,\tleaving\tme\tstaring\tafter\ther. I\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tto\tthink.","Twenty-seven \t Griselda\tand\tDennis\thad\tnot\tyet\treturned.\tI\trealized\tthat\tthe\tmost\tnatural\tthing would\thave\tbeen\tfor\tme\tto\tgo\tup\tto\tthe\thouse\twith\tMiss\tMarple\tand\tfetch\tthem home.\tBoth\tshe\tand\tI\thad\tbeen\tso\tentirely\ttaken\tup\twith\tour\tpreoccupation\tover the\tmystery\tthat\twe\thad\tforgotten\tanybody\texisted\tin\tthe\tworld\texcept\tourselves. I\twas\tjust\tstanding\tin\tthe\thall,\twondering\twhether\tI\twould\tnot\teven\tnow\tgo over\tand\tjoin\tthem,\twhen\tthe\tdoorbell\trang. I\t crossed\t over\t to\t it.\t I\t saw\t there\t was\t a\t letter\t in\t the\t box,\t and\t presuming\t that this\twas\tthe\tcause\tof\tthe\tring,\tI\ttook\tit\tout. As\tI\tdid\tso,\thowever,\tthe\tbell\trang\tagain,\tand\tI\tshoved\tthe\tletter\thastily\tinto my\tpocket\tand\topened\tthe\tfront\tdoor. It\twas\tColonel\tMelchett. \u201cHallo,\t Clement.\t I\u2019m\t on\t my\t way\t home\t from\t town\t in\t the\t car.\t Thought\t I\u2019d just\tlook\tin\tand\tsee\tif\tyou\tcould\tgive\tme\ta\tdrink.\u201d \u201cDelighted,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cCome\tinto\tthe\tstudy.\u201d He\tpulled\toff\tthe\tleather\tcoat\tthat\the\twas\twearing\tand\tfollowed\tme\tinto\tthe study.\tI\tfetched\tthe\twhisky\tand\tsoda\tand\ttwo\tglasses.\tMelchett\twas\tstanding\tin front\tof\tthe\tfireplace,\tlegs\twide\tapart,\tstroking\this\tclosely\tcropped\tmoustache. \u201cI\u2019ve\t got\t one\t bit\t of\t news\t for\t you,\t Clement.\t Most\t astounding\t thing\t you\u2019ve ever\theard.\tBut\tlet\tthat\tgo\tfor\tthe\tminute.\tHow\tare\tthings\tgoing\tdown\there?\tAny more\told\tladies\thot\ton\tthe\tscent?\u201d \u201cThey\u2019re\tnot\tdoing\tso\tbadly,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cOne\tof\tthem,\tat\tall\tevents,\tthinks\tshe\u2019s got\tthere.\u201d \u201cOur\tfriend,\tMiss\tMarple,\teh?\u201d \u201cOur\tfriend,\tMiss\tMarple.\u201d \u201cWomen\t like\t that\t always\t think\t they\t know\t everything,\u201d\t said\t Colonel Melchett. He\tsipped\this\twhisky\tand\tsoda\tappreciatively. \u201cIt\u2019s\t probably\t unnecessary\t interference\t on\t my\t part,\t asking,\u201d\t I\t said.\t \u201cBut\t I suppose\t somebody\t has\t questioned\t the\t fish\t boy.\t I\t mean,\t if\t the\t murderer\t left\t by","the\tfront\tdoor,\tthere\u2019s\ta\tchance\tthe\tboy\tmay\thave\tseen\thim.\u201d \u201cSlack\t questioned\t him\t right\t enough,\u201d\t said\t Melchett.\t \u201cBut\t the\t boy\t says\t he didn\u2019t\tmeet\tanybody.\tHardly\tlikely\the\twould.\tThe\tmurderer\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\texactly courting\t observation.\t Lots\t of\t cover\t by\t your\t front\t gate.\t He\t would\t have\t taken\t a look\t to\t see\t if\t the\t road\t was\t clear.\t The\t boy\t had\t to\t call\t at\t the\t Vicarage,\t at Haydock\u2019s,\tand\tat\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley\u2019s.\tEasy\tenough\tto\tdodge\thim.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cI\tsuppose\tit\twould\tbe.\u201d \u201cOn\tthe\tother\thand,\u201d\twent\ton\tMelchett,\t\u201cif\tby\tany\tchance\tthat\trascal\tArcher did\tthe\tjob,\tand\tyoung\tFred\tJackson\tsaw\thim\tabout\tthe\tplace,\tI\tdoubt\tvery\tmuch whether\the\u2019d\tlet\ton.\tArcher\tis\ta\tcousin\tof\this.\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\tseriously\tsuspect\tArcher?\u201d \u201cWell,\tyou\tknow,\told\tProtheroe\thad\this\tknife\tinto\tArcher\tpretty\tbadly.\tLots of\tbad\tblood\tbetween\tthem.\tLeniency\twasn\u2019t\tProtheroe\u2019s\tstrong\tpoint.\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cHe\twas\ta\tvery\truthless\tman.\u201d \u201cWhat\t I\t say\t is,\u201d\t said\t Melchett,\t \u201cLive\t and\t let\t live.\t Of\t course,\t the\t law\u2019s\t the law,\t but\t it\t never\t hurts\t to\t give\t a\t man\t the\t benefit\t of\t the\t doubt.\t That\u2019s\t what Protheroe\tnever\tdid.\u201d \u201cHe\tprided\thimself\ton\tit,\u201d\tI\tsaid. There\twas\ta\tpause,\tand\tthen\tI\tasked: \u201cWhat\tis\tthis\t\u2018astounding\tbit\tof\tnews\u2019\tyou\tpromised\tme?\u201d \u201cWell,\t it\t is\t astounding.\t You\t know\t that\t unfinished\t letter\t that\t Protheroe\t was writing\twhen\the\twas\tkilled?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cWe\t got\t an\t expert\t on\t it\u2014to\t say\t whether\t the\t 6:20\t was\t added\t by\t a\t different hand.\t Naturally\t we\t sent\t up\t samples\t of\t Protheroe\u2019s\t handwriting.\t And\t do\t you know\tthe\tverdict?\tThat\tletter\twas\tnever\twritten\tby\tProtheroe\tat\tall.\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\ta\tforgery?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\ta\tforgery.\tThe\t6:20\tthey\tthink\tis\twritten\tin\ta\tdifferent\thand\tagain\u2014but they\u2019re\tnot\tsure\tabout\tthat.\tThe\theading\tis\tin\ta\tdifferent\tink,\tbut\tthe\tletter\titself is\ta\tforgery.\tProtheroe\tnever\twrote\tit.\u201d \u201cAre\tthey\tcertain?\u201d \u201cWell,\t they\u2019re\t as\t certain\t as\t experts\t ever\t are.\t You\t know\t what\t an\t expert\t is! Oh!\tBut\tthey\u2019re\tsure\tenough.\u201d \u201cAmazing,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\tThen\ta\tmemory\tassailed\tme. \u201cWhy,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cI\tremember\tat\tthe\ttime\tMrs.\tProtheroe\tsaid\tit\twasn\u2019t\tlike\ther husband\u2019s\thandwriting\tat\tall,\tand\tI\ttook\tno\tnotice.\u201d \u201cReally?\u201d \u201cI\t thought\t it\t one\t of\t those\t silly\t remarks\t women\t will\t make.\t If\t there\t seemed one\tthing\tsure\ton\tearth\tit\twas\tthat\tProtheroe\thad\twritten\tthat\tnote.\u201d","We\tlooked\tat\teach\tother. \u201cIt\u2019s\tcurious,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tslowly.\t\u201cMiss\tMarple\twas\tsaying\tthis\tevening\tthat\tthat note\twas\tall\twrong.\u201d \u201cConfound\t the\t woman,\t she\t couldn\u2019t\t know\t more\t about\t it\t if\t she\t had committed\tthe\tmurder\therself.\u201d At\tthat\tmoment\tthe\ttelephone\tbell\trang.\tThere\tis\ta\tqueer\tkind\tof\tpsychology about\t a\t telephone\t bell.\t It\t rang\t now\t persistently\t and\t with\t a\t kind\t of\t sinister significance. I\twent\tover\tand\ttook\tup\tthe\treceiver. \u201cThis\tis\tthe\tVicarage,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cWho\u2019s\tspeaking?