Chapter 1

Mrs Van Rydock moved a little back from the mirror and sighed.
'Well, that'll have to do,' she murmured. 'hink it's all right, !ane"'
Miss Marple eyed the #anvanelli creation appraisingly.
'$t seems to me a very beautiful go%n,' she said.
'he go%n's all right,' said Mrs Van Rydock and sighed.
'ake if off, &tephanie,' she said.
he elderly maid %ith the grey hair and the small pinched mouth eased
the go%n carefully up over Mrs Van Rydock's upstretched arms.
Mrs Van Rydock stood in front of the glass in her peach satin slip. &he
%as e'(uisitely corseted. )er still shapely legs %ere encased in fine nylon
stockings. )er face, beneath a layer of cosmetics and constantly toned up
by massage, appeared almost girlish at a slight distance. )er hair %as
less grey than tending to hydrangea blue and %as perfectly set. $t %as
practically impossible %hen looking at Mrs Van Rydock to imagine %hat
she %ould be like in a natural state. *verything that money could do had
been done for her + reinforced by diet, massage, and constant e'ercises.
Ruth Van Rydock looked humorously at her friend.
',o you think most people %ould guess, !ane, that you and $ are
practically the same age"'
Miss Marple responded loyally.
'-ot for a moment, $'m sure,' she said reassuringly. '$'m afraid, you kno%,
that $ look every minute of my age.'
Miss Marple %as %hite+haired, %ith a soft pink and %hite %rinkled face
and innocent china blue eyes. &he looked a very s%eet old lady. -obody
%ould have called Mrs Van Rydock a s%eet old lady.
'$ guess you do, !ane,' said Mrs Van Rydock. &he grinned suddenly, '/nd
so do $. 0nly not in the same %ay. 1Wonderful ho% that old hag keeps her
figure.1 hat's %hat they say of me. 2ut they kno% $'m an old hag all right.
/nd, my 3od, do $ feel like one.'
&he dropped heavily on to the satin (uilted chair.
'hat's all right, &tephanie,' she said. '4ou can go.'
&tephanie gathered up the dress and %ent out.
'3ood old &tephanie,' said Ruth Van Rydock. '&he's been %ith me for over
thirty years no%. &he's the only %oman %ho kno%s %hat $ really look like.
!ane, $ %ant to talk to you.'
Miss Marple leant for%ard a little. )er face took on a receptive
e'pression. &he looked, someho%, an incongruous figure in the ornate
bedroom of the e'pensive hotel suite. &he %as dressed in rather do%dy
black, carried a large shopping bag and looked every inch a lady.
'$'m %orried, !ane. /bout Carrie #ouise.'
'Carrie #ouise"' Miss Marple repeated the name musingly. he sound of it
took her a long %ay back.
he pensionnat in 5lorence. )erself, the pink and %hite *nglish girl from a
Cathedral Close. he t%o Martin girls, /mericans, e'citing to the *nglish
girl because of their (uaint %ays of speech and their forthright manner
and vitality. Ruth, tall, eager, on top of the %orld6 Carrie #ouise, small,
dainty, %istful.
'When did you see her last, !ane"'
'0h. not for many many years. $t must be t%enty+five at least. 0f course
%e still send cards at Christmas.'
&uch an odd thing, friendship. &he, young !ane Marple, and the t%o
/mericans. heir %ays diverging almost at once, and yet the old affection
persisting6 occasional letters, remembrances at Christmas. &trange that
Ruth %hose home + or rather homes + had been in /merica should be the
sister %hom she had seen the more often of the t%o. -o, perhaps not
strange. #ike most /mericans of her class, Ruth had been cosmopolitan,
every year or t%o she had come over to *urope, rushing from #ondon to
7aris, on to the Riviera, and back again, and al%ays keen to snatch a fe%
moments %herever she %as %ith her old friends. here had been many
meetings like this one. $n Claridge's, or the &avoy, or the 2erkeley, or the
,orchester. / recherch meal, affectionate reminiscences, and a hurried
and affectionate goodbye. Ruth had never had time to visit &t Mary Mead.
Miss Marple had not, indeed, ever e'pected it. *veryone's life has a
tempo. Ruth's %as presto %hereas Miss Marple's %as content to be
adagio.
&o it %as /merican Ruth %hom she had seen most of, %hereas Carrie
#ouise %ho lived in *ngland, she had not no% seen for over t%enty years.
0dd, but (uite natural, because %hen one lives in the same country there
is no need to arrange meetings %ith old friends. 0ne assumes that,
sooner or later, one %ill see them %ithout contrivance. 0nly, if you move
in different spheres, that does not happen. he paths of !ane Marple and
Carrie #ouise did not cross. $t %as as simple as that.
'Why are you %orried about Carrie #ouise, Ruth"' asked Miss Marple.
'$n a %ay that's %hat %orries me most. $ 8ust don't kno%.'
'&he's not ill"'
'&he's very delicate + al%ays has been. $ %ouldn't say she'd been any
%orse than usual + considering that she's getting on 8ust as %e all are.'
'9nhappy"'
'0h no.'
-o, it %ouldn't be that, thought Miss Marple. $t %ould be difficult to
imagine Carrie #ouise unhappy and yet there %ere times in her life %hen
she must have been. 0nly + the picture did not come clearly. 2e%ildered +
yes + incredulous + yes + but violent grief + no.
Mrs Van Rydock's %ords came appositely.
'Carrie #ouise,' she said, 'has al%ays lived right out of this %orld. &he
doesn't kno% %hat it's like. Maybe it's that that %orries me.'
')er circumstances,' began Miss Marple, then stopped, shaking her head.
'-o,' she said.
'-o, it's she herself,' said Ruth Van Rydock. 'Carrie #ouise %as al%ays the
one of us %ho had ideals. 0f course it %as the fashion %hen %e %ere
young to have ideals + %e all had them, it %as the proper thing for young
girls. 4ou %ere going to nurse lepers, !ane, and $ %as going to be a nun.
0ne gets over all that nonsense. Marriage, $ suppose one might say,
knocks it out of one. &till, take it by and large, $ haven't done badly out of
marriage.'
Miss Marple thought that Ruth %as e'pressing it mildly. Ruth had been
married three times, each time to an e'tremely %ealthy man, and the
resultant divorces had increased her bank balance %ithout in the least
souring her disposition.
'0f course,' said Mrs Van Rydock, '$'ve al%ays been tough. hings don't
get me do%n. $'ve not e'pected too much of life and certainly not
e'pected too much of men + and $'ve done very %ell out of it + and no hard
feelings. ommy and $ are still e'cellent friends, and !ulius often asks me
my opinion about the market.' )er face darkened. '$ believe that's %hat
%orries me about Carrie #ouise + she's al%ays had a tendency, you kno%,
to marry cranks.'
'Cranks"'
'7eople %ith ideals. Carrie #ouise %as al%ays a pushover for ideals.
here she %as, as pretty as they make them, 8ust seventeen and listening
%ith her eyes as big as saucers to old 3ulbrandsen holding forth about
his plans for the human race. 0ver fifty, and she married him, a %ido%er
%ith a family of gro%n+up children + all because of his philanthropic ideas.
&he used to sit listening to him spellbound. !ust like ,esdemona and
0thello. 0nly fortunately there %as no $ago about to mess things up and
any%ay 3ulbrandsen %asn't coloured. )e %as a &%ede or a -or%egian
or something.'
Miss Marple nodded thoughtfully. he name of 3ulbrandsen had an
international significance. / man %ho %ith shre%d business acumen and
perfect honesty had built up a fortune so colossal that really philanthropy
had been the only solution to the disposal of it. he name still held
significance. he 3ulbrandsen rust, the 3ulbrandsen Research
5ello%ships, the 3ulbrandsen /dministrative /lmshouses, and best
kno%n of all the vast educational College for the sons of %orking men.
'&he didn't marry him for his money, you kno%,' said Ruth, '$ should have
if $'d married him at all. 2ut not Carrie #ouise. $ don't kno% %hat %ould
have happened if he hadn't died %hen she %as thirty+t%o. hirty+t%o's a
very nice age for a %ido%. &he's got e'perience, but she's still adaptable.'
he spinster listening to her, nodded gently %hilst her mind revived,
tentatively, %ido%s she had kno%n in the village of &t Mary Mead.
'$ %as really happiest about Carrie #ouise %hen she %as married to
!ohnnie Restarick. 0f course he married her for her money + or if not
e'actly that, at any rate he %ouldn't have married her if she hadn't had
any. !ohnnie %as a selfish, pleasure+loving, la:y hound, but that's so
much safer than a crank. /ll !ohnnie %anted %as to live soft. )e %anted
Carrie #ouise to go to the best dressmakers and have yachts and cars
and en8oy herself %ith him. hat kind of man is so very safe. 3ive him
comfort and lu'ury and he'll purr like a cat and be absolutely charming to
you. $ never took that scene designing and theatrical stuff of his very
seriously. 2ut Carrie #ouise %as thrilled by it + sa% it all as /rt %ith a
capital / and really forced him back into those surroundings, and then
that dreadful 4ugoslavian %oman got hold of him and 8ust s%ept him off
%ith her. )e didn't really %ant to go. $f Carrie #ouise had %aited and been
sensible, he %ould have come back to her.'
',id she care very much"' asked Miss Marple.
'hat's the funny thing. $ don't really believe she did. &he %as absolutely
s%eet about it all + but then she %ould be. &he is s%eet. ;uite an'ious to
divorce him so that he and that creature could get married. /nd offering to
give those t%o boys of his by his first marriage a home %ith her because it
%ould be more settled for them. &o there poor !ohnnie %as + he had to
marry the %oman and she led him through a%ful si' months and then
drove him over a precipice in a car in a fit of rage. hey said it %as an
accident, but $ think it %as 8ust temper.'
Mrs Van Rydock paused, took up a mirror and ga:ed at her face
searchingly. &he picked up her eyebro% t%ee:ers and pulled out a hair.
'/nd %hat does Carrie #ouise do ne't but marry this man #e%is
&errocold. /nother crank. /nother man %ith ideals. 0h, $ don't say he isn't
devoted to her + $ think he is + but he's bitten by that same bug of %anting
to improve everybody's lives for them. /nd really, you kno%, nobody can
do that but yourself.'
'$ %onder,' said Miss Marple.
'0f course, there's a fashion in these things, 8ust like there is in clothes.
<My dear, have you seen %hat Christian ,ior is trying to make us %ear in
the %ay of skirts"= Where %as $" 0h yes, 5ashion. Well there's a fashion
in philanthropy too. $t used to be education in 3ulbrandsen's day. 2ut
that's out of date no%. he &tate has stepped in. *veryone e'pects
education as a matter of right + and doesn't think much of it %hen they get
it. !uvenile ,elin(uency + that's %hat is the rage no%adays. /ll these
young criminals and potential criminals. *veryone's mad about them. 4ou
should see #e%is &errocold's eyes sparkle behind those thick glasses of
his. Cra:y %ith enthusiasm. 0ne of those men of enormous %ill po%er
%ho like living on a banana and a piece of toast and put all their energies
into a cause. /nd Carrie #ouise eats it up + 8ust as she al%ays did. 2ut $
don't like it, !ane. hey've had meetings of the rustees and the %hole
place has been turned over to this ne% idea. $t's a training establishment
no% for these 8uvenile criminals, complete %ith psychiatrists and
psychologists and all the rest of it. here #e%is and Carrie #ouise are,
living there, surrounded by these boys + %ho aren't perhaps (uite normal.
/nd the place stiff %ith occupational therapists and teachers and
enthusiasts, half of them (uite mad. Cranks, all the lot of them, and my
little Carrie #ouise in the middle of it all.'