\u201d A\tstrange,\thigh-pitched\thysterical\tvoice\tcame\tover\tthe\twire: \u201cI\twant\tto\tconfess,\u201d\tit\tsaid.\t\u201cMy\tGod,\tI\twant\tto\tconfess.\u201d \u201cHallo,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201challo.\t Look\t here\t you\u2019ve\t cut\t me\t off.\t What\t number\t was that?\u201d A\t languid\t voice\t said\t it\t didn\u2019t\t know.\t It\t added\t that\t it\t was\t sorry\t I\t had\t been troubled. I\tput\tdown\tthe\treceiver,\tand\tturned\tto\tMelchett. \u201cYou\tonce\tsaid,\u201d\tI\tremarked,\t\u201cthat\tyou\twould\tgo\tmad\tif\tanyone\telse\taccused themselves\tof\tthe\tcrime.\u201d \u201cWhat\tabout\tit?\u201d \u201cThat\twas\tsomeone\twho\twanted\tto\tconfess\t\u2026\tAnd\tthe\tExchange\thas\tcut\tus off.\u201d Melchett\tdashed\tover\tand\ttook\tup\tthe\treceiver. \u201cI\u2019ll\tspeak\tto\tthem.\u201d \u201cDo,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cYou\tmay\thave\tsome\teffect.\tI\u2019ll\tleave\tyou\tto\tit.\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tout. I\u2019ve\ta\tfancy\tI\trecognized\tthat\tvoice.\u201d","Twenty-eight \t I\thurried\tdown\tthe\tvillage\tstreet.\tIt\twas\televen\to\u2019clock,\tand\tat\televen\to\u2019clock\ton a\t Sunday\t night\t the\t whole\t village\t of\t St.\t Mary\t Mead\t might\t be\t dead.\t I\t saw, however,\t a\t light\t in\t a\t first\t floor\t window\t as\t I\t passed,\t and,\t realizing\t that\t Hawes was\tstill\tup,\tI\tstopped\tand\trang\tthe\tdoorbell. After\t what\t seemed\t a\t long\t time,\t Hawes\u2019s\t landlady,\t Mrs.\t Sadler,\t laboriously unfastened\t two\t bolts,\t a\t chain,\t and\t turned\t a\t key\t and\t peered\t out\t at\t me suspiciously. \u201cWhy,\tit\u2019s\tVicar!\u201d\tshe\texclaimed. \u201cGood\tevening,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\twant\tto\tsee\tMr.\tHawes.\tI\tsee\tthere\u2019s\ta\tlight\tin\tthe window,\tso\the\u2019s\tup\tstill.\u201d \u201cThat\tmay\tbe.\tI\u2019ve\tnot\tseen\thim\tsince\tI\ttook\tup\this\tsupper.\tHe\u2019s\thad\ta\tquiet evening\u2014no\tone\tto\tsee\thim,\tand\the\u2019s\tnot\tbeen\tout.\u201d I\tnodded,\tand\tpassing\ther,\twent\tquickly\tup\tthe\tstairs.\tHawes\thas\ta\tbedroom and\tsitting\troom\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor. I\t passed\t into\t the\t latter.\t Hawes\t was\t lying\t back\t in\t a\t long\t chair\t asleep.\t My entrance\tdid\tnot\twake\thim.\tAn\tempty\tcachet\tbox\tand\ta\tglass\tof\twater,\thalf\tfull, stood\tbeside\thim. On\tthe\tfloor,\tby\this\tleft\tfoot,\twas\ta\tcrumpled\tsheet\tof\tpaper\twith\twriting\ton it.\tI\tpicked\tit\tup\tand\tstraightened\tit\tout. It\tbegan:\t\u201cMy\tdear\tClement\u2014\u201d I\tread\tit\tthrough,\tuttered\tan\texclamation\tand\tshoved\tit\tinto\tmy\tpocket.\tThen I\tbent\tover\tHawes\tand\tstudied\thim\tattentively. Next,\t reaching\t for\t the\t telephone\t which\t stood\t by\t his\t elbow,\t I\t gave\t the number\tof\tthe\tVicarage.\tMelchett\tmust\thave\tbeen\tstill\ttrying\tto\ttrace\tthe\tcall,\tfor I\t was\t told\t that\t the\t number\t was\t engaged.\t Asking\t them\t to\t call\t me,\t I\t put\t the instrument\tdown\tagain. I\t put\t my\t hand\t into\t my\t pocket\t to\t look\t at\t the\t paper\t I\t had\t picked\t up\t once more.\t With\t it,\t I\t drew\t out\t the\t note\t that\t I\t had\t found\t in\t the\t letter\t box\t and\t which was\tstill\tunopened.","Its\t appearance\t was\t horribly\t familiar.\t It\t was\t the\t same\t handwriting\t as\t the anonymous\tletter\tthat\thad\tcome\tthat\tafternoon. I\ttore\tit\topen. I\tread\tit\tonce\u2014twice\u2014unable\tto\trealize\tits\tcontents. I\twas\tbeginning\tto\tread\tit\ta\tthird\ttime\twhen\tthe\ttelephone\trang.\tLike\ta\tman in\ta\tdream\tI\tpicked\tup\tthe\treceiver\tand\tspoke. \u201cHallo?\u201d \u201cHallo.\u201d \u201cIs\tthat\tyou,\tMelchett?\u201d \u201cYes,\twhere\tare\tyou?\tI\u2019ve\ttraced\tthat\tcall.\tThe\tnumber\tis\u2014\u201d \u201cI\tknow\tthe\tnumber.\u201d \u201cOh,\tgood!\tIs\tthat\twhere\tyou\tare\tspeaking\tfrom?\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cWhat\tabout\tthat\tconfession?\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tconfession\tall\tright.\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\tthe\tmurderer?\u201d I\t had\t then\t the\t strongest\t temptation\t of\t my\t life.\t I\t looked\t at\t the\t anonymous scrawl.\t I\t looked\t at\t the\t empty\t cachet\t box\t with\t the\t name\t of\t Cherubim\t on\t it.\t I remembered\ta\tcertain\tcasual\tconversation. I\tmade\tan\timmense\teffort. \u201cI\u2014don\u2019t\tknow,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cYou\u2019d\tbetter\tcome\tround.\u201d And\tI\tgave\thim\tthe\taddress. Then\tI\tsat\tdown\tin\tthe\tchair\topposite\tHawes\tto\tthink. I\thad\ttwo\tclear\tminutes\tto\tdo\tso. In\ttwo\tminutes\u2019\ttime,\tMelchett\twould\thave\tarrived. I\ttook\tup\tthe\tanonymous\tletter\tand\tread\tit\tthrough\tagain\tfor\tthe\tthird\ttime. Then\tI\tclosed\tmy\teyes\tand\tthought\u2026.","Twenty-nine \t I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tlong\tI\tsat\tthere\u2014only\ta\tfew\tminutes\tin\treality,\tI\tsuppose.\tYet it\t seemed\t as\t though\t an\t eternity\t had\t passed\t when\t I\t heard\t the\t door\t open\t and, turning\tmy\thead,\tlooked\tup\tto\tsee\tMelchett\tentering\tthe\troom. He\tstared\tat\tHawes\tasleep\tin\this\tchair,\tthen\tturned\tto\tme. \u201cWhat\u2019s\tthis,\tClement?\tWhat\tdoes\tit\tall\tmean?\u201d Of\tthe\ttwo\tletters\tin\tmy\thand\tI\tselected\tone\tand\tpassed\tit\tto\thim.\tHe\tread\tit aloud\tin\ta\tlow\tvoice. \u201cMy\t dear\t Clement,\u2014It\t is\t a\t peculiarly\t unpleasant\t thing\t that\t I\t have\t to\t say. After\t all,\t I\t think\t I\t prefer\t writing\t it.\t We\t can\t discuss\t it\t at\t a\t later\t date.\t It concerns\t the\t recent\t peculations.\t I\t am\t sorry\t to\t say\t that\t I\t have\t satisfied myself\tbeyond\tany\tpossible\tdoubt\tas\tto\tthe\tidentity\tof\tthe\tculprit.\tPainful\tas it\t is\t for\t me\t to\t have\t to\t accuse\t an\t ordained\t priest\t of\t the\t church,\t my\t duty\t is only\ttoo\tpainfully\tclear.\tAn\texample\tmust\tbe\tmade\tand\u2014\u201d \t He\t looked\t at\t me\t questioningly.