&he paused + and stared helplessly at Miss Marple.
Miss Marple said in a faintly pu::led voice>
'2ut you haven't told me yet, Ruth, %hat you are really afraid of.'
'$ tell you, $ don't kno%. /nd that's %hat %orries me. $'ve 8ust been do%n
there + for a flying visit. /nd $ felt all along that there %as something
%rong. $n the atmosphere + in the house + $ kno% $'m not mistaken. $'m
sensitive to atmosphere, al%ays have been. ,id $ ever tell you ho% $
urged !ulius to sell out of /malgamated Cereals before the crash came"
/nd %asn't $ right" 4es, something is %rong do%n there. 2ut $ don't kno%
%hy or %hat + if it's these dreadful young 8ailbirds + or if it's nearer home. $
can't say %hat it is. here's #e%is 8ust living for his ideas and not noticing
anything else, and Carrie #ouise, bless her, never seeing or hearing or
thinking anything e'cept %hat's a lovely sight, or a lovely sound, or a
lovely thought. $t's s%eet but it isn't practical. here is such a thing as evil
+ and $ %ant you, !ane, to go do%n there right a%ay and find out 8ust
e'actly %hat's the matter.'
'Me"' e'claimed Miss Marple. 'Why me"'
'2ecause you've got a nose for that sort of thing. 4ou al%ays had. 4ou've
al%ays been a s%eet innocent+looking creature, !ane, and all the time
underneath nothing has ever surprised you, you al%ays believe the %orst.'
'he %orst is so often true,' murmured Miss Marple.
'Why you have such a poor idea of human nature, $ can't think + living in
that s%eet peaceful village of yours, so old %orld and pure.'
'4ou have never lived in a village, Ruth. he things that go on in a pure
peaceful village %ould probably surprise you.'
'0h $ daresay. My point is that they don't surprise you. &o you %ill go
do%n to &tonygates and find out %hat's %rong, %on't you"'
'2ut, Ruth dear, that %ould be a most difficult thing to do.'
'-o, it %ouldn't. $'ve thought it all out. $f you %on't be absolutely mad at
me, $'ve prepared the ground already.'
Mrs Van Rydock paused, eyed Miss Marple rather uneasily, lighted a
cigarette, and plunged rather nervously into e'planation.
'4ou'll admit, $'m sure, that things have been difficult in this country since
the %ar, for people %ith small fi'ed incomes + for people like you, that is to
say, !ane.'
'0h yes, indeed. 2ut for the kindness, the really great kindness of my
nephe% Raymond, $ don't kno% really %here $ should be.'
'-ever mind your nephe%,' said Mrs Van Rydock. 'Carrie #ouise kno%s
nothing about your nephe% + or if she does, she kno%s him as a %riter
and has no idea that he's your nephe%. he point, as $ put it to Carrie
#ouise, is that it's 8ust too bad about dear !ane. Really sometimes hardly
enough to eat, and of course, far too proud ever to appeal to old friends.
0ne couldn't, $ said, suggest money + but a nice long rest in lovely
surroundings, %ith an old friend and %ith plenty of nourishing food, and no
cares or %orries +' Ruth Van Rydock paused and then added defiantly,
'-o% go on + be mad at me if you %ant to be.'
Miss Marple opened her china blue eyes in gentle surprise.
'2ut %hy should $ be mad at you, Ruth" / very ingenious and plausible
approach. $'m sure Carrie #ouise responded.'
'&he's %riting to you. 4ou'll find the letter %hen you get back. )onestly,
!ane, you don't feel that $'ve taken an unpardonable liberty" 4ou %on't
mind"'
&he hesitated and Miss Marple put her thoughts deftly into %ords.
'3oing to &tonygates as an ob8ect of charity + more or less under false
pretences" -ot in the least + if it is necessary. 4ou think it is necessary +
and $ am inclined to agree %ith you.'
Mrs Van Rydock stared at her.
'2ut %hy" What have you heard"'
'$ haven't heard anything. $t's 8ust your conviction. 4ou're not a fanciful
%oman, Ruth.'
'-o, but $ haven't anything definite to go upon.'
'$ remember,' said Miss Marple thoughtfully, 'one &unday morning at
church + it %as the second &unday in /dvent + sitting behind 3race
#amble and feeling more and more %orried about her. ;uite sure, you
kno%, that something %as %rong + badly %rong + and yet being (uite
unable to say %hy. / most disturbing feeling and very very definite.'
'/nd %as there something %rong"'
'0h yes. )er father, the old /dmiral, had been very peculiar for some
time, and the very ne't day he %ent for her %ith the coal hammer, roaring
out that she %as /ntichrist mas(uerading as his daughter. )e nearly
killed her. hey took him a%ay to the asylum and she eventually
recovered after months in hospital + but it %as a very near thing.'
'/nd you'd actually had a premonition that day in church"'
'$ %ouldn't call it a premonition. $t %as founded on fact + these things
usually are, though one doesn't al%ays recogni:e it at the time. &he %as
%earing her &unday hat the %rong %ay round. Very significant, really,
because 3race #amble %as a most precise %oman, not at all vague or
absent+minded + and the circumstances under %hich she %ould not notice
%hich %ay her hat %as put on to go to church %ere really e'tremely
limited. )er father, you see, had thro%n a marble paper%eight at her and
it had shattered the looking+glass. &he had caught up her hat, put it on,
and hurried out of the house. /n'ious to keep up appearances and for the
servants not to hear anything. &he put do%n these actions, you see, to
1dear 7apa's -aval temper,1 she didn't reali:e that his mind %as definitely
unhinged. hough she ought to have reali:ed it clearly enough. )e %as
al%ays complaining to her of being spied upon and of enemies + all the
usual symptoms, in fact.'
Mrs Van Rydock ga:ed respectfully at her friend.
'Maybe, !ane,' she said, 'that &t Mary Mead of yours isn't (uite the idyllic
retreat that $'ve al%ays imagined it.'
')uman nature, dear, is very much the same every%here. $t is more
difficult to observe it closely in a city, that is all.'
'/nd you'll go to &tonygates"'
'$'ll go to &tonygates. / little unfair, perhaps, on my nephe% Raymond. o
let it be thought that he does not assist me, $ mean. &till, the dear boy is in
Me'ico for si' months. /nd by that time it should all be over.'
'What should all be over"'
'Carrie #ouise's invitation %ill hardly be for an indefinite stay. hree
%eeks, perhaps + a month. hat should be ample.'
'5or you to find out %hat is %rong"'
'5or me to find out %hat is %rong.'
'My, !ane,' said Mrs Van Rydock, 'you've got a lot of confidence in
yourself, haven't you"'
Miss Marple looked faintly reproachful.
'4ou have confidence in me, Ruth. 0r so you say... $ can only assure you
that $ shall endeavour to 8ustify your confidence.'
Chapter ?
2efore catching her train back to &t Mary Mead <Wednesday special
cheap day return=, Miss Marple, in a precise and businesslike fashion,
collected certain data.
'Carrie #ouise and $ have corresponded after a fashion, but it has largely
been a matter of Christmas cards or calendars. $t's 8ust the facts $ should
like, Ruth dear + and also some idea as to %hom e'actly $ shall encounter
in the household at &tonygates.'
'Well, you kno% about Carrie #ouise's marriage to 3ulbrandsen. here
%ere no children and Carrie #ouise took that very much to heart.
3ulbrandsen %as a %ido%er, and had three gro%n+up sons. *ventually
they adopted a child. 7ippa, they called her + a lovely little creature. &he
%as 8ust t%o years old %hen they got her.'
'Where did she come from" What %as her background"'
'Really, no%, !ane, $ can't remember + if $ ever heard, that is. /n /doption
&ociety, maybe" 0r some un%anted child that 3ulbrandsen had heard
about. Why" ,o you think it's important"'
'Well, one al%ays likes to kno% the background, so to speak. 2ut please
go on.'
'he ne't thing that happened %as that Carrie #ouise found that she %as
going to have a baby after all. $ understand from doctors that that (uite
often happens.'
Miss Marple nodded.
'$ believe so.'
'/ny%ay, it did happen, and in a funny kind of %ay, Carrie #ouise %as
almost disconcerted, if you can understand %hat $ mean. *arlier, of
course, she'd have been %ild %ith 8oy. /s it %as, she'd given such a
devoted love to 7ippa that she felt (uite apologetic to 7ippa for putting her
nose out of 8oint, so to speak. /nd then Mildred, %hen she arrived, %as
really a very unattractive child. ook after the 3ulbrandsens + %ho %ere
solid and %orthy + but definitely homely. Carrie #ouise %as al%ays so
an'ious to make no difference bet%een the adopted child and her o%n
child that $ think she rather tended to overindulge 7ippa and pass over
Mildred. &ometimes $ think that Mildred resented it. )o%ever $ didn't see
them often. 7ippa gre% up a very beautiful girl and Mildred gre% up a
plain one. *ric 3ulbrandsen died %hen Mildred %as fifteen and 7ippa
eighteen. /t t%enty 7ippa married an $talian, the Marchese di &an
&everiano + oh, (uite a genuine Marchese + not an adventurer, or
anything like that. &he %as by %ay of being an heiress <naturally, or &an
&everiano %ouldn't have married her you kno% %hat $talians are.=.
3ulbrandsen left an e(ual sum in trust for both his o%n and his adopted
daughter. Mildred married a Canon &trete + a nice man but given to colds
in the head. /bout ten or fifteen years older than she %as. ;uite a happy
marriage, $ believe.
')e died a year ago and Mildred has come back to &tonygates to live %ith
her mother. 2ut that's getting on too fast, $'ve skipped a marriage or t%o.
$'ll go back to them. 7ippa married her $talian. Carrie #ouise %as (uite
pleased about the marriage. 3uido had beautiful manners and %as very
handsome, and he %as a fine sportsman. / year later 7ippa had a
daughter and died in childbirth. $t %as a terrible tragedy and 3uido &an
&everiano %as very cut up. Carrie #ouise %ent to and fro bet%een $taly
and *ngland a good deal, and it %as in Rome that she met !ohnnie
Restarick and married him. he Marchese married again and he %as
(uite %illing for his little daughter to be brought up in *ngland by her
e'ceedingly %ealthy grandmother. &o they all settled do%n at &tonygates,
!ohnnie Restarick and Carrie #ouise, and !ohnnie's t%o boys, /le'is and
&tephen <!ohnnie's first %ife %as a Russian= and the baby 3ina. Mildred
married her Canon soon after%ards. hen came all this business of
!ohnnie and the 4ugoslavian %oman and the divorce. he boys still came
to &tonygates for their holidays and %ere devoted to Carrie #ouise, and
then in 1@AB, $ think it %as, Carrie #ouise married #e%is.'
Mrs Van Rydock paused for breath.
'4ou've not met #e%is"'
Miss Marple shook her head.
'-o, $ think $ last sa% Carrie #ouise in 1@?B. &he very s%eetly took me to
Covent 3arden + to the 0pera.'
'0h yes. Well, #e%is %as a very suitable person for her to marry. )e %as
the head of a very celebrated firm of chartered accountants. $ think he met
her first over some (uestions of the finances of the 3ulbrandsen rust
and the College. )e %as %ell off, 8ust about her o%n age, and a man of
absolutely upright life. 2ut he %as a crank. )e %as absolutely rabid on the
sub8ect of the redemption of young criminals.'
Ruth Van Rydock sighed.
'/s $ said 8ust no%, !ane, there are fashions in philanthropy. $n
3ulbrandsen's time it %as education. 2efore that it %as soup kitchens.'
Miss Marple nodded.
'4es, indeed. 7ort %ine 8elly and calf's head broth taken to the sick. My
mother used to do it.'
'hat's right. 5eeding the body gave %ay to feeding the mind. *veryone
%ent mad on educating the lo%er classes. Well, that's passed. &oon, $
e'pect, the fashionable thing to do %ill be not to educate your children,
preserve their illiteracy carefully until they're eighteen. /ny%ay the
3ulbrandsen rust and *ducation 5und %as in some difficulties because
the &tate %as taking over its functions. hen #e%is came along %ith his
passionate enthusiasm about constructive training for 8uvenile
delin(uents. )is attention had been dra%n to the sub8ect first in the
course of his profession + auditing accounts %here ingenious young men
had perpetrated frauds. )e %as more and more convinced that 8uvenile
delin(uents %ere not subnormal + that they had e'cellent brains and
abilities and only needed right direction.'
'here is something in that,' said Miss Marple. '2ut it is not entirely true. $
remember...'
&he broke off and glanced at her %atch.
'0h dear + $ mustn't miss the C.AD.'
Ruth Van Rydock said urgently>
'/nd you %ill go to &tonygates"'
3athering up her shopping bag and her umbrella Miss Marple said>
'$f Carrie #ouise asks me...'
'&he %ill ask you. 4ou'll go" 7romise, !ane"'
!ane Marple promised.
Chapter A
Miss Marple got out of the train at Market Eindle station. / kindly fello%
passenger handed out her suitcase after her, and Miss Marple, clutching
a string bag, a faded leather handbag and some miscellaneous %raps,
uttered appreciative t%itters of thanks.
'&o kind of you, $'m sure... &o difficult no%adays + not many porters. $ get
so flustered %hen $ travel.'
he t%itters %ere dro%ned by the booming noise of the station announcer
saying loudly but indistinctly that the A>1B %as standing at 7latform 1, and
%as about to proceed to various unidentifiable stations.
Market Eindle %as a large empty %inds%ept station %ith hardly any
passengers or rail%ay staff to be seen on it. $ts claim to distinction lay in
having si' platforms and a bay %here a very small train of one carriage
%as puffing importantly.
Miss Marple, rather more shabbily dressed than %as her custom <so lucky
that she hadn't given a%ay the old speckledy=, %as peering around her
uncertainly %hen a young man came up to her.
'Miss Marple"' he said. )is voice had an une'pectedly dramatic (uality
about it, as though the utterance of her name %ere the first %ords of a
part he %as playing in amateur theatricals. '$'ve come to meet you + from
&tonygates.'
Miss Marple looked gratefully at him, a charming helpless+looking old lady
%ith, if he had chanced to notice it, very shre%d blue eyes. he
personality of the young man did not (uite match his voice. $t %as less
important, one might almost say insignificant. )is eyelids had a trick of
fluttering nervously.
'0h thank you,' said Miss Marple. 'here's 8ust this suitcase.'
&he noticed that the young man did not pick up her suitcase himself. )e
flipped a finger at a porter %ho %as trundling some packing cases past on
a trolley.
'2ring it out, please,' he said, and added importantly, 'for &tonygates.'
he porter said cheerfully>
'Rightyho. &han't be long.'
Miss Marple fancied that her ne% ac(uaintance %as not too pleased
about this. $t %as as if 2uckingham 7alace had been dismissed as no
more important than A #aburnum Road.
)e said, 'he rail%ays get more impossible every day.'
3uiding Miss Marple to%ards the e'it, he said>
'$'m *dgar #a%son. Mrs &errocold asked me to meet you. $ help Mr
&errocold in his %ork.'
here %as again the faint insinuation that a busy and important man had,
very charmingly, put important affairs on one side out of chivalry to his
employer's %ife.
/nd again the impression %as not %holly convincing, it had a theatrical
flavour.
Miss Marple began to %onder about *dgar #a%son.
hey came out of the station and *dgar guided the old lady to %here a
rather elderly 5ord VB %as standing. )e %as 8ust saying 'Will you come in
front %ith me, or %ould you prefer the back"' %hen there %as a diversion.
/ ne% gleaming t%o+seater Rolls 2entley came purring into the station
yard and dre% up in front of the 5ord. / very beautiful young %oman
8umped out of it and came across to them. he fact that she %ore dirty
corduroy slacks and a simple shirt open at the neck seemed someho% to
enhance the fact that she %as not only beautiful but e'pensive.
'here you are, *dgar. $ thought $ %ouldn't make it in time. $ see you've
got Miss Marple. $ came to meet her.'
&he smiled da::ingly at Miss Marple, sho%ing a ro% of lovely teeth in a
sunburnt southern face. '$'m 3ina,' she said. 'Carrie #ouise's
granddaughter. What %as your 8ourney like" &imply foul" What a nice
string bag. $ love string bags. $'ll take it and the coats and then you can
get in better.'
*dgar's face flushed. )e protested.
'#ook here, 3ina, $ came to meet Miss Marple. $t %as all arranged...'
/gain the teeth flashed in that %ide la:y smile.
'0h $ kno%, *dgar, but $ suddenly thought it %ould be nice if $ came along.
$'ll take her %ith me and you can %ait and bring her cases up.'
&he slammed the door on Miss Marple, ran round to the other side,
8umped in the driving seat, and they purred s%iftly out of the station.
#ooking back, Miss Marple noticed *dgar #a%son's face.
'$ don't think, my dear,' she said, 'that Mr #a%son is very pleased.'
3ina laughed.
'*dgar's a frightful idiot,' she said. '/l%ays so pompous about things.
4ou'd really think he mattered.'
Miss Marple asked, ',oesn't he matter"'
'*dgar"' here %as an unconscious note of cruelty in 3ina's scornful
laugh. '0h, he's bats any%ay.'
'2ats"'
'hey're all bats at &tonygates,' said 3ina. '$ don't mean #e%is and
3randam and me and the boys + and not Miss 2ellever, of course. 2ut the
others. &ometimes $ feel $'m going a bit bats myself living there. *ven
/unt Mildred goes out on %alks and mutters to herself all the time + and
you don't e'pect a Canon's %ido% to do that, do you"'
hey s%ung out of the station approach and accelerated up the smooth
surfaced empty road. 3ina shot a s%ift side%ays glance at her
companion.
'4ou %ere at school %ith 3randam, %eren't you" $t seems so (ueer.'
Miss Marple kne% perfectly %hat she meant. o youth it seems very odd
to think that age %as once young and pigtailed and struggled %ith
decimals and *nglish literature.
'$t must,' said 3ina %ith a%e in her voice, and obviously not meaning to be
rude, 'have been a very long time ago.'
'4es, indeed,' said Miss Marple. '4ou feel that more %ith me than you do
%ith your grandmother, $ e'pect"'
3ina nodded. '$t's cute of you saying that. 3randam, you kno%, gives one
a curiously ageless feeling.'
'$t is a long time since $'ve seen her. $ %onder if $ shall find her much
changed.'
')er hair's grey, of course,' said 3ina vaguely. '/nd she %alks %ith a stick
because of her arthritis. $t's got much %orse lately. $ suppose that +' she
broke off, and then asked> ')ave you been to &tonygates before"'
'-o, never. $'ve heard a great deal about it, of course.'
'$t's pretty ghastly, really,' said 3ina cheerfully. '/ sort of 3othic
monstrosity. What &teve calls 2est Victorian #avatory period. 2ut it's fun,
too, in a %ay. 0nly of course everything's madly earnest, and you tumble
over psychiatrists every%here underfoot. *n8oying themselves madly.
Rather like &coutmasters, only %orse. he young criminals are rather
pets, some of them. 0ne sho%ed me ho% to diddle locks %ith a bit of %ire
and one angelic+faced boy gave me a lot of points about coshing people.'
Miss Marple considered this information thoughtfully.
'$t's the thugs $ like best,' said 3ina. '$ don't fancy the (ueers so much. 0f
course #e%is and ,r Maverick think they're all (ueer + $ mean they think
it's repressed desires and disordered home life and their mothers getting
off %ith soldiers and all that. $ don't really see it myself because some
people have had a%ful home lives and yet have managed to turn out (uite
all right.'
'$'m sure it is all a very difficult problem,' said Miss Marple.
3ina laughed, again sho%ing her magnificent teeth.
'$t doesn't %orry me much. $ suppose some people have these sort of
urges to make the %orld a better place. #e%is is (uite dippy about it all +
he's going to /berdeen ne't %eek because there's a case coming up in
the police court + a boy %ith five previous convictions.'
'he young man %ho met me at the station" Mr #a%son. )e helps Mr
&errocold, he told me. $s he his secretary"'
'0h *dgar hasn't brains enough to be a secretary. )e's a case, really. )e
used to stay at hotels and pretend he %as a V.C. or a fighter pilot and
borro% money and then do a flit. $ think he's 8ust a rotter. 2ut #e%is goes
through a routine %ith them all. Makes them feel one of the family and
gives them 8obs to do and all that to encourage their sense of
responsibility. $ daresay %e shall be murdered by one of them one of
these days.' 3ina laughed merrily.
Miss Marple did not laugh.
hey turned in through some imposing gates %here a Commissionaire
%as standing on duty in a military manner and drove up a drive flanked
%ith rhododendrons. he drive %as badly kept and the grounds seemed
neglected.
$nterpreting her companion's glance, 3ina said, '-o gardeners during the
%ar, and since %e haven't bothered. 2ut it does look rather terrible.'
hey came round a curve and &tonygates appeared in its full glory. $t
%as, as 3ina had said, a vast edifice of Victorian 3othic + a kind of temple
to 7lutocracy.
7hilanthropy had added to it in various %ings and out+buildings %hich,
%hile not positively dissimilar in style, had robbed the structure as a %hole
of any cohesion or purpose.
')ideous, isn't it"' said 3ina affectionately. 'here's 3randam on the
terrace. $'ll stop here and you can go and meet her.'
Miss Marple advanced along the terrace to%ards her old friend.
5rom a distance, the slim little figure looked curiously girlish in spite of the
stick on %hich she leaned and her slo% and obviously rather painful
progress. $t %as as though a young girl %as giving an e'aggerated
imitation of old age.
'!ane,' said Mrs &errocold.
',ear Carrie #ouise.'
4es, unmistakably Carrie #ouise. &trangely unchanged, strangely youthful
still, although, unlike her sister, she used no cosmetics or artificial aids to
youth. )er hair %as grey, but it had al%ays been of a silvery fairness and
the colour had changed very little. )er skin had still a rose leaf pink and
%hite appearance, though no% it %as a crumpled rose leaf. )er eyes had
still their starry innocent glance. &he had the slender youthful figure of a
girl and her head kept its eager birdlike tilt.
'$ do blame myself,' said Carrie #ouise in her s%eet voice, 'for letting it be
so long. 4ears since $ sa% you, !ane dear. $t's 8ust lovely that you've come
at last to pay us a visit here.'
5rom the end of the terrace 3ina called>
'4ou ought to come in, 3randam. $t's getting cold and !olly %ill be furious.'
Carrie #ouise gave her little silvery laugh.
'hey all fuss about me so,' she said. 'hey rub it in that $'m an old
%oman.'
'/nd you don't feel like one.'
'-o, $ don't, !ane. $n spite of all my aches and pains and $'ve got plenty.