\t At\t this\t point\t the\t writing\t tailed\t off\t in\t an undistinguishable\tscrawl\twhere\tdeath\thad\tovertaken\tthe\twriter\u2019s\thand. Melchett\tdrew\ta\tdeep\tbreath,\tthen\tlooked\tat\tHawes. \u201cSo\t that\u2019s\t the\t solution!\t The\t one\t man\t we\t never\t even\t considered.\t And remorse\tdrove\thim\tto\tconfess!\u201d \u201cHe\u2019s\tbeen\tvery\tqueer\tlately,\u201d\tI\tsaid. Suddenly\t Melchett\t strode\t across\t to\t the\t sleeping\t man\t with\t a\t sharp exclamation.\tHe\tseized\thim\tby\tthe\tshoulder\tand\tshook\thim,\tat\tfirst\tgently,\tthen with\tincreasing\tviolence. \u201cHe\u2019s\tnot\tasleep!\tHe\u2019s\tdrugged!\tWhat\u2019s\tthe\tmeaning\tof\tthis?\u201d His\teye\twent\tto\tthe\tempty\tcachet\tbox.\tHe\tpicked\tit\tup. \u201cHas\the\u2014\u201d","\u201cI\tthink\tso,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cHe\tshowed\tme\tthese\tthe\tother\tday.\tTold\tme\the\u2019d\tbeen warned\t against\t an\t overdose.\t It\u2019s\t his\t way\t out,\t poor\t chap.\t Perhaps\t the\t best\t way. It\u2019s\tnot\tfor\tus\tto\tjudge\thim.\u201d But\t Melchett\t was\t Chief\t Constable\t of\t the\t County\t before\t anything\t else.\t The arguments\t that\t appealed\t to\t me\t had\t no\t weight\t with\t him.\t He\t had\t caught\t a murderer\tand\the\twanted\this\tmurderer\thanged. In\t one\t second\t he\t was\t at\t the\t telephone,\t jerking\t the\t receiver\t up\t and\t down impatiently\tuntil\the\tgot\ta\treply.\tHe\tasked\tfor\tHaydock\u2019s\tnumber.\tThen\tthere\twas a\t further\t pause\t during\t which\t he\t stood,\t his\t ear\t to\t the\t telephone\t and\t his\t eyes\t on the\tlimp\tfigure\tin\tthe\tchair. \u201cHallo\u2014hallo\u2014hallo\u2014is\t that\t Dr.\t Haydock\u2019s?\t Will\t the\t doctor\t come\t round at\t once\t to\t High\t Street?\t Mr.\t Hawes.\t It\u2019s\t urgent\t \u2026\t what\u2019s\t that?\u2026\t Well,\t what number\tis\tit\tthen?\u2026\tOh,\tsorry.\u201d He\trang\toff,\tfuming. \u201cWrong\tnumber,\twrong\tnumber\u2014always\twrong\tnumbers!\tAnd\ta\tman\u2019s\tlife hanging\t on\t it.\t HALLO\u2014you\t gave\t me\t the\t wrong\t number\t \u2026\t Yes\u2014don\u2019t\t waste time\u2014give\tme\tthree\tnine\u2014nine,\tnot\tfive.\u201d Another\tperiod\tof\timpatience\u2014shorter\tthis\ttime. \u201cHallo\u2014is\t that\t you,\t Haydock?\t Melchett\t speaking.\t Come\t to\t 19\t High\t Street at\t once,\t will\t you?\t Hawes\t has\t taken\t some\t kind\t of\t overdose.\t At\t once,\t man,\t it\u2019s vital.\u201d He\trang\toff,\tstrode\timpatiently\tup\tand\tdown\tthe\troom. \u201cWhy\t on\t earth\t you\t didn\u2019t\t get\t hold\t of\t the\t doctor\t at\t once,\t Clement,\t I\t cannot think.\tYour\twits\tmust\thave\tall\tgone\twool\tgathering.\u201d Fortunately\t it\t never\t occurs\t to\t Melchett\t that\t anyone\t can\t possibly\t have different\tideas\ton\tconduct\tto\tthose\the\tholds\thimself.\tI\tsaid\tnothing,\tand\the\twent on: \u201cWhere\tdid\tyou\tfind\tthis\tletter?\u201d \u201cCrumpled\ton\tthe\tfloor\u2014where\tit\thad\tfallen\tfrom\this\thand.\u201d \u201cExtraordinary\tbusiness\u2014that\told\tmaid\twas\tright\tabout\tits\tbeing\tthe\twrong note\twe\tfound.\tWonder\thow\tshe\ttumbled\tto\tthat.\tBut\twhat\tan\tass\tthe\tfellow\twas not\tto\tdestroy\tthis\tone.\tFancy\tkeeping\tit\u2014the\tmost\tdamaging\tevidence\tyou\tcan imagine!\u201d \u201cHuman\tnature\tis\tfull\tof\tinconsistencies.\u201d \u201cIf\t it\t weren\u2019t,\t I\t doubt\t if\t we\t should\t ever\t catch\t a\t murderer!\t Sooner\t or\t later they\t always\t do\t some\t fool\t thing.\t You\u2019re\t looking\t very\t under\t the\t weather, Clement.\tI\tsuppose\tthis\thas\tbeen\tthe\tmost\tawful\tshock\tto\tyou?\u201d \u201cIt\t has.\t As\t I\t say,\t Hawes\t has\t been\t queer\t in\t his\t manner\t for\t some\t time,\t but\t I never\tdreamed\u2014\u201d","\u201cWho\twould?\tHallo,\tthat\tsounds\tlike\ta\tcar.\u201d\tHe\twent\tacross\tto\tthe\twindow, pushing\tup\tthe\tsash\tand\tleaning\tout.\t\u201cYes,\tit\u2019s\tHaydock\tall\tright.\u201d A\tmoment\tlater\tthe\tdoctor\tentered\tthe\troom. In\ta\tfew\tsuccinct\twords,\tMelchett\texplained\tthe\tsituation. Haydock\t is\t not\t a\t man\t who\t ever\t shows\t his\t feelings.\t He\t merely\t raised\t his eyebrows,\t nodded,\t and\t strode\t across\t to\t his\t patient.\t He\t felt\t his\t pulse,\t raised\t the eyelid\tand\tlooked\tintently\tat\tthe\teye. Then\the\tturned\tto\tMelchett. \u201cWant\t to\t save\t him\t for\t the\t gallows?\u201d\t he\t asked.\t \u201cHe\u2019s\t pretty\t far\t gone,\t you know.\tIt\twill\tbe\ttouch\tand\tgo,\tanyway.\tI\tdoubt\tif\tI\tcan\tbring\thim\tround.\u201d \u201cDo\teverything\tpossible.\u201d \u201cRight.\u201d He\t busied\t himself\t with\t the\t case\t he\t had\t brought\t with\t him,\t preparing\t a hypodermic\tinjection\twhich\the\tinjected\tinto\tHawes\u2019s\tarm.\tThen\the\tstood\tup. \u201cBest\tthing\tis\tto\trun\thim\tinto\tMuch\tBenham\u2014to\tthe\thospital\tthere.\tGive\tme a\thand\tto\tget\thim\tdown\tto\tthe\tcar.\u201d We\t both\t lent\t our\t assistance.\t As\t Haydock\t climbed\t into\t the\t driving\t seat,\t he threw\ta\tparting\tremark\tover\this\tshoulder. \u201cYou\twon\u2019t\tbe\table\tto\thang\thim,\tyou\tknow,\tMelchett.\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\the\twon\u2019t\trecover?\u201d \u201cMay\tor\tmay\tnot.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\tthat.\tI\tmean\tthat\teven\tif\the\tdoes\trecover\u2014 well,\t the\t poor\t devil\t wasn\u2019t\t responsible\t for\t his\t actions.\t I\t shall\t give\t evidence\t to that\teffect.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\the\tmean\tby\tthat?\u201d\tasked\tMelchett\tas\twe\twent\tupstairs\tagain. I\texplained\tthat\tHawes\thad\tbeen\ta\tvictim\tof\tencephalitis\tlethargica. \u201cSleepy\t sickness,\t eh?\t Always\t some\t good\t reason\t nowadays\t for\t every\t dirty action\tthat\u2019s\tdone.\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tagree?\u201d \u201cScience\tis\tteaching\tus\ta\tlot.\u201d \u201cScience\t be\t damned\u2014I\t beg\t your\t pardon,\t Clement;\t but\t all\t this\t namby pambyism\tannoys\tme.\tI\u2019m\ta\tplan\tman.\tWell,\tI\tsuppose\twe\u2019d\tbetter\thave\ta\tlook round\there.\u201d But\tat\tthis\tmoment\tthere\twas\tan\tinterruption\u2014and\ta\tmost\tamazing\tone.