$nside $ go on feeling 8ust a chit like 3ina. 7erhaps everyone does. he
glass sho%s them ho% old they are and they 8ust don't believe it. $t seems
only a fe% months ago that %e %ere at 5lorence. ,o you remember
5rulein &ch%eich and her boots"'
he t%o elderly %omen laughed together at events that had happened
nearly half a century ago.
hey %alked together to a side door. $n the door%ay a gaunt elderly lady
met them. &he had an arrogant nose, a short haircut and %ore stout %ell+
cut t%eeds. &he said fiercely>
'$t's absolutely cra:y of you, Cara, to stay out so late. 4ou're absolutely
incapable of taking care of yourself. What %ill Mr &errocold say"'
',on't scold me, !olly,' said Carrie #ouise pleadingly.
&he introduced Miss 2ellever to Miss Marple.
'his is Miss 2ellever, %ho is simply everything to me. -urse, dragon,
%atchdog, secretary, housekeeper and very faithful friend.'
!uliet 2ellever sniffed, and the end of her big nose turned rather pink, a
sign of emotion.
'$ do %hat $ can,' she said gruffly. 'his is a cra:y household. 4ou simply
can't arrange any kind of planned routine.'
',arling !olly, of course you can't. $ %onder %hy you ever try. Where are
you putting Miss Marple"'
'$n the 2lue Room. &hall $ take her up"' asked Miss 2ellever.
'4es, please do, !olly. /nd then bring her do%n to tea. $t's in the library
today, $ think.'
he 2lue Room had heavy curtains of a rich faded blue brocade that must
have been, Miss Marple thought, about fifty years old. he furniture %as
mahogany, big and solid, and the bed %as a vast mahogany fourposter.
Miss 2ellever opened a door into a connecting bathroom. his %as
une'pectedly modern, orchid in colouring and %ith much da::ling
chromium.
&he observed grimly>
'!ohn Restarick had ten bathrooms put into the house %hen he married
Cara. he plumbing is about the only thing that's ever been moderni:ed.
)e %ouldn't hear of the rest being altered + said the %hole place %as a
perfect 7eriod 7iece. ,id you ever kno% him at all"'
'-o, $ never met him. Mrs &errocold and $ have met very seldom though
%e have al%ays corresponded.'
')e %as an agreeable fello%,' said Miss 2ellever. '-o good, of course. /
complete rotter. 2ut pleasant to have about the house. 3reat charm.
Women liked him far too much. hat %as his undoing in the end. -ot
really Cara's type.'
&he added %ith a brus(ue resumption of her practical manner>
'he housemaid %ill unpack for you. ,o you %ant a %ash before tea"'
Receiving an affirmative ans%er, she said that Miss Marple %ould find her
%aiting at the top of the stairs.
Miss Marple %ent into the bathroom and %ashed her hands and dried
them a little nervously on a very beautiful orchid+coloured face to%el.
hen she removed her hat and patted her soft %hite hair into place.
0pening her door, she found Miss 2ellever %aiting for her, and %as
conducted do%n the big gloomy staircase and across a vast dark hall and
into a room %here bookshelves %ent up to the ceiling and a big %indo%
looked out over an artificial lake.
Carrie #ouise %as standing by the %indo% and Miss Marple 8oined her.
'What a very imposing house this is,' said Miss Marple. '$ feel (uite lost in
it.'
'4es, $ kno%. $t's ridiculous, really. $t %as built by a prosperous iron master
+ or something of that kind. )e %ent bankrupt not long after. $ don't
%onder really. here %ere about fourteen living+rooms + all enormous. $'ve
never seen %hat people can %ant %ith more than one sitting+room. /nd
all those huge bedrooms. &uch a lot of unnecessary space. Mine is
terribly overpo%ering + and (uite a long %ay to %alk from the bed to the
dressing table. /nd great heavy dark crimson curtains.'
'4ou haven't had it moderni:ed and redecorated"'
Carrie #ouise looked vaguely surprised.
'-o. 0n the %hole it's very much as it %as %hen $ first lived here %ith *ric.
$t's been repainted, of course, but they al%ays do it the same colour.
hose things don't really matter, do they" $ mean $ shouldn't have felt
8ustified in spending a lot of money on that kind of thing %hen there are so
many things that are so much more important.'
')ave there been no changes at all in the house"'
'0h + yes + heaps of them. We've 8ust kept a kind of block in the middle of
the house as it %as + the 3reat )all and the rooms off and over. hey're
the best ones and !ohnnie + my second husband + %as lyrical over them
and said they should never be touched or altered + and of course he %as
an artist and a designer and he kne% about these things. 2ut the *ast
and West %ings have been completely remodelled. /ll the rooms
partitioned off and divided up, so that %e have offices, and bedrooms for
the teaching staff, and all that. he boys are all in the College building +
you can see it from here.'
Miss Marple looked out to%ards %here large red brick buildings sho%ed
through a belt of sheltered trees. hen her eyes fell on something nearer
at hand, and she smiled a little.
'What a very beautiful girl 3ina is,' she said.
Carrie #ouise's face lit up.
'4es, isn't she"' she said softly. '$t's so lovely to have her back here again.
$ sent her to /merica at the beginning of the %ar + to Ruth. ,id Ruth talk
about her at all"'
'-o. /t least she did 8ust mention her.'
Carrie #ouise sighed.
'7oor Ruth. &he %as frightfully upset over 3ina's marriage. 2ut $'ve told
her again and again that $ don't blame her in the least. Ruth doesn't
reali:e, as $ do, that the old barriers and class shibboleths are gone + or at
any rate are going.
'3ina %as doing her %ar %ork + and she met this young man. )e %as a
Marine and had a very good %ar record. /nd a %eek later they %ere
married. $t %as all far too (uick, of course, no time to find out if they %ere
really suited to each other + but that's the %ay of things no%adays. 4oung
people belong to their generation. We may think they're un%ise in many of
their doings, but %e have to accept their decisions. Ruth, though, %as
terribly upset.'
'&he didn't consider the young man suitable"'
'&he kept saying that one didn't kno% anything about him. )e came from
the Middle West and he hadn't any money + and naturally no profession.
here are hundreds of boys like that every%here + but it %asn't Ruth's
idea of %hat %as right for 3ina. )o%ever, the thing %as done. $ %as so
glad %hen 3ina accepted my invitation to come over here %ith her
husband. here's so much going on here + 8obs of every kind, and if
Walter %ants to speciali:e in medicine or get a degree or anything he
could do it in this country. /fter all, this is 3ina's home. $t's delightful to
have her back, to have someone so %arm and gay and alive in the
house.'
Miss Marple nodded and looked out of the %indo% again at the t%o young
people standing near the lake.
'hey're a remarkably handsome couple, too,' she said. '$ don't %onder
3ina fell in love %ith him.'
'0h, but that + that isn't Wally.' here %as, (uite suddenly, a touch of
embarrassment, or restraint, in Mrs &errocold's voice. 'hat's &teve + the
younger of !ohnnie Restarick's t%o boys. When !ohnnie + %hen he %ent
a%ay, he'd no place for the boys in the holidays, so $ al%ays had them
here. hey look on this as their home. /nd &teve's here permanently no%.
)e runs our dramatic branch. We have a theatre, you kno%, and plays %e
encourage all the artistic instincts. #e%is says that so much of this
8uvenile crime is due to e'hibitionism, most of the boys have had such a
th%arted unhappy home life, and these hold+ups and burglaries make
them feel heroes. We urge them to %rite their o%n plays and act in them
and design and paint their o%n scenery. &teve is in charge of the theatre.
)e's so keen and enthusiastic. $t's %onderful %hat life he's put into the
%hole thing.'
'$ see,' said Miss Marple slo%ly.
)er long+distance sight %as good <as many of her neighbours kne% to
their cost in the village of &t Mary Mead= and she sa% very clearly the
dark handsome face of &tephen Restarick as he stood facing 3ina,
talking eagerly. 3ina's face she could not see, since the girl had her back
to them, but there %as no mistaking the e'pression in &tephen Restarick's
face.
'$t isn't any business of mine,' said Miss Marple, 'but $ suppose you
reali:e, Carrie #ouise, that he's in love %ith her.'
'0h no +' Carrie #ouise looked troubled. '0h no, $ do hope not.'
'4ou %ere al%ays up in the clouds, Carrie #ouise. here's not the least
doubt about it.'
Chapter F
2efore Mrs &errocold could say anything, her husband came in from the
hall carrying some open letters in his hand.
#e%is &errocold %as a short man, not particularly impressive in
appearance, but %ith a personality that immediately marked him out. Ruth
had once said of him that he %as more like a dynamo than a human
being. )e usually concentrated entirely on %hat %as immediately
occupying his attention and paid no attention to the ob8ects or persons
%ho %ere surrounding them.
'/ bad blo%, dearest,' he said. 'hat boy, !ackie 5lint. 2ack at his tricks
again. /nd $ really did think he meant to go straight this time if he got a
proper chance. )e %as most earnest about it. 4ou kno% %e found he'd
al%ays been keen on rail%ays + and both Maverick and $ thought that if he
got a 8ob on the rail%ays he'd stick to it and make good. 2ut it's the same
story. 7etty thieving from the parcels office. -ot even stuff he could %ant
or sell. hat sho%s that it must be psychological. We haven't really got to
the root of the trouble. 2ut $'m not giving up.'
'#e%is + this is my old friend, !ane Marple.'
'0h ho% d'you do,' said Mr &errocold absently. '&o glad + they'll prosecute,
of course. / nice lad, too, not too many brains, but a really nice boy.
9nspeakable home he came from. $...'
)e suddenly broke off, and the dynamo %as s%itched on to the guest.
'Why, Miss Marple, $'m so delighted you've come to stay %ith us for a
%hile. $t %ill make such a great difference to Caroline to have a friend of
old days %ith %hom she can e'change memories. &he has in many %ays
a grim time here + so much sadness in the stories of these poor children.
We do hope you'll stay %ith us a very long time.'
Miss Marple felt the magnetism and reali:ed ho% attractive it %ould have
been to her friend. hat #e%is &errocold %as a man %ho %ould al%ays
put causes before people she did not doubt for a moment. $t might have
irritated some %omen, but not Carrie #ouise.
#e%is &errocold sorted out another letter.
'/t any rate %e've some good ne%s. his is from the Wiltshire and
&omerset 2ank. 4oung Morris is doing e'tremely %ell. hey're thoroughly
satisfied %ith him and in fact are promoting him ne't month. $ al%ays
kne% that all he needed %as responsibility + that, and a thorough grasp of
the handling of money and %hat it means.'
)e turned to Miss Marple.
')alf these boys don't kno% %hat money is. $t represents to them going to
the pictures or to the dogs, or buying cigarettes + and they're clever %ith
figures and find it e'citing to 8uggle them round. Well, $ believe in %hat
shall $ say" + rubbing their noses in the stuff + train them in accountancy,
in figures + sho% them the %hole inner romance of money, so to speak.
3ive them skill and then responsibility + let them handle it officially. 0ur
greatest successes have been that %ay + only t%o out of thirty+eight have
let us do%n. 0ne's head cashier in a firm of druggists + a really
responsible position...'
)e broke off to say> 'ea's in, dearest,' to his %ife.
'$ thought %e %ere having it here. $ told !olly.'
'-o, it's in the )all. he others are there.'
'$ thought they %ere all going to be out.'
Carrie #ouise linked her arm through Miss Marple's and they %ent into the
3reat )all. ea seemed a rather incongruous meal in its surroundings.
he tea things %ere piled hapha:ard on a tray + %hite utility cups mi'ed
%ith the remnants of %hat had been Rockingham and &pode tea services.
here %as a loaf of bread, t%o pots of 8am, and some cheap and
un%holesome+looking cakes.
/ plump middle+aged %oman %ith grey hair sat behind the tea table and
Mrs &errocold said>
'his is Mildred, !ane. My daughter Mildred. 4ou haven't seen her since
she %as a tiny girl.'
Mildred &trete %as the person most in tune %ith the house that Miss
Marple had so far seen. &he looked prosperous and dignified. &he had
married late in her thirties a Canon of the Church of *ngland and %as
no% a %ido%. &he looked e'actly like a Canon's %ido%, respectable and
slightly dull. &he %as a plain %oman %ith a large une'pressive face and
dull eyes. &he had been, Miss Marple reflected, a very plain little girl.
'/nd this is Wally )udd + 3ina's husband.'
Wally %as a big young man %ith hair brushed up on his head and a sulky
e'pression. )e nodded a%k%ardly and %ent on cramming cake into his
mouth.
7resently 3ina came in %ith &tephen Restarick. hey %ere both very
animated.
'3ina's got a %onderful idea for that backcloth,' said &tephen. '4ou kno%,
3ina, you've got a very definite flair for theatrical designing.'
3ina laughed and looked pleased. *dgar #a%son came in and sat do%n
by #e%is &errocold. When 3ina spoke to him, he made a pretence of not
ans%ering.
Miss Marple found it all a little be%ildering and %as glad to go to her room
and lie do%n after tea.
here %ere more people still at dinner, a young ,r Maverick %ho %as
either a psychiatrist or a psychologist + Miss Marple %as rather ha:y about
the difference + and %hose conversation, dealing almost entirely %ith the
8argon of his trade, %as practically unintelligible to her. here %ere also
t%o spectacled young men %ho held posts on the teaching side, and a Mr
2aumgarten, %ho %as an occupational therapist, and three intensely
bashful youths %ho %ere doing their 'house guest' %eek. 0ne of them, a
fairhaired lad %ith very blue eyes %as, 3ina informed her in a %hisper, the
e'pert %ith the 'cosh.'
he meal %as not a particularly appeti:ing one. $t %as indifferently cooked
and indifferently served. / variety of costumes %ere %orn. Miss 2ellever
%ore a high black dress, Mildred &trete %ore evening dress and a %oollen
cardigan over it. Carrie #ouise had on a short dress of grey %ool + 3ina
%as resplendent in a kind of peasant get up. Wally had not changed, nor
had &tephen Restarick, *dgar #a%son had on a neat dark blue suit.
#e%is &errocold %ore the conventional dinner 8acket. )e ate very little and
hardly seemed to notice %hat %as on his plate.
/fter dinner #e%is &errocold and ,r Maverick %ent a%ay to the latter's
office. he occupational therapist and the schoolmasters %ent a%ay to
some lair of their o%n. he three 'cases' %ent back to the college. 3ina
and &tephen %ent to the theatre to discuss 3ina's idea for a set. Mildred
knitted an indeterminate garment and Miss 2ellever darned socks. Wally
sat in a chair gently tilted back%ards and stared into space. Carrie #ouise
and Miss Marple talked about old days. he conversation seemed
strangely unreal.
*dgar #a%son alone seemed unable to find a niche. )e sat do%n and
then got up restlessly.
'$ %onder if $ ought to go to Mr &errocold,' he said rather loudly. ')e may
need me.'
Carrie #ouise said gently, '0h $ don't think so. )e %as going to talk over
one or t%o points %ith ,r Maverick this evening.'
'hen $ certainly %on't butt in. $ shouldn't dream of going %here $ %asn't
%anted. $'ve already %asted time today going do%n to the station %hen
Mrs )udd meant to go herself.'
'&he ought to have told you,' said Carrie #ouise. '2ut $ think she 8ust
decided at the last moment.'
'4ou do reali:e, Mrs &errocold, that she made me look a complete fool. /
complete fool.'
'-o, no,' said Carrie #ouise, smiling. '4ou mustn't have these ideas.'
'$ kno% $'m not needed or %anted... $'m perfectly a%are of that. $f things
had been different + if $'d had my proper place in life it %ould be very
different. Very different indeed. $t's no fault of mine that $ haven't got my
proper place in life.'
'-o%, *dgar,' said Carrie #ouise. ',on't %ork yourself up about nothing.
!ane thinks it %as very kind of you to meet her. 3ina al%ays has these
sudden impulses + she didn't mean to upset you.'
'0h yes, she did. $t %as done on purpose + to humiliate me...'
'0h *dgar...'
'4ou don't kno% half of %hat's going on, Mrs &errocold. Well, $ %on't say
any more no% e'cept goodnight.'
*dgar %ent out, shutting the door %ith a slam behind him.
Miss 2ellever snorted>
'/trocious manners.'
')e's so sensitive,' said Carrie #ouise vaguely.
Mildred &trete clicked her needles and said sharply>
')e really is a most odious young man. 4ou shouldn't put up %ith such
behaviour, Mother.'
'#e%is says he can't help it.'
Mildred said sharply>
'*veryone can help behaving rudely. 0f course $ blame 3ina very much.
&he's so completely scatter+brained in everything she undertakes. &he
does nothing but make trouble. 0ne day she encourages the young man
and the ne't day she snubs him. What can you e'pect"'
Wally )udd spoke for the first time that evening. )e said>
'hat guy's crackers. hat's all there is to it. Crackers.'
$$
$n her bedroom that night Miss Marple tried to revie% the pattern of
&tonygates, but it %as as yet too confused.
here %ere currents and cross+currents here + but %hether they could
account for Ruth Van Rydock's uneasiness it %as impossible to tell. $t did
not seem to Miss Marple that Carrie #ouise %as affected in any %ay by
%hat %as going on round her. &tephen %as in love %ith 3ina. 3ina might
or might not be in love %ith &tephen. Walter )udd %as clearly not
en8oying himself. hese %ere incidents that might and did occur in all
places and at most times. here %as, unfortunately, nothing e'ceptional
about them. hey ended in the divorce court and everybody hopefully
started again %hen fresh tangles %ere created. Mildred &trete %as clearly
8ealous of 3ina and disliked her. hat, Miss Marple thought, %as very
natural.
&he thought over %hat Ruth Van Rydock had told her. Carrie #ouise's
disappointment at not having a child the adoption of little 7ippa + and then
the discovery that, after all, a child %as on the %ay.
'0ften happens like that,' Miss Marple's doctor had told her. 'Relief of
tension, maybe, and then -ature can do its %ork.'
)e had added that it %as usually hard lines on the adopted child.
2ut that had not been so in this case. 2oth 3ulbrandsen and his %ife had
adored little 7ippa. &he had made her place too firmly in their hearts to be
lightly set aside. 3ulbrandsen %as already a father. 7aternity meant
nothing ne% to him. Carrie #ouise's maternal yearnings had been
assuaged by 7ippa. )er pregnancy had been uncomfortable and the
actual birth difficult and prolonged.
7ossibly Carrie #ouise, %ho had never cared for reality, did not en8oy her
first brush %ith it.
here remained t%o little girls gro%ing up, 0ne pretty and amusing, the
other plain and dull. Which again, Miss Marple thought, %as (uite natural.
5or %hen people adopt a baby girl, they choose a pretty one. /nd though
Mildred might have been lucky and taken after the Martins %ho had
produced handsome Ruth and dainty Carrie #ouise, -ature elected that
she should take after the 3ulbrandsens, %ho %ere large and stolid and
uncompromisingly plain.
Moreover, Carrie #ouise %as determined that the adopted child should
never feel her position, and in making sure of this she %as over+indulgent
to 7ippa and sometimes less than fair to Mildred.
7ippa had married and gone a%ay to $taly, and Mildred for a time had
been the only daughter of the house. 2ut then 7ippa had died and Carrie
#ouise had brought 7ippa's baby back to &tonygates, and once more
Mildred had been out of it. here had been the ne% marriage + the
Restarick boys. $n 1@AF Mildred had married Canon &trete, a scholarly
anti(uarian about fifteen years her senior and had gone a%ay to live in
the &outh of *ngland. 7resumably she had been happy + but one did not
really kno%. here had been no children. /nd no% here she %as, back
again in the same house %here she had been brought up. /nd once
again, Miss Marple thought, not particularly happy in it.
3ina, &tephen, Wally, Mildred, Miss 2ellever %ho liked an ordered routine
and %as unable to enforce it. #e%is &errocold %ho %as clearly blissfully
and %hole+heartedly happy6 an idealist able to translate his ideals into
practical measures. $n none of these personalities did Miss Marple find
%hat Ruth's %ords had led her to believe she might find. Carrie #ouise
seemed secure, remote at the heart of the %hirlpool + as she had been all
her life. What then, in that atmosphere, had Ruth felt to be %rong..." ,id
she, !ane Marple, feel it also"
What of the outer personalities of the %hirlpool + the occupational
therapists, the schoolmasters, earnest, harmless young men, confident
young ,r Maverick, the three pink+faced innocent+eyed young delin(uents
+ *dgar #a%son...
/nd here, 8ust before she fell asleep, Miss Marple's thoughts stopped and
revolved speculatively round the figure of *dgar #a%son. *dgar #a%son
reminded her of someone or something. here %as something a little
%rong about *dgar #a%son + perhaps more than a little. *dgar #a%son
%as malad8usted + that %as the phrase, %asn't it" 2ut surely that didn't,
and couldn't touch Carrie #ouise"'
Mentally, Miss Marple shook her head.
What %orried her %as something more than that.
Chapter G
3ently eluding her hostess the ne't morning, Miss Marple %ent out into
the gardens. heir condition distressed her. hey had once been an
ambitiously set out achievement. Clumps of rhododendrons, smooth
slopes of la%ns, massed borders of herbaceous plants, clipped
bo'hedges surrounding a formal rose garden. -o% all %as largely
derelict, the la%ns raggedly mo%n, the borders full of %eeds %ith tangled
flo%ers struggling through them, the paths moss+covered and neglected.
he kitchen gardens, on the other hand, enclosed by red brick %alls, %ere
prosperous and %ell stocked. hat, presumably, %as because they had
an utility value. &o, also, a large portion of %hat had once been la%n and
flo%er garden, %as no% fenced off and laid out in tennis courts and a
bo%ling green.
&urveying the herbaceous border, Miss Marple clicked her tongue
ve'edly and pulled up a flourishing plant of groundsel.
/s she stood %ith it in her hand, *dgar #a%son came into vie%. &eeing
Miss Marple, he stopped and hesitated. Miss Marple had no mind to let
him escape. &he called him briskly. When he came, she asked him if he
kne% %here any gardening tools %ere kept.
*dgar said vaguely that there %as a gardener some%here %ho %ould
kno%.
'$t's such a pity to see this border so neglected,' t%ittered Miss Marple. '$'m
so fond of gardens.' /nd since it %as not her intention that *dgar should
go in search of any necessary implement she %ent on (uickly>
'$t's about all an old and useless %oman can find to do. -o% $ don't
suppose you ever bother your head about gardens, Mr #a%son. 4ou have
so much real and important %ork to do. 2eing in a responsible position
here, %ith Mr &errocold. 4ou must find it all most interesting.'
)e ans%ered (uickly, almost eagerly>
'4es + yes + it is interesting.'
'/nd you must be of the greatest assistance to Mr &errocold.'
)is face darkened.
'$ don't kno%. $ can't be sure. $t's %hat's behind it all...'
)e broke off. Miss Marple %atched him thoughtfully. / pathetic
undersi:ed young man in a neat dark suit. / young man that fe% people
%ould look at t%ice, or remember if they did look...
here %as a garden seat nearby and Miss Marple drifted to%ards it and
sat. *dgar stood fro%ning in front of her.
'$'m sure,' said Miss Marple brightly, 'that Mr &errocold relies on you a
great deal.'