\tThe door\topened\tand\tMiss\tMarple\twalked\tinto\tthe\troom. She\t was\t pink\t and\t somewhat\t flustered,\t and\t seemed\t to\t realize\t our\t condition of\tbewilderment. \u201cSo\tsorry\u2014so\tvery\tsorry\u2014to\tintrude\u2014good\tevening,\tColonel\tMelchett.\tAs I\tsay,\tI\tam\tso\tsorry,\tbut\thearing\tthat\tMr.\tHawes\twas\ttaken\till,\tI\tfelt\tI\tmust\tcome round\tand\tsee\tif\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tdo\tsomething.\u201d She\t paused.\t Colonel\t Melchett\t was\t regarding\t her\t in\t a\t somewhat\t disgusted","fashion. \u201cVery\t kind\t of\t you,\t Miss\t Marple,\u201d\t he\t said\t dryly.\t \u201cBut\t no\t need\t to\t trouble. How\tdid\tyou\tknow,\tby\tthe\tway?\u201d It\twas\tthe\tquestion\tI\thad\tbeen\tyearning\tto\task! \u201cThe\t telephone,\u201d\t explained\t Miss\t Marple.\t \u201cSo\t careless\t with\t their\t wrong numbers,\t aren\u2019t\t they?\t You\t spoke\t to\t me\t first,\t thinking\t I\t was\t Dr.\t Haydock.\t My number\tis\tthree\tfive.\u201d \u201cSo\tthat\twas\tit!\u201d\tI\texclaimed. There\t is\t always\t some\t perfectly\t good\t and\t reasonable\t explanation\t for\t Miss Marple\u2019s\tomniscience. \u201cAnd\tso,\u201d\tshe\tcontinued.\t\u201cI\tjust\tcame\tround\tto\tsee\tif\tI\tcould\tbe\tof\tany\tuse.\u201d \u201cVery\t kind\t of\t you,\u201d\t said\t Melchett\t again,\t even\t more\t dryly\t this\t time.\t \u201cBut nothing\tto\tbe\tdone.\tHaydock\u2019s\ttaken\thim\toff\tto\thospital.\u201d \u201cActually\tto\thospital?\tOh,\tthat\u2019s\ta\tgreat\trelief!\tI\tam\tso\tvery\tglad\tto\thear\tit. He\u2019ll\t be\t quite\t safe\t there.\t When\t you\t say\t \u2018nothing\t to\t be\t done,\u2019\t you\t don\u2019t\t mean that\the\twon\u2019t\trecover?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tvery\tdoubtful,\u201d\tI\tsaid. Miss\tMarple\u2019s\teyes\thad\tgone\tto\tthe\tcachet\tbox. \u201cI\tsuppose\the\ttook\tan\toverdose?\u201d\tshe\tsaid. Melchett,\tI\tthink,\twas\tin\tfavour\tof\tbeing\treticent.\tPerhaps\tI\tmight\thave\tbeen under\tother\tcircumstances.\tBut\tmy\tdiscussion\tof\tthe\tcase\twith\tMiss\tMarple\twas too\tfresh\tin\tmy\tmind\tfor\tme\tto\thave\tthe\tsame\tview,\tthough\tI\tmust\tadmit\tthat\ther rapid\tappearance\ton\tthe\tscene\tand\teager\tcuriosity\trepelled\tme\tslightly. \u201cYou\thad\tbetter\tlook\tat\tthis,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tand\thanded\ther\tProtheroe\u2019s\tunfinished letter. She\ttook\tit\tand\tread\tit\twithout\tany\tappearance\tof\tsurprise. \u201cYou\thad\talready\tdeduced\tsomething\tof\tthe\tkind,\thad\tyou\tnot?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cYes\u2014yes,\tindeed.\tMay\tI\task\tyou,\tMr.\tClement,\twhat\tmade\tyou\tcome\there this\tevening?\tThat\tis\ta\tpoint\twhich\tpuzzles\tme.\tYou\tand\tColonel\tMelchett\u2014not at\tall\twhat\tI\tshould\thave\texpected.\u201d I\t explained\t the\t telephone\t call\t and\t that\t I\t believed\t I\t had\t recognized\t Hawes\u2019s voice.\tMiss\tMarple\tnodded\tthoughtfully. \u201cVery\tinteresting.\tVery\tprovidential\u2014if\tI\tmay\tuse\tthe\tterm.\tYes,\tit\tbrought you\there\tin\tthe\tnick\tof\ttime.\u201d \u201cIn\tthe\tnick\tof\ttime\tfor\twhat?\u201d\tI\tsaid\tbitterly. Miss\tMarple\tlooked\tsurprised. \u201cTo\tsave\tMr.\tHawes\u2019s\tlife,\tof\tcourse.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t think,\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cthat\t it\t might\t be\t better\t if\t Hawes\t didn\u2019t\t recover? Better\tfor\thim\u2014better\tfor\teveryone.\tWe\tknow\tthe\ttruth\tnow\tand\u2014\u201d","I\t stopped\u2014for\t Miss\t Marple\t was\t nodding\t her\t head\t with\t such\t a\t peculiar vehemence\tthat\tit\tmade\tme\tlose\tthe\tthread\tof\twhat\tI\twas\tsaying. \u201cOf\t course,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cOf\t course!\t That\u2019s\t what\t he\t wants\t you\t to\t think!\t That you\tknow\tthe\ttruth\u2014and\tthat\tit\u2019s\tbest\tfor\teveryone\tas\tit\tis.\tOh,\tyes,\tit\tall\tfits\tin \u2014the\t letter,\t and\t the\t overdose,\t and\t poor\t Mr.\t Hawes\u2019s\t state\t of\t mind\t and\t his confession.\tIt\tall\tfits\tin\u2014but\tit\u2019s\twrong\u2026.\u201d We\tstared\tat\ther. \u201cThat\u2019s\twhy\tI\tam\tso\tglad\tMr.\tHawes\tis\tsafe\u2014in\thospital\u2014where\tno\tone\tcan get\tat\thim.\tIf\the\trecovers,\the\u2019ll\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth.\u201d \u201cThe\ttruth?\u201d \u201cYes\u2014that\the\tnever\ttouched\ta\thair\tof\tColonel\tProtheroe\u2019s\thead.\u201d \u201cBut\tthe\ttelephone\tcall,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cThe\tletter\u2014the\toverdose.\tIt\u2019s\tall\tso\tclear.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\twhat\the\twants\tyou\tto\tthink.\tOh,\the\u2019s\tvery\tclever!\tKeeping\tthe\tletter and\tusing\tit\tthis\tway\twas\tvery\tclever\tindeed.\u201d \u201cWho\tdo\tyou\tmean,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cby\t\u2018he\u2019?\u201d \u201cI\tmean\tthe\tmurderer,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple. She\tadded\tvery\tquietly: \u201cI\tmean\tMr.\tLawrence\tRedding\u2026.\u201d","Thirty \t We\tstared\tat\ther.\tI\treally\tthink\tthat\tfor\ta\tmoment\tor\ttwo\twe\treally\tbelieved\tshe was\tout\tof\ther\tmind.\tThe\taccusation\tseemed\tso\tutterly\tpreposterous. Colonel\tMelchett\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tspeak.\tHe\tspoke\tkindly\tand\twith\ta\tkind\tof pitying\ttolerance. \u201cThat\t is\t absurd,\t Miss\t Marple,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cYoung\t Redding\t has\t been completely\tcleared.\u201d \u201cNaturally,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cHe\tsaw\tto\tthat.\u201d \u201cOn\t the\t contrary,\u201d\t said\t Colonel\t Melchett\t dryly.\t \u201cHe\t did\t his\t best\t to\t get himself\taccused\tof\tthe\tmurder.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\t said\t Miss\t Marple.\t \u201cHe\t took\t us\t all\t in\t that\t way\u2014myself\t as\t much\t as anyone\telse.\tYou\twill\tremember,\tdear\tMr.\tClement,\tthat\tI\twas\tquite\ttaken\taback when\tI\theard\tMr.\tRedding\thad\tconfessed\tto\tthe\tcrime.\tIt\tupset\tall\tmy\tideas\tand made\tme\tthink\thim\tinnocent\u2014when\tup\tto\tthen\tI\thad\tfelt\tconvinced\tthat\the\twas guilty.\u201d \u201cThen\tit\twas\tLawrence\tRedding\tyou\tsuspected?\u201d \u201cI\tknow\tthat\tin\tbooks\tit\tis\talways\tthe\tmost\tunlikely\tperson.