'$ don't kno%,' said *dgar. '$ really don't kno%.' )e fro%ned and almost
absently sat do%n beside her. '$'m in a very difficult position.'
'0f course,' said Miss Marple.
he young man *dgar sat staring in front of him.
'his is all highly confidential,' he said suddenly.
'0f course,' said Miss Marple.
'$f $ had my rights...'
'4es"'
'$ might as %ell tell you... 4ou %on't let it go any further $'m sure"'
'0h no.' &he noticed he did not %ait for her disclaimer.
'My father + actually, my father is a very important man.'
his time there %as no need to say anything. &he had only to listen.
'-obody kno%s e'cept Mr &errocold. 4ou see, it might pre8udice my
father's position if the story got out.'
)e turned to her. )e smiled. / sad dignified smile. '4ou see, $'m Winston
Churchill's son.'
'0h,' said Miss Marple. '$ see.'
/nd she did see. &he remembered a rather sad story in &t Mary Mead +
and the %ay it had gone.
*dgar #a%son %ent on, and %hat he said had the familiarity of a stage
scene.
'here %ere reasons. My mother %asn't free. )er o%n husband %as in an
asylum + there could be no divorce no (uestion of marriage. $ don't really
blame them. /t least, $ think $ don't... )e's done, al%ays, everything he
could. ,iscreetly, of course. /nd that's %here the trouble has arisen. )e's
got enemies + and they're against me, too. hey've managed to keep us
apart. hey %atch me. Wherever $ go, they spy on me. /nd they make
things go %rong for me.'
Miss Marple shook her head.
',ear, dear,' she said.
'$n #ondon $ %as studying to be a doctor. hey tampered %ith my e'ams +
they altered the ans%ers. hey %anted me to fail. hey follo%ed me about
the streets. hey told things about me to my landlady. hey hound me
%herever $ go.'
'0h, but you can't be sure of that,' said Miss Marple soothingly.
'$ tell you $ kno%. 0h they're very cunning. $ never get a glimpse of them or
find out %ho they are. 2ut $ shall find out... Mr &errocold took me a%ay
from #ondon and brought me do%n here. )e %as kind + very kind. 2ut
even here, you kno%, $'m not safe. hey're here too. Working against me.
Making the others dislike me. Mr &errocold says that isn't true + but Mr
&errocold doesn't kno%. 0r else + $ %onder + sometimes $'ve thought...'
)e broke off. )e got up.
'his is all confidential,' he said. '4ou do understand that, don't you" 2ut if
you notice anyone follo%ing me... spying, $ mean + you might let me kno%
%ho it is.'
)e %ent a%ay, then + neat, pathetic, insignificant. Miss Marple %atched
him and %ondered...
/ voice spoke.
'-uts,' it said. '!ust nuts.'
Walter )udd %as standing beside her. )is hands %ere thrust deep in his
pockets and he %as fro%ning as he stared after *dgar's retreating figure.
'What kind of a 8oint is this, any%ay"' he said. 'hey're all bughouse, the
%hole lot of them.'
Miss Marple said nothing and Walter %ent on>
'hat *dgar guy + %hat do you make of him" &ays his father's really #ord
Montgomery. ,oesn't seem likely to me. -ot Monty. -ot from all $'ve
heard about him.'
'-o,' said Miss Marple. '$t doesn't seem very likely.'
')e told 3ina something (uite different + some bunk about being really the
heir to the Russian throne + said he %as some 3rand ,uke's son or other.
)ell, doesn't the chap kno% %ho his father really %as"'
'$ should imagine not,' said Miss Marple. 'hat is probably 8ust the trouble.'
Walter sat do%n beside her, dropping his body on to the seat %ith a slack
movement. )e repeated his former statement.
'hey're all bughouse here.'
'4ou don't like being at &tonygates"'
he young man fro%ned.
'$ simply don't get it + that's all. $ don't get it. ake this place + the house +
the %hole set+up. hey're rich, these people. hey don't need dough +
they've got it. /nd look at the %ay they live. Cracked anti(ue china and
cheap plain stuff all mi'ed up. -o proper upper+class servants + 8ust some
casual hired help. apestries and drapes and chair+covers all satin and
brocade and stuff + and it's falling to pieces. 2ig silver tea urns and %hat
do you kno% + all yello% and tarnished for %ant of cleaning. Mrs &errocold
8ust doesn't care. #ook at that dress she had on last night. ,arned under
the arms, nearly %orn out + and yet she could go to a store and order
%hat she liked. 2ond &treet or %herever it is. ,ough" hey're rolling in
dough.'
)e paused and sat, deliberating.
'$ understand being poor. here's nothing much %rong %ith it. $f you're
young and strong and ready to %ork. $ never had much money, but $ %as
all set to get %here $ %anted. $ %as going to open a garage. $'d got a bit of
money put by. $ talked to 3ina about it. &he listened. &he seemed to
understand. $ didn't kno% much about her. /ll those girls in uniform, they
look about the same. $ mean you can't tell from looking at them %ho's got
dough and %ho hasn't. $ thought she %as a cut above me, perhaps,
education and all that. 2ut it didn't seem to matter> We fell for each other.
We got married. $'d got my bit put by and 3ina had some too, she told me.
We %ere going to set up a gas station back home + 3ina %as %illing. !ust
a couple of cra:y kids %e %ere + mad about each other. hen that snooty
aunt of 3ina's started making trouble... /nd 3ina %anted to come here to
*ngland to see her grandmother. Well, that seemed fair enough. $t %as
her home, and $ %as curious to see *ngland any%ay. $'d heard a lot about
it. &o %e came. !ust a visit + that's %hat $ thought.'
he fro%n became a sco%l.
'2ut it hasn't turned out like that. We're caught up in this cra:y business.
Why don't %e stay here + make our home here + that's %hat they say"
7lenty of 8obs for me. !obs. $ don't %ant a 8ob feeding candy to gangster
kids and helping them play at kids' games, %hat's the sense of it all" his
place could be s%ell + really s%ell. ,on't people %ho've got money
understand their luck" ,on't they understand that most of the %orld can't
have a s%ell place like this and that they've got one" $sn't it plain cra:y to
kick your luck %hen you've got it" $ don't mind %orking if $'ve got to. 2ut $'ll
%ork the %ay $ like and at %hat $ like + and $'ll %ork to get some%here. his
place makes me feel $'m tangled up in a spider's %eb. /nd 3ina + $ can't
make 3ina out. &he's not the same girl $ married over in the &tates. $ can't
+ dang it all + $ can't even talk to her no%. 0h hell.'
Miss Marple said gently>
'$ (uite see your point of vie%.'
Wally shot a s%ift glance at her.
'4ou're the only one $'ve shot my mouth off to so far. Most of the time $
shut up like a clam. ,on't kno% %hat it is about you + you're *nglish right
enough, really *nglish + but in the darndest %ay you remind me of my
/unt 2etsy back home.'
'-o% that's very nice.'
'/ lot of sense she had,' Wally continued reflectively. '#ooked as frail as
though you could snap her in t%o, but actually she %as tough + yes, sir, $'ll
say she %as tough.'
)e got up.
'&orry talking to you this %ay,' he apologi:ed. 5or the first time, Miss
Marple sa% him smile. $t %as a very attractive smile, and Wally )udd %as
suddenly transfigured from an a%k%ard sulky boy into a handsome and
appealing young man. ')ad to get things off my chest, $ suppose. 2ut too
bad picking on you.'
'-ot at all, my dear boy,' said Miss Marple. '$ have a nephe% of my o%n +
only, of course, a great deal older than you are.'
)er mind d%elt for a moment on the sophisticated modern %riter
Raymond West. / greater contrast to Walter )udd could not have been
imagined.
'4ou've got other company coming,' said Walter )udd. 'hat dame doesn't
like me. &o $'ll (uit. &o long, ma'am. hanks for the talk.'
)e strode a%ay and Miss Marple %atched Mildred &trete coming across
the la%n to 8oin her.
$$
'$ see you've been victimi:ed by that terrible young man,' said Mrs &trete,
rather breathlessly, as she sank do%n on the seat. 'What a tragedy that
is.'
'/ tragedy"'
'3ina's marriage. $t all came about from sending her off to /merica. $ told
mother at the time it %as most un%ise. /fter all, this is (uite a (uiet
district. We had hardly any raids here. $ do so dislike the %ay many
people gave %ay to panic about their families + and themselves, too, very
often.'
'$t must have been difficult to decide %hat %as right to do,' said Miss
Marple thoughtfully. 'Where children %ere concerned, $ mean. With the
prospect of possible invasion, it might have meant their being brought up
under a 3erman rgime + as %ell as the danger of bombs.'
'/ll nonsense,' said Mrs &trete. '$ never had the least doubt that %e should
%in. 2ut mother has al%ays been (uite unreasonable %here 3ina is
concerned. he child %as al%ays spoilt and indulged in every %ay. here
%as absolutely no need to take her a%ay from $taly in the first place.'
')er father raised no ob8ection, $ understand"'
'0h &an &everiano. 4ou kno% %hat $talians are. -othing matters to them
but money. )e married 7ippa for her money, of course.'
',ear me. $ al%ays understood he %as very devoted to her and %as (uite
inconsolable at her death.'
')e pretended to be, no doubt. Why mother ever countenanced her
marrying a foreigner, $ can't imagine. !ust the usual /merican pleasure in
a title, $ suppose.'
Miss Marple said mildly>
'$ al%ays thought that dear Carrie #ouise %as almost too un%orldly in her
attitude to life.'
'0h, $ kno%. $'ve no patience %ith it. Mother's fads and %hims and
idealistic pro8ects. 4ou've no idea, /unt !ane, of all that it has meant. $
can speak %ith kno%ledge, of course. $ %as brought up in the middle of it
all.'
$t %as %ith a very faint shock that Miss Marple heard herself addressed as
/unt !ane. /nd yet that had been the convention of those times. )er
Christmas presents to Carrie #ouise's children %ere al%ays labelled 'With
love from /unt !ane,' and as '/unt !ane' they thought of her, %hen they
thought of her at all. Which %as not, Miss Marple supposed, very often.
&he looked thoughtfully at the middle+aged %oman sitting beside her. /t
the pursed tight mouth, the deep lines from the nose do%n, the hands
tightly pressed together.
&he said gently>
'4ou must have had + a difficult childhood.'
Mildred &trete turned eager grateful eyes to her.
'0h $'m so glad that somebody appreciates that. 7eople don't really kno%
%hat children go through. 7ippa, you see, %as the pretty one. &he %as
older than $ %as, too. $t %as al%ays she %ho got all the attention. 2oth
father and mother encouraged her to push herself for%ard + not that she
needed any encouragement + to sho% off. $ %as al%ays the (uiet one. $
%as shy + 7ippa didn't kno% %hat shyness %as. / child can suffer a great
deal, /unt !ane.'
'$ kno% that,' said Miss Marple.
'1Mildred's so stupid1 + that's %hat 7ippa used to say. 2ut $ %as younger
than she %as. -aturally $ couldn't be e'pected to keep up %ith her in
lessons. /nd it's very unfair on a child %hen her sister is al%ays put in
front of her.
'1What a lovely little girl,1 people used to say to Mamma. hey never
noticed me. /nd it %as 7ippa that 7apa used to 8oke and play %ith.
&omeone ought to have seen ho% hard it %as on me. /ll the notice and
attention going to her. $ %asn't old enough to reali:e that it's character that
matters.'
)er lips trembled, then hardened again.
'/nd it %as unfair + really unfair + $ %as their o%n child. 7ippa %as only
adopted. $ %as the daughter of the house. &he %as + nobody.'