\tBut\tI\tnever\tfind that\trule\tapplies\tin\treal\tlife.\tThere\tit\tis\tso\toften\tthe\tobvious\tthat\tis\ttrue.\tMuch\tas I\thave\talways\tliked\tMrs.\tProtheroe,\tI\tcould\tnot\tavoid\tcoming\tto\tthe\tconclusion that\t she\t was\t completely\t under\t Mr.\t Redding\u2019s\t thumb\t and\t would\t do\t anything\t he told\t her,\t and,\t of\t course,\t he\t is\t not\t the\t kind\t of\t young\t man\t who\t would\t dream\t of running\taway\twith\ta\tpenniless\twoman.\tFrom\this\tpoint\tof\tview\tit\twas\tnecessary that\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t should\t be\t removed\u2014and\t so\t he\t removed\t him.\t One\t of those\tcharming\tyoung\tmen\twho\thave\tno\tmoral\tsense.\u201d Colonel\t Melchett\t had\t been\t snorting\t impatiently\t for\t some\t time.\t Now\t he broke\tout. \u201cAbsolute\tnonsense\u2014the\twhole\tthing!\tRedding\u2019s\ttime\tis\tfully\taccounted\tfor up\tto\t6:50\tand\tHaydock\tsays\tpositively\tProtheroe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tshot\tthen.\tI suppose\t you\t think\t you\t know\t better\t than\t a\t doctor.\t Or\t do\t you\t suggest\t that Haydock\tis\tdeliberately\tlying\u2014the\tLord\tknows\twhy?\u201d","\u201cI\tthink\tDr.\tHaydock\u2019s\tevidence\twas\tabsolutely\ttruthful.\tHe\tis\ta\tvery\tupright man.\tAnd,\tof\tcourse,\tit\twas\tMrs.\tProtheroe\twho\tactually\tshot\tColonel\tProtheroe \u2014not\tMr.\tRedding.\u201d Again\t we\t stared\t at\t her.\t Miss\t Marple\t arranged\t her\t lace\t fichu,\t pushed\t back the\t fleecy\t shawl\t that\t draped\t her\t shoulders,\t and\t began\t to\t deliver\t a\t gentle\t old- maidish\t lecture\t comprising\t the\t most\t astounding\t statements\t in\t the\t most\t natural way\tin\tthe\tworld. \u201cI\t have\t not\t thought\t it\t right\t to\t speak\t until\t now.\t One\u2019s\t own\t belief\u2014even\t so strong\tas\tto\tamount\tto\tknowledge\u2014is\tnot\tthe\tsame\tas\tproof.\tAnd\tunless\tone\thas an\texplanation\tthat\twill\tfit\tall\tthe\tfacts\t(as\tI\twas\tsaying\tto\tdear\tMr.\tClement\tthis evening)\t one\t cannot\t advance\t it\t with\t any\t real\t conviction.\t And\t my\t own explanation\twas\tnot\tquite\tcomplete\u2014it\tlacked\tjust\tone\tthing\u2014but\tsuddenly,\tjust as\t I\t was\t leaving\t Mr.\t Clement\u2019s\t study,\t I\t noticed\t the\t palm\t in\t the\t pot\t by\t the window\u2014and\u2014well,\tthere\tthe\twhole\tthing\twas!\tClear\tas\tdaylight!\u201d \u201cMad\u2014quite\tmad,\u201d\tmurmured\tMelchett\tto\tme. But\t Miss\t Marple\t beamed\t on\t us\t serenely\t and\t went\t on\t in\t her\t gentle\t ladylike voice. \u201cI\t was\t very\t sorry\t to\t believe\t what\t I\t did\u2014very\t sorry.\t Because\t I\t liked\t them both.\tBut\tyou\tknow\twhat\thuman\tnature\tis.\tAnd\tto\tbegin\twith,\twhen\tfirst\the\tand then\tshe\tboth\tconfessed\tin\tthe\tmost\tfoolish\tway\u2014well,\tI\twas\tmore\trelieved\tthan I\t could\t say.\t I\t had\t been\t wrong.\t And\t I\t began\t to\t think\t of\t other\t people\t who\t had\t a possible\tmotive\tfor\twishing\tColonel\tProtheroe\tout\tof\tthe\tway.\u201d \u201cThe\tseven\tsuspects!\u201d\tI\tmurmured. She\tsmiled\tat\tme. \u201cYes,\tindeed.\tThere\twas\tthat\tman\tArcher\u2014not\tlikely,\tbut\tprimed\twith\tdrink (so\tinflaming)\tyou\tnever\tknow.\tAnd,\tof\tcourse,\tthere\twas\tyour\tMary.\tShe\u2019s\tbeen walking\t out\t with\t Archer\t a\t long\t time,\t and\t she\u2019s\t a\t queer-tempered\t girl.\t Motive and\t opportunity\u2014why,\t she\t was\t alone\t in\t the\t house!\t Old\t Mrs.\t Archer\t could easily\thave\tgot\tthe\tpistol\tfrom\tMr.\tRedding\u2019s\thouse\tfor\teither\tof\tthose\ttwo.\tAnd then,\t of\t course,\t there\t was\t Lettice\u2014wanting\t freedom\t and\t money\t to\t do\t as\t she liked.\t I\u2019ve\t known\t many\t cases\t where\t the\t most\t beautiful\t and\t ethereal\t girls\t have shown\t next\t to\t no\t moral\t scruple\u2014though,\t of\t course,\t gentlemen\t never\t wish\t to believe\tit\tof\tthem.\u201d I\twinced. \u201cAnd\tthen\tthere\twas\tthe\ttennis\tracquet,\u201d\tcontinued\tMiss\tMarple. \u201cThe\ttennis\tracquet?\u201d \u201cYes,\t the\t one\t Mrs.\t Price\t Ridley\u2019s\t Clara\t saw\t lying\t on\t the\t grass\t by\t the Vicarage\t gate.\t That\t looked\t as\t though\t Mr.\t Dennis\t had\t got\t back\t earlier\t from\t his tennis\t party\t than\t he\t said.\t Boys\t of\t sixteen\t are\t so\t very\t susceptible\t and\t so\t very","unbalanced.\t Whatever\t the\t motive\u2014for\t Lettice\u2019s\t sake\t or\t for\t yours,\t it\t was\t a possibility.\tAnd\tthen,\tof\tcourse,\tthere\twas\tpoor\tMr.\tHawes\tand\tyou\u2014not\tboth\tof you\tnaturally\u2014but\talternatively,\tas\tthe\tlawyers\tsay.\u201d \u201cMe?\u201d\tI\texclaimed\tin\tlively\tastonishment. \u201cWell,\t yes.\t I\t do\t apologize\u2014and\t indeed\t I\t never\t really\t thought\u2014but\t there was\tthe\tquestion\tof\tthose\tdisappearing\tsums\tof\tmoney.\tEither\tyou\tor\tMr.\tHawes must\t be\t guilty,\t and\t Mrs.\t Price\t Ridley\t was\t going\t about\t everywhere\t hinting\t that you\twere\tthe\tperson\tin\tfault\u2014principally\tbecause\tyou\tobjected\tso\tvigorously\tto any\tkind\tof\tinquiry\tinto\tthe\tmatter.\tOf\tcourse,\tI\tmyself\twas\talways\tconvinced\tit was\t Mr.\t Hawes\u2014he\t reminded\t me\t so\t much\t of\t that\t unfortunate\t organist\t I mentioned;\tbut\tall\tthe\tsame\tone\tcouldn\u2019t\tbe\tabsolutely\tsure\u2014\u201d \u201cHuman\tnature\tbeing\twhat\tit\tis,\u201d\tI\tended\tgrimly. \u201cExactly.\tAnd\tthen,\tof\tcourse,\tthere\twas\tdear\tGriselda.\u201d \u201cBut\t Mrs.\t Clement\t was\t completely\t out\t of\t it,\u201d\t interrupted\t Melchett.\t \u201cShe returned\tby\tthe\t6:50\ttrain.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\twhat\tshe\tsaid,\u201d\tretorted\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cOne\tshould\tnever\tgo\tby\twhat people\tsay.\tThe\t6:50\twas\thalf\tan\thour\tlate\tthat\tnight.\tBut\tat\ta\tquarter\tpast\tseven I\t saw\t her\t with\t my\t own\t eyes\t starting\t for\t Old\t Hall.\t So\t it\t followed\t that\t she\t must have\t come\t by\t the\t earlier\t train.\t Indeed\t she\t was\t seen;\t but\t perhaps\t you\t know that?\u201d She\tlooked\tat\tme\tinquiringly. Some\tmagnetism\tin\ther\tglance\timpelled\tme\tto\thold\tout\tthe\tlast\tanonymous letter,\tthe\tone\tI\thad\topened\tso\tshort\ta\ttime\tago.