'7robably they %ere e'tra indulgent to her on that account,' said Miss
Marple.
'hey liked her best,' said Mildred &trete. /nd added>
'/ child %hose o%n parents didn't %ant her + or more probably illegitimate.'
&he %ent on>
'$t's come out in 3ina. here's bad blood there. 2lood %ill tell. #e%is can
have %hat theories he likes about environment. 2ad blood does tell. #ook
at 3ina.'
'3ina is a very lovely girl,' said Miss Marple.
')ardly in behaviour,' said Mrs &trete. '*veryone but mother notices ho%
she is carrying on %ith &tephen Restarick. ;uite disgusting, $ call it.
/dmittedly she made a very unfortunate marriage, but marriage is
marriage and one should be prepared to abide by it. /fter all, she chose
to marry that dreadful young man.'
'$s he so dreadful"'
'0h dear /unt !ane. )e really looks to me (uite like a gangster. /nd so
surly and rude. )e hardly opens his mouth. /nd he al%ays looks so ra%
and uncouth.'
')e is unhappy, $ think,' said Miss Marple mildly.
'$ really don't kno% %hy he should be + apart from 3ina's behaviour, $
mean. *verything has been done for him here. #e%is has suggested
several %ays in %hich he could try to make himself useful + but he prefers
to skulk about doing nothing.'
&he burst out> '0h this %hole place is impossible, (uite impossible. #e%is
thinks of nothing but these horrible young criminals. /nd mother thinks of
nothing but him. *verything #e%is does is right. #ook at the state of the
garden + the %eeds + the overgro%th. /nd the house + nothing properly
done. 0h $ kno% a domestic staff is difficult no%adays, but it can be got.
$t's not as though there %ere any shortage of money. $t's 8ust that nobody
cares. $f it %ere my house +' &he stopped.
'$'m afraid,' said Miss Marple, 'that %e have all to face the fact that
conditions are different. hese large establishments are a great problem.
$t must be sad for you, in a %ay, to come back here and find everything so
different. ,o you really prefer living here to + %ell + some%here of your
o%n"'
Mildred &trete flushed.
'/fter all, it's my home,' she said. '$t %as my father's house. -othing can
alter that. $'ve a right to be here if $ choose. /nd $ do choose. $f only
mother %ere not so impossible. &he %on't even buy herself proper
clothes. $t %orries !olly a lot.'
'$ %as going to ask you about Miss 2ellever.'
'&uch a comfort having her here. &he adores mother. &he's been %ith her
a long time no% + she came in !ohn Restarick's time. /nd %as %onderful,
$ believe, during the %hole sad business. $ e'pect you heard that he ran
a%ay %ith a dreadful 4ugoslavian %oman + a most abandoned creature.
&he'd had any amount of lovers, $ believe. Mother %as very fine and
dignified about it all. ,ivorced him as (uietly as possible. *ven %ent so far
as to have the Restarick boys for their holidays + (uite unnecessary,
really, other arrangements could have been made. $t %ould have been
unthinkable, of course, to have let them go to their father and that %oman.
/ny%ay, mother had them here... /nd Miss 2ellever stood by all through
things and %as a to%er of strength. $ sometimes think she makes mother
even more vague than she need be, by doing all the practical things
herself. 2ut $ really don't kno% %hat mother %ould do %ithout her.'
&he paused and then remarked in a tone of surprise>
')ere is #e%is. )o% odd. )e seldom comes out in the garden.'
Mr &errocold came to%ards them in the same single+minded %ay that he
did everything. )e appeared not to notice Mildred, because it %as only
Miss Marple %ho %as in his mind.
'$'m so sorry,' he said. '$ %anted to take you round our institution and sho%
you everything. Caroline asked me to. 9nfortunately $ have to go off to
#iverpool. he case of that boy and the rail%ay parcels office. 2ut
Maverick %ill take you. )e'll be here in a fe% minutes. $ shan't be back
until the day after tomorro%. $t %ill be splendid if %e can get them not to
prosecute.'
Mildred &trete got up and %alked a%ay. #e%is &errocold did not notice
her go. )is earnest eyes ga:ed at Miss Marple through thick glasses.
'4ou see,' he said, 'the Magistrates nearly al%ays take the %rong vie%.
&ometimes they're too severe, but sometimes they're too lenient. $f these
boys get a sentence of a fe% months it's no deterrent + they get a kind of a
kick out of it, even. 2oast about it to their girl friends. 2ut a severe
sentence often sobers them. hey reali:e that the game isn't %orth it. 0r
else it's better not to serve a prison sentence at all. Corrective training +
constructional training like %e have here...'
Miss Marple interrupted him.
'Mr &errocold,' she said. '/re you (uite satisfied about young Mr #a%son.
$s he + is he (uite normal"'
/ disturbed e'pression appeared on #e%is &errocold's face.
'$ do hope he's not relapsing. What has he been saying"'
')e told me that he %as Winston Churchill's son +'
'0f course + of course. he usual statements. )e's illegitimate, as you've
probably guessed, poor lad, and of very humble beginnings. )e %as a
case recommended to me by a &ociety in #ondon. )e'd assaulted a man
in the street %ho he said %as spying on him. /ll very typical + ,r Maverick
%ill tell you. $ %ent into his case history. Mother %as of a poor class but a
respectable family in 7lymouth. 5ather a sailor + she didn't even kno% his
name... Child brought up in difficult circumstances. &tarted romancing
about his father and later about himself. Wore uniform and decorations he
%asn't entitled to + all (uite typical. 2ut Maverick considers the prognosis
hopeful. $f %e can give him confidence in himself. $'ve given him
responsibility here, tried to make him appreciate that it's not a man's birth
that matters but %hat he is. $'ve tried to give him confidence in his o%n
ability. he improvement %as marked. $ %as very happy about him. /nd
no% you say +'
)e shook his head.
'Mightn't he be dangerous, Mr &errocold"'
',angerous" $ don't think he has sho%n any suicidal tendencies.'
'$ %asn't thinking of suicide. )e talked to me of enemies + of persecution.
$sn't that, forgive me + a dangerous sign"'
'$ don't really think it has reached such a pitch. 2ut $'ll speak to Maverick.
&o far, he has been hopeful + very hopeful.'
)e looked at his %atch.
'$ must go. /h, here is our dear !olly. &he %ill take charge of you.'
Miss 2ellever, arriving briskly, said, 'he car is at the door, Mr &errocold.
,r Maverick rang through from the $nstitute. $ said $ %ould bring Miss
Marple over. )e %ill meet us at the gates.'
'hank you. $ must go. My briefcase"'
'$n the car, Mr &errocold.'
#e%is &errocold hurried a%ay. #ooking after him, Miss 2ellever said>
'&ome day that man %ill drop dead in his tracks. $t's against human nature
never to rela' or rest. )e only sleeps four hours a night.'
')e is very devoted to this cause,' said Miss Marple.
'-ever thinks of anything else,' said Miss 2ellever grimly. '-ever dreams
of looking after his %ife or considering her in any %ay. &he's a s%eet
creature, as you kno%, Miss Marple, and she ought to have love and
attention. 2ut nothing's thought of or considered here e'cept a lot of
%hining boys and young men %ho %ant to live easily and dishonestly and
don't care about the idea of doing a little hard %ork. What about the
decent boys from decent homes" Why isn't something done for them"
)onesty 8ust isn't interesting to cranks like Mr &errocold and ,r Maverick
and all the bunch of half+baked sentimentalists %e've got here. $ and my
brothers %ere brought up the hard %ay, Miss Marple, and %e %eren't
encouraged to %hine. &oft, that's %hat the %orld is no%adays.'
hey had crossed the garden and passed through a palisaded gate and
had come to the arched gate %hich *ric 3ulbrandsen had erected as an
entrance to his College, a sturdily built, hideous, red brick building. ,r
Maverick, looking, Miss Marple decided, distinctly abnormal himself, came
out to meet them.
'hank you, Miss 2ellever,' he said. '-o%, Miss + er oh yes, Miss Marple +
$'m sure you're going to be interested in %hat %e're doing here. $n our
splendid approach to this great problem. Mr &errocold is a man of great
insight + great vision. /nd %e've got &ir !ohn &till%ell behind us + my old
chief. )e %as at the )ome 0ffice until he retired and his influence turned
the scales in getting this started. $t's a medical problem + that's %hat %e've
got to get the legal authorities to understand. 7sychiatry came into its o%n
in the %ar. he one positive good that did come out of it + -o% first of all $
%ant you to see our initial approach to the problem. #ook up +'
Miss Marple looked up at the %ords carved over the large arched
door%ay>
R*C0V*R )07* /## 4* W)0 *-*R )*R*
'$sn't that splendid. $sn't that 8ust the right note to strike. 4ou don't %ant to
scold these lads + or punish them. hat's %hat they're hankering after half
the time, punishment. We %ant to make them feel %hat fine fello%s they
are.'
'#ike *dgar #a%son"' said Miss Marple.
'$nteresting case, that. )ave you been talking to him"'
')e has been talking to me,' said Miss Marple. &he added apologetically,
'$ %ondered if, perhaps, he isn't a little mad"'
,r Maverick laughed cheerfully.
'We're all mad, dear lady,' he said as he ushered her in through the door.
'hat's the secret of e'istence. We're all a little mad.'
Chapter C
0n the %hole it %as rather an e'hausting day. *nthusiasm in itself can be
e'tremely %earing, Miss Marple thought. &he felt vaguely dissatisfied %ith
herself and her o%n reactions. here %as a pattern here, perhaps several
patterns, and yet she herself could obtain no clear glimpse of it or them.
/ny vague dis(uietude she felt centred round the pathetic but
inconspicuous personality of *dgar #a%son. $f she could only find in her
memory the right parallel.
7ainstakingly she re8ected the curious behaviour of Mr &elkirk's delivery
van + the absent+minded postman + the gardener %ho %orked on Whit
Monday + and that very curious affair of the summer %eight combinations.
&omething that she could not (uite put her finger on %as %rong about
*dgar #a%son + something that %ent beyond the observed and admitted
facts. 2ut for the life of her, Miss Marple did not see ho% that %rongness,
%hatever it %as, affected her friend Carrie #ouise. $n the confused
patterns of life at &tonygates people's troubles and desires impinged on
each other. 2ut none of them <again as far as she could see= impinged on
Carrie #ouise. Carrie #ouise... &uddenly Miss Marple reali:ed that it %as
she alone, e'cept for the absent Ruth, %ho used that name. o her
husband, she %as Caroline. o Miss 2ellever, Cara. &tephen Restarick
usually addressed her as Madonna. o Wally she %as formally Mrs
&errocold, and 3ina elected to address her as 3randam + a mi'ture, she
had e'plained, of 3rande ,ame and 3randmamma.
Was there some significance, perhaps, in the various names that %ere
found for Caroline #ouise &errocold" Was she to all of them a symbol and
not (uite a real person"
When on the follo%ing morning Carrie #ouise, dragging her feet a little as
she %alked, came and sat do%n on the garden seat beside her friend and
asked her %hat she %as thinking about, Miss Marple replied promptly>
'4ou, Carrie #ouise.'
'What about me"'
'ell me honestly + is there anything here that %orries you"'
'Worries me"' he %oman raised %ondering clear blue eyes. '2ut !ane,
%hat should %orry me"'
'Well, most of us have %orries.' Miss Marple's eyes t%inkled a little. '$
have. &lugs, you kno% + and the difficulty of getting linen properly darned
+ and not being able to get sugar candy for making my damson gin. 0h,
lots of little things + it seems unnatural that you shouldn't have any %orries
at all.'