\tIt\tset\tout\tin\tdetail\tthat\tGriselda had\t been\t seen\t leaving\t Lawrence\t Redding\u2019s\t cottage\t by\t the\t back\t window\t at twenty\tpast\tsix\ton\tthe\tfatal\tday. I\tsaid\tnothing\tthen\tor\tat\tany\ttime\tof\tthe\tdreadful\tsuspicion\tthat\thad\tfor\tone moment\t assailed\t my\t mind.\t I\t had\t seen\t it\t in\t nightmare\t terms\u2014a\t past\t intrigue between\tLawrence\tand\tGriselda,\tthe\tknowledge\tof\tit\tcoming\tto\tProtheroe\u2019s\tears, his\t decision\t to\t make\t me\t acquainted\t with\t the\t facts\u2014and\t Griselda,\t desperate, stealing\t the\t pistol\t and\t silencing\t Protheroe.\t As\t I\t say\u2014a\t nightmare\t only\u2014but invested\tfor\ta\tfew\tlong\tminutes\twith\ta\tdreadful\tappearance\tof\treality. I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhether\tMiss\tMarple\thad\tany\tinkling\tof\tall\tthis.\tVery\tprobably she\thad.\tFew\tthings\tare\thidden\tfrom\ther. She\thanded\tme\tback\tthe\tnote\twith\ta\tlittle\tnod. \u201cThat\u2019s\t been\t all\t over\t the\t village,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cAnd\t it\t did\t look\t rather suspicious,\t didn\u2019t\t it?\t Especially\t with\t Mrs.\t Archer\t swearing\t at\t the\t inquest\t that the\tpistol\twas\tstill\tin\tthe\tcottage\twhen\tshe\tleft\tat\tmidday.\u201d She\tpaused\ta\tminute\tand\tthen\twent\ton. \u201cBut\tI\u2019m\twandering\tterribly\tfrom\tthe\tpoint.\tWhat\tI\twant\tto\tsay\u2014and\tbelieve","it\t my\t duty\u2014is\t to\t put\t my\t own\t explanation\t of\t the\t mystery\t before\t you.\t If\t you don\u2019t\t believe\t it\u2014well,\t I\t shall\t have\t done\t my\t best.\t Even\t as\t it\t is,\t my\t wish\t to\t be quite\tsure\tbefore\tI\tspoke\tmay\thave\tcost\tpoor\tMr.\tHawes\this\tlife.\u201d Again\tshe\tpaused,\tand\twhen\tshe\tresumed,\ther\tvoice\theld\ta\tdifferent\tnote.\tIt was\tless\tapologetic,\tmore\tdecided. \u201cThat\tis\tmy\town\texplanation\tof\tthe\tfacts.\tBy\tThursday\tafternoon\tthe\tcrime had\t been\t fully\t planned\t down\t to\t the\t smallest\t detail.\t Lawrence\t Redding\t first called\ton\tthe\tVicar,\tknowing\thim\tto\tbe\tout.\tHe\thad\twith\thim\tthe\tpistol\twhich\the concealed\t in\t that\t pot\t in\t the\t stand\t by\t the\t window.\t When\t the\t Vicar\t came\t in, Lawrence\texplained\this\tvisit\tby\ta\tstatement\tthat\the\thad\tmade\tup\this\tmind\tto\tgo away.\tAt\tfive\tthirty,\tLawrence\tRedding\ttelephoned\tfrom\tthe\tNorth\tLodge\tto\tthe Vicar,\tadopting\ta\twoman\u2019s\tvoice\t(you\tremember\twhat\ta\tgood\tamateur\tactor\the was). \u201cMrs.\t Protheroe\t and\t her\t husband\t had\t just\t started\t for\t the\t village.\t And\u2014a very\t curious\t thing\t (though\t no\t one\t happened\t to\t think\t of\t it\t that\t way)\u2014Mrs. Protheroe\ttook\tno\thandbag\twith\ther.\tReally\ta\tmost\tunusual\tthing\tfor\ta\twoman\tto do.\tJust\tbefore\ttwenty\tpast\tsix\tshe\tpasses\tmy\tgarden\tand\tstops\tand\tspeaks,\tso\tas to\t give\t me\t every\t opportunity\t of\t noticing\t that\t she\t has\t no\t weapon\t with\t her\t and also\tthat\tshe\tis\tquite\ther\tnormal\tself.\tThey\trealized,\tyou\tsee,\tthat\tI\tam\ta\tnoticing kind\t of\t person.\t She\t disappears\t round\t the\t corner\t of\t the\t house\t to\t the\t study window.\t The\t poor\t Colonel\t is\t sitting\t at\t the\t desk\t writing\t his\t letter\t to\t you.\t He\t is deaf,\tas\twe\tall\tknow.\tShe\ttakes\tthe\tpistol\tfrom\tthe\tbowl\twhere\tit\tis\twaiting\tfor her,\t comes\t up\t behind\t him\t and\t shoots\t him\t through\t the\t head,\t throws\t down\t the pistol\t and\t is\t out\t again\t like\t a\t flash,\t and\t going\t down\t the\t garden\t to\t the\t studio. Nearly\tanyone\twould\tswear\tthat\tthere\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\ttime!\u201d \u201cBut\tthe\tshot?\u201d\tobjected\tthe\tColonel.\t\u201cYou\tdidn\u2019t\thear\tthe\tshot?\u201d \u201cThere\tis,\tI\tbelieve,\tan\tinvention\tcalled\ta\tMaxim\tsilencer.\tSo\tI\tgather\tfrom detective\t stories.\t I\t wonder\t if,\t possibly,\t the\t sneeze\t that\t the\t maid,\t Clara,\t heard might\t have\t actually\t been\t the\t shot?\t But\t no\t matter.\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t is\t met\t at\t the studio\tby\tMr.\tRedding.\tThey\tgo\tin\ttogether\u2014and,\thuman\tnature\tbeing\twhat\tit\tis, I\u2019m\tafraid\tthey\trealize\tthat\tI\tshan\u2019t\tleave\tthe\tgarden\ttill\tthey\tcome\tout\tagain!\u201d I\thad\tnever\tliked\tMiss\tMarple\tbetter\tthan\tat\tthis\tmoment,\twith\ther\thumorous perception\tof\ther\town\tweakness. \u201cWhen\tthey\tdo\tcome\tout,\ttheir\tdemeanour\tis\tgay\tand\tnatural.\tAnd\tthere,\tin reality,\t they\t made\t a\t mistake.\t Because\t if\t they\t had\t really\t said\t good-bye\t to\t each other,\t as\t they\t pretended,\t they\t would\t have\t looked\t very\t different.\t But\t you\t see, that\twas\ttheir\tweak\tpoint.\tThey\tsimply\tdare\tnot\tappear\tupset\tin\tany\tway.\tFor\tthe next\t ten\t minutes\t they\t are\t careful\t to\t provide\t themselves\t with\t what\t is\t called\t an alibi,\tI\tbelieve.\tFinally\tMr.\tRedding\tgoes\tto\tthe\tVicarage,\tleaving\tit\tas\tlate\tas\the","dares.\tHe\tprobably\tsaw\tyou\ton\tthe\tfootpath\tfrom\tfar\taway\tand\twas\table\tto\ttime matters\t nicely.\t He\t picks\t up\t the\t pistol\t and\t the\t silencer,\t leaves\t the\t forged\t letter with\t the\t time\t on\t it\t written\t in\t a\t different\t ink\t and\t apparently\t in\t a\t different handwriting.\tWhen\tthe\tforgery\tis\tdiscovered\tit\twill\tlook\tlike\ta\tclumsy\tattempt\tto incriminate\tAnne\tProtheroe. \u201cBut\twhen\the\tleaves\tthe\tletter,\the\tfinds\tthe\tone\tactually\twritten\tby\tColonel Protheroe\u2014something\t quite\t unexpected.\t And\t being\t a\t very\t intelligent\t young man,\tand\tseeing\tthat\tthis\tletter\tmay\tcome\tin\tvery\tuseful\tto\thim,\the\ttakes\tit\taway with\t him.\t He\t alters\t the\t hands\t of\t the\t clock\t to\t the\t same\t time\t as\t the\t letter\u2014 knowing\tthat\tit\tis\talways\tkept\ta\tquarter\tof\tan\thour\tfast.\tThe\tsame\tidea\u2014attempt to\t throw\t suspicion\t on\t Mrs.\t Protheroe.\t Then\t he\t leaves,\t meeting\t you\t outside\t the gate,\tand\tacting\tthe\tpart\tof\tsomeone\tnearly\tdistraught.\tAs\tI\tsay,\the\tis\treally\tmost intelligent.\t What\t would\t a\t murderer\t who\t had\t committed\t a\t crime\t try\t to\t do? Behave\t naturally,\t of\t course.\t So\t that\t is\t just\t what\t Mr.\t Redding\t does\t not\t do.\t He gets\t rid\t of\t the\t silencer,\t but\t marches\t into\t the\t police\t station\t with\t the\t pistol\t and makes\ta\tperfectly\tridiculous\tself-accusation\twhich\ttakes\teverybody\tin.\u201d There\t was\t something\t fascinating\t in\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t resum\u00e9\t of\t the\t case.\t She spoke\twith\tsuch\tcertainty\tthat\twe\tboth\tfelt\tthat\tin\tthis\tway\tand\tin\tno\tother\tcould the\tcrime\thave\tbeen\tcommitted. \u201cWhat\tabout\tthe\tshot\theard\tin\tthe\twood?\u201d\tI\tasked.\t\u201cWas\tthat\tthe\tcoincidence to\twhich\tyou\twere\treferring\tearlier\tthis\tevening?\u201d \u201cOh,\t dear,\t no!\u201d\t Miss\t Marple\t shook\t her\t head\t briskly.\t \u201cThat\t wasn\u2019t\t a coincidence\u2014very\tfar\tfrom\tit.\tIt\twas\tabsolutely\tnecessary\tthat\ta\tshot\tshould\tbe heard\u2014otherwise\t suspicion\t of\t Mrs.\t Protheroe\t might\t have\t continued.\t How\t Mr. Redding\t arranged\t it,\t I\t don\u2019t\t quite\t know.\t But\t I\t understand\t that\t picric\t acid explodes\tif\tyou\tdrop\ta\tweight\ton\tit,\tand\tyou\twill\tremember,\tdear\tVicar,\tthat\tyou met\t Mr.\t Redding\t carrying\t a\t large\t stone\t just\t in\t the\t part\t of\t the\t wood\t where\t you picked\t up\t that\t crystal\t later.\t Gentlemen\t are\t so\t clever\t at\t arranging\t things\u2014the stone\t suspended\t above\t the\t crystals\t and\t then\t a\t time\t fuse\u2014or\t do\t I\t mean\t a\t slow match?\t Something\t that\t would\t take\t about\t twenty\t minutes\t to\t burn\t through\u2014so that\tthe\texplosion\twould\tcome\tabout\t6:30\twhen\the\tand\tMrs.\tProtheroe\thad\tcome out\tof\tthe\tstudio\tand\twere\tin\tfull\tview.\tA\tvery\tsafe\tdevice\tbecause\twhat\twould there\tbe\tto\tfind\tafterwards\u2014only\ta\tbig\tstone!\tBut\teven\tthat\the\ttried\tto\tremove\u2014 when\tyou\tcame\tupon\thim.\u201d \u201cI\t believe\t you\t are\t right,\u201d\t I\t exclaimed,\t remembering\t the\t start\t of\t surprise Lawrence\thad\tgiven\ton\tseeing\tme\tthat\tday.\tIt\thad\tseemed\tnatural\tenough\tat\tthe time,\tbut\tnow\u2026. Miss\tMarple\tseemed\tto\tread\tmy\tthoughts,\tfor\tshe\tnodded\ther\thead\tshrewdly. \u201cYes,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201cit\t must\t have\t been\t a\t very\t nasty\t shock\t for\t him\t to\t come","across\tyou\tjust\tthen.\tBut\the\tturned\tit\toff\tvery\twell\u2014pretending\the\twas\tbringing it\t to\t me\t for\t my\t rock\t gardens.\t Only\u2014\u201d\t Miss\t Marple\t became\t suddenly\t very emphatic.\t\u201cIt\twas\tthe\twrong\tsort\tof\tstone\tfor\tmy\trock\tgardens!\tAnd\tthat\tput\tme on\tthe\tright\ttrack!\u201d All\t this\t time\t Colonel\t Melchett\t had\t sat\t like\t a\t man\t in\t a\t trance.\t Now\t he showed\t signs\t of\t coming\t to.\t He\t snorted\t once\t or\t twice,\t blew\t his\t nose\t in\t a bewildered\tfashion,\tand\tsaid:\t\u201cUpon\tmy\tword!\tWell,\tupon\tmy\tword!\u201d Beyond\t that,\t he\t did\t not\t commit\t himself.\t I\t think\t that\t he,\t like\t myself,\t was impressed\t with\t the\t logical\t certainty\t of\t Miss\t Marple\u2019s\t conclusions.\t But\t for\t the moment\the\twas\tnot\twilling\tto\tadmit\tit. Instead,\t he\t stretched\t out\t a\t hand,\t picked\t up\t the\t crumpled\t letter\t and\t barked out: \u201cAll\t very\t well.\t But\t how\t do\t you\t account\t for\t this\t fellow\t Hawes!\t Why,\t he actually\trang\tup\tand\tconfessed.\u201d \u201cYes,\t that\t was\t what\t was\t so\t providential.\t The\t Vicar\u2019s\t sermon,\t doubtless. You\tknow,\tdear\tMr.\tClement,\tyou\treally\tpreached\ta\tmost\tremarkable\tsermon.\tIt must\t have\t affected\t Mr.\t Hawes\t deeply.\t He\t could\t bear\t it\t no\t longer,\t and\t felt\t he must\tconfess\u2014about\tthe\tmisappropriations\tof\tthe\tchurch\tfunds.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d \u201cYes\u2014and\tthat,\tunder\tProvidence,\tis\twhat\thas\tsaved\this\tlife.\t(For\tI\thope\tand trust\tit\tis\tsaved.\tDr.\tHaydock\tis\tso\tclever.)\tAs\tI\tsee\tthe\tmatter,\tMr.\tRedding\tkept this\t letter\t (a\t risky\t thing\t to\t do,\t but\t I\t expect\t he\t hid\t it\t in\t some\t safe\t place)\t and waited\ttill\the\tfound\tout\tfor\tcertain\tto\twhom\tit\treferred.\tHe\tsoon\tmade\tquite\tsure that\t it\t was\t Mr.\t Hawes.\t I\t understand\t he\t came\t back\t here\t with\t Mr.\t Hawes\t last night\tand\tspent\ta\tlong\ttime\twith\thim.\tI\tsuspect\tthat\the\tthen\tsubstituted\ta\tcachet of\t his\t own\t for\t one\t of\t Mr.\t Hawes\u2019s,\t and\t slipped\t this\t letter\t in\t the\t pocket\t of\t Mr. Hawes\u2019s\tdressing\tgown.\tThe\tpoor\tyoung\tman\twould\tswallow\tthe\tfatal\tcachet\tin all\t innocence\u2014after\t his\t death\t his\t things\t would\t be\t gone\t through\t and\t the\t letter found\t and\t everyone\t would\t jump\t to\t the\t conclusion\t that\t he\t had\t shot\t Colonel Protheroe\tand\ttaken\this\town\tlife\tout\tof\tremorse.\tI\trather\tfancy\tMr.\tHawes\tmust have\tfound\tthat\tletter\ttonight\tjust\tafter\ttaking\tthe\tfatal\tcachet.\tIn\this\tdisordered state,\t it\t must\t have\t seemed\t like\t something\t supernatural,\t and,\t coming\t on\t top\t of the\tVicar\u2019s\tsermon,\tit\tmust\thave\timpelled\thim\tto\tconfess\tthe\twhole\tthing.\u201d \u201cUpon\t my\t word,\u201d\t said\t Colonel\t Melchett.\t \u201cUpon\t my\t word!\t Most extraordinary!\tI\u2014I\u2014don\u2019t\tbelieve\ta\tword\tof\tit.\u201d He\t had\t never\t made\t a\t statement\t that\t sounded\t more\t unconvincing.\t It\t must have\tsounded\tso\tin\this\town\tears,\tfor\the\twent\ton: \u201cAnd\tcan\tyou\texplain\tthe\tother\ttelephone\tcall\u2014the\tone\tfrom\tMr.\tRedding\u2019s cottage\tto\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley?\u201d","\u201cAh!\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cThat\tis\twhat\tI\tcall\tthe\tcoincidence.\tDear\tGriselda sent\t that\t call\u2014she\t and\t Mr.\t Dennis\t between\t them,\t I\t fancy.\t They\t had\t heard\t the rumours\tMrs.\tPrice\tRidley\twas\tcirculating\tabout\tthe\tVicar,\tand\tthey\tthought\tof this\t (perhaps\t rather\t childish)\t way\t of\t silencing\t her.\t The\t coincidence\t lies\t in\t the fact\t that\t the\t call\t should\t have\t been\t put\t through\t at\t exactly\t the\t same\t time\t as\t the fake\tshot\tfrom\tthe\twood.\tIt\tled\tone\tto\tbelieve\tthat\tthe\ttwo\tmust\tbe\tconnected.\u201d I\tsuddenly\tremembered\thow\teveryone\twho\tspoke\tof\tthat\tshot\thad\tdescribed it\t as\t \u201cdifferent\u201d\t from\t the\t usual\t shot.\t They\t had\t been\t right.\t Yet\t how\t hard\t to explain\tjust\tin\twhat\tway\tthe\t\u201cdifference\u201d\tof\tthe\tshot\tconsisted. Colonel\tMelchett\tcleared\this\tthroat. \u201cYour\tsolution\tis\ta\tvery\tplausible\tone,\tMiss\tMarple,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\tyou\twill allow\tme\tto\tpoint\tout\tthat\tthere\tis\tnot\ta\tshadow\tof\tproof.\u201d \u201cI\tknow,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple.\t\u201cBut\tyou\tbelieve\tit\tto\tbe\ttrue,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u201d There\twas\ta\tpause,\tthen\tthe\tColonel\tsaid\talmost\treluctantly: \u201cYes,\tI\tdo.\tDash\tit\tall,\tit\u2019s\tthe\tonly\tway\tthe\tthing\tcould\thave\thappened.\tBut there\u2019s\tno\tproof\u2014not\tan\tatom.\u201d Miss\tMarple\tcoughed. \u201cThat\tis\twhy\tI\tthought\tperhaps\tunder\tthe\tcircumstances\u2014\u201d \u201cYes?\u201d \u201cA\tlittle\ttrap\tmight\tbe\tpermissable.\u201d","Thirty-one \t Colonel\tMelchett\tand\tI\tboth\tstared\tat\ther. \u201cA\ttrap?\tWhat\tkind\tof\ta\ttrap?\u201d Miss\t Marple\t was\t a\t little\t diffident,\t but\t it\t was\t clear\t that\t she\t had\t a\t plan\t fully outlined. \u201cSupposing\tMr.\tRedding\twere\tto\tbe\trung\tup\ton\tthe\ttelephone\tand\twarned.\u201d Colonel\tMelchett\tsmiled. \u201c\u2018All\t is\t discovered.\t Fly!\u2019\t That\u2019s\t an\t old\t wheeze,\t Miss\t Marple.\t Not\t that\t it isn\u2019t\toften\tsuccessful!\tBut\tI\tthink\tin\tthis\tcase\tyoung\tRedding\tis\ttoo\tdowny\ta\tbird to\tbe\tcaught\tthat\tway.\u201d \u201cIt\t would\t have\t to\t be\t something\t specific.\t I\t quite\t realize\t that,\u201d\t said\t Miss Marple.\t \u201cI\t would\t suggest\u2014this\t is\t just\t a\t mere\t suggestion\u2014that\t the\t warning should\t come\t from\t somebody\t who\t is\t known\t to\t have\t rather\t unusual\t views\t on these\tmatters.\tDr.\tHaydock\u2019s\tconversation\twould\tlead\tanyone\tto\tsuppose\tthat\the might\tview\tsuch\ta\tthing\tas\tmurder\tfrom\tan\tunusual\tangle.\tIf\the\twere\tto\thint\tthat somebody\u2014Mrs.\tSadler\u2014or\tone\tof\ther\tchildren\u2014had\tactually\thappened\tto\tsee the\t transposing\t of\t the\t cachets\u2014well,\t of\t course,\t if\t Mr.\t Redding\t is\t an\t innocent man,\tthat\tstatement\twill\tmean\tnothing\tto\thim,\tbut\tif\the\tisn\u2019t\u2014\u201d \u201cWell,\the\tmight\tjust\tpossibly\tdo\tsomething\tfoolish.\u201d \u201cAnd\t deliver\t himself\t into\t our\t hands.\t It\u2019s\t possible.\t Very\t ingenious,\t Miss Marple.\tBut\twill\tHaydock\tstand\tfor\tit?\tAs\tyou\tsay,\this\tviews\u2014\u201d Miss\tMarple\tinterrupted\thim\tbrightly. \u201cOh,\tbut\tthat\u2019s\ttheory!\tSo\tvery\tdifferent\tfrom\tpractice,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tBut\tanyway, here\the\tis,\tso\twe\tcan\task\thim.\u201d Haydock\t was,\t I\t think,\t rather\t astonished\t to\t find\t Miss\t Marple\t with\t us.\t He looked\ttired\tand\thaggard. \u201cIt\u2019s\t been\t a\t near\t thing,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cA\t very\t near\t thing.\t But\t he\u2019s\t going\t to\t pull through.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tdoctor\u2019s\tbusiness\tto\tsave\this\tpatient\tand\tI\tsaved\thim,\tbut\tI\u2019d\thave been\tjust\tas\tglad\tif\tI\thadn\u2019t\tpulled\tit\toff.\u201d \u201cYou\tmay\tthink\tdifferently,\u201d\tsaid\tMelchett,\t\u201cwhen\tyou\thave\theard\twhat\twe","have\tto\ttell\tyou.\u201d And\tbriefly\tand\tsuccinctly,\the\tput\tMiss\tMarple\u2019s\ttheory\tof\tthe\tcrime\tbefore the\tdoctor,\tending\tup\twith\ther\tfinal\tsuggestion. We\t were\t then\t privileged\t to\t see\t exactly\t what\t Miss\t Marple\t meant\t by\t the difference\tbetween\ttheory\tand\tpractice. Haydock\u2019s\tviews\tappeared\tto\thave\tundergone\ta\tcomplete\ttransformation.\tHe would,\t I\t think,\t have\t liked\t Lawrence\t Redding\u2019s\t head\t on\t a\t charger.\t It\t was\t not,\t I imagine,\t the\t murder\t of\t Colonel\t Protheroe\t that\t so\t stirred\t his\t rancour.\t It\t was\t the assault\ton\tthe\tunlucky\tHawes. \u201cThe\tdamned\tscoundrel,\u201d\tsaid\tHaydock.\t\u201cThe\tdamned\tscoundrel!\tThat\tpoor devil\tHawes.\tHe\u2019s\tgot\ta\tmother\tand\ta\tsister\ttoo.\tThe\tstigma\tof\tbeing\tthe\tmother and\t sister\t of\t a\t murderer\t would\t have\t rested\t on\t them\t for\t life,\t and\t think\t of\t their mental\tanguish.\tOf\tall\tthe\tcowardly\tdastardly\ttricks!\u201d For\t sheer\t primitive\t rage,\t commend\t me\t to\t a\t thoroughgoing\t humanitarian when\tyou\tget\thim\twell\troused. \u201cIf\tthis\tthing\u2019s\ttrue,\u201d\the\tsaid,\t\u201cyou\tcan\tcount\ton\tme.\tThe\tfellow\u2019s\tnot\tfit\tto live.\tA\tdefenceless\tchap\tlike\tHawes.\u201d A\tlame\tdog\tof\tany\tkind\tcan\talways\tcount\ton\tHaydock\u2019s\tsympathy. He\twas\teagerly\tarranging\tdetails\twith\tMelchett\twhen\tMiss\tMarple\trose\tand\tI insisted\ton\tseeing\ther\thome. \u201cIt\tis\tmost\tkind\tof\tyou,\tMr.\tClement,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple,\tas\twe\twalked\tdown the\tdeserted\tstreet.\t\u201cDear\tme,\tpast\ttwelve\to\u2019clock.\tI\thope\tRaymond\thas\tgone\tto bed\tand\tnot\twaited\tup.\u201d \u201cHe\tshould\thave\taccompanied\tyou,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\thim\tknow\tI\twas\tgoing,\u201d\tsaid\tMiss\tMarple. I\t smiled\t suddenly\t as\t I\t remembered\t Raymond\t West\u2019s\t subtle\t psychological analysis\tof\tthe\tcrime. \u201cIf\tyour\ttheory\tturns\tout\tto\tbe\tthe\ttruth\u2014which\tI\tfor\tone\tdo\tnot\tdoubt\tfor\ta minute,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cyou\twill\thave\ta\tvery\tgood\tscore\tover\tyour\tnephew.\u201d Miss\tMarple\tsmiled\talso\u2014an\tindulgent\tsmile. \u201cI\t remember\t a\t saying\t of\t my\t Great\t Aunt\t Fanny\u2019s.\t I\t was\t sixteen\t at\t the\t time and\tthought\tit\tparticularly\tfoolish.\u201d \u201cYes?\u201d\tI\tinquired. \u201cShe\tused\tto\tsay:\t\u2018The\tyoung\tpeople\tthink\tthe\told\tpeople\tare\tfools;\tbut\tthe old\tpeople\tknow\tthe\tyoung\tpeople\tare\tfools!\u2019\u201d"]
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