'$ suppose $ must have really,' said Mrs &errocold vaguely. '#e%is %orks
too hard, and &tephen forgets his meals slaving at the theatre, and 3ina
is very 8umpy + but $'ve never been able to alter people + $ don't see ho%
you can. &o it %ouldn't be any good %orrying, %ould it"'
'Mildred's not very happy, either, is she"'
'0h no,' said Carrie #ouise. 'Mildred never is happy. &he %asn't as a child.
;uite unlike 7ippa, %ho %as al%ays radiant.'
'7erhaps,' suggested Miss Marple, 'Mildred had cause not to be happy"'
Carrie #ouise said (uietly>
'2ecause of being 8ealous" 4es, $ daresay. 2ut people don't really need a
cause for feeling %hat they do feel. hey're 8ust made that %ay. ,on't you
think so, !ane"'
Miss Marple thought briefly of Miss Moncrieff, a slave to a tyrannical
invalid mother. 7oor Miss Moncrieff %ho longed for travel and to see the
%orld. /nd of ho% &t Mary Mead in a decorous %ay had re8oiced %hen
Mrs Moncrieff %as laid in the churchyard and Miss Moncrieff, %ith a nice
little income, %as free at last. /nd of ho% Miss Moncrieff, starting on her
travels, had got no farther than 7aris %here, calling to see one of mother's
oldest friends, she had been so moved by the plight of an elderly
hypochondriac that she had cancelled her travel reservations and taken
up her abode in the villa to be bullied, over+%orked, and to long %istfully,
once more, for the 8oys of a %ider hori:on.
Miss Marple said>
'$ e'pect you're right, Carrie #ouise.'
'0f course my being so free from cares is partly due to !olly. ,ear !olly.
&he came to me %hen !ohnnie and $ %ere 8ust married and %as
%onderful from the first. &he takes care of me as though $ %ere a baby
and (uite helpless. &he'd do anything for me. $ feel (uite ashamed
sometimes. $ really believe !olly %ould murder someone for me, !ane.
$sn't that an a%ful thing to say"'
'&he's certainly very devoted,' agreed Miss Marple.
'&he gets so indignant.' Mrs &errocold's silvery laugh rang out. '&he'd like
me to be al%ays ordering %onderful clothes, and surrounding myself %ith
lu'uries, and she thinks everybody ought to put me first and to dance
attendance on me. &he's the one person %ho's absolutely unimpressed
by #e%is's enthusiasm. /ll our poor boys are in her vie% pampered young
criminals and not %orth taking trouble over. &he thinks this place is damp
and bad for my rheumatism, and that $ ought to go to *gypt or some%here
%arm and dry.'
',o you suffer much from rheumatism"'
'$t's got much %orse lately. $ find it difficult to %alk. )orrid cramps in my
legs. 0h %ell +' again there came that be%itching elfin smile, 'age must
tell.'
Miss 2ellever came out of the french %indo%s and hurried across to them.
'/ telegram, Cara, 8ust come over the telephone. /rriving this afternoon,
Christian 3ulbrandsen.'
'Christian"' Carrie #ouise looked very surprised. '$'d no idea he %as in
*ngland.'
'he oak suite, $ suppose"'
'4es, please, !olly. hen there %ill be no stairs.'
Miss 2ellever nodded and turned back to the house.
'Christian 3ulbrandsen is my stepson,' said Carrie #ouise. '*ric's eldest
son. /ctually he's t%o years older than $ am. )e's one of the trustees of
the $nstitute + the principal trustee. )o% very annoying that #e%is is a%ay.
Christian hardly ever stays longer than one night. )e's an immensely
busy man. /nd there are sure to be so many things they %ould %ant to
discuss.'
Christian 3ulbrandsen arrived that afternoon in time for tea. )e %as a big
heavy+featured man, %ith a slo% methodical %ay of talking. )e greeted
Carrie #ouise %ith every sign of affection.
'/nd ho% is our little Carrie #ouise" 4ou do not look a day older. -ot a
day.'
)is hands on her shoulders + he stood smiling do%n at her. / hand
tugged his sleeve.
'Christian.'
'/h,' he turned + 'it is Mildred" )o% are you, Mildred"'
'$'ve not really been at all %ell lately.'
'hat is bad. hat is bad.'
here %as a strong resemblance bet%een Christian 3ulbrandsen and his
half+sister Mildred. here %as nearly thirty years' difference in age and
they might easily have been taken for father and daughter. Mildred herself
seemed particularly pleased by his arrival. &he %as flushed and talkative,
and had talked repeatedly during the day of 'my brother,' 'my brother
Christian,' 'my brother Mr 3ulbrandsen.'
'/nd ho% is little 3ina"' said 3ulbrandsen, turning to that young %oman.
'4ou and your husband are still here, then"'
'4es. We've (uite settled do%n, haven't %e, Wally"'
'#ooks like it,' said Wally.
3ulbrandsen's small shre%d eyes seemed to sum up Wally (uickly. Wally,
as usual, looked sullen and unfriendly.
'&o here $ am %ith all the family again,' said 3ulbrandsen.
)is voice displayed a rather determined geniality + but in actual fact, Miss
Marple thought, he %as not feeling particularly genial. here %as a grim
set to his lips and a certain preoccupation in his manner.
$ntroduced to Miss Marple, he s%ept a keen look over her as though
measuring and appraising this ne%comer.
'We'd no idea you %ere in *ngland, Christian,' said Mrs &errocold.
'-o, $ came over rather une'pectedly.'
'$t is too bad that #e%is is a%ay. )o% long can you stay"'
'$ meant to go tomorro%. When %ill #e%is be back"'
'omorro% afternoon or evening.'
'$t seems then that $ must stay another night.'
'$f you'd only let us kno% +'
'My dear Carrie #ouise, my arrangements, they %ere made very
suddenly.'
'4ou %ill stay to see #e%is"'
'4es, it is necessary that $ see #e%is.'
Miss 2ellever said to Miss Marple>
'Mr 3ulbrandsen and Mr &errocold are both trustees of the 3ulbrandsen
$nstitute. he others are the 2ishop of Cromer and Mr 3ilfoy.'
7resumably, then, it %as on business concerned %ith the 3ulbrandsen
$nstitute that Christian 3ulbrandsen had come to &tonygates. $t seemed
to be assumed so by Miss 2ellever and everyone else. /nd yet Miss
Marple %ondered.
0nce or t%ice the old man cast a thoughtful pu::led look at Carrie #ouise
%hen he %as not a%are of it + a look that pu::led Carrie #ouise's %atching
friend. 5rom Carrie #ouise he shifted his ga:e to the others, e'amining
them one and all %ith a kind of covert appraisal that seemed distinctly
odd.
/fter tea, Miss Marple %ithdre% tactfully from the others to the library, but
rather to her surprise %hen she had settled herself %ith her knitting,
Christian 3ulbrandsen came in and sat do%n beside her.
'4ou are a very old friend, $ think, of our dear Carrie #ouise"' he said.
'We %ere at school together in $taly, Mr 3ulbrandsen. Many many years
ago.'
'/h yes. /nd you are fond of her"'
'4es, indeed,' said Miss Marple %armly.
'&o, $ think, is everyone. 4es, $ truly think that. $t should be so. 5or she is a
very dear and enchanting person. /l%ays, since my father married her, $
and my brothers have loved her very much. &he has been to us like a
very dear sister. &he %as a faithful %ife to my father and loyal to all his
ideas. &he has never thought of herself, but put the %elfare of others first.'
'&he has al%ays been an idealist,' said Miss Marple.
'/n idealist" 4es. 4es, that is so. /nd therefore it may be that she does
not truly appreciate the evil that there is in the %orld.'
Miss Marple looked at him, surprised. )is face %as very stern.
'ell me,' he said. ')o% is her health"'
/gain Miss Marple felt surprised.
'&he seems to me very %ell + apart from arthritis + or rheumatism.'
'Rheumatism" 4es. /nd her heart" )er heart is good"'
'/s far as $ kno%.' Miss Marple %as still more surprised. '2ut until
yesterday $ had not seen her for many years. $f you %ant to kno% the
state of her health, you should ask somebody in the house here. Miss
2ellever, for instance.'
'Miss 2ellever + 4es, Miss 2ellever. 0r Mildred"'
'0r, as you say, Mildred.'
Miss Marple %as faintly embarrassed.
Christian 3ulbrandsen %as staring at her very hard.
'here is not bet%een the mother and daughter a very great sympathy,
%ould you say"'
'-o, $ don't think there is.'
'$ agree. $t is a pity + her only child, but there it is. -o% this Miss 2ellever,
you think, is really attached to her"'
'Very much so.'
'/nd Carrie #ouise leans on this Miss 2ellever"'
'$ think so.'
Christian 3ulbrandsen %as fro%ning. )e spoke as though more to himself
than to Miss Marple.
'here is the little 3ina + but she is so young. $t is difficult +' )e broke off.
'&ometimes,' he said simply, 'it is hard to kno% %hat is best to be done. $
%ish very much to act for the best. $ am particularly an'ious that no harm
and no unhappiness should come to that dear lady. 2ut it is not easy + not
easy at all.'
Mrs &trete came into the room at that moment.
'0h, there you are, Christian. We %ere %ondering %here you %ere. ,r
Maverick %ants to kno% if you %ould like to go over anything %ith him.'
'hat is the ne% young doctor here" -o + no, $ %ill %ait until #e%is returns.'
')e's %aiting in #e%is's study. $'ll go and tell him +'
'$ %ill have a %ord %ith him myself.'
3ulbrandsen hurried out. Mildred &trete stared after him and then stared
at Miss Marple.
'$ %onder if anything is %rong. Christian is very unlike himself... ,id he say
anything +'
')e only asked me about your mother's health.'
')er health" Why should he ask you about that"'
Mildred spoke sharply, her large s(uare face flushing unbecomingly.
'$ really don't kno%.'
'Mother's health is perfectly good. &urprisingly so for a %oman of her age.
Much better than mine as far as that goes.' &he paused a moment before
saying> '$ hope you told him so"'
'$ don't really kno% anything about it,' said Miss Marple. ')e asked me
about her heart.'
')er heart"'
'4es.'
'here's nothing %rong %ith mother's heart. -othing at all.'
'$'m delighted to hear you say so, my dear.'
'What on earth put all these (ueer ideas into Christian's head"'
'$'ve no idea,' said Miss Marple.
Chapter H
he ne't day passed uneventfully to all appearances, yet to Miss Marple
it seemed that there %ere signs of an inner tension. Christian
3ulbrandsen spent his morning %ith ,r Maverick in going round the
$nstitute and in discussing the general results of the $nstitute's policy. $n
the early afternoon 3ina took him for a drive, and after that Miss Marple
noticed that he induced Miss 2ellever to sho% him something in the
gardens. $t seemed to her that it %as a prete't for ensuring a tte++tte
%ith that grim %oman. /nd yet, if Christian 3ulbrandsen's une'pected
visit had only to do %ith business matters, %hy this %ish for Miss
2ellever's company, since the latter dealt only %ith the domestic side of
&tonygates"
2ut in all this, Miss Marple could tell herself that she %as being fanciful.
he one really disturbing incident of the day happened about four o'clock.
&he had brought up her knitting and had gone out in the garden to take a
little stroll before tea. Rounding a straggling rhododendron she came
upon *dgar #a%son, %ho %as striding along muttering to himself and %ho
nearly ran into her.
)e said, '$ beg your pardon,' hastily, but Miss Marple %as startled by the
(ueer staring e'pression of his eyes.
'/ren't you feeling %ell, Mr #a%son"'
'Well" )o% should $ be feeling %ell" $'ve had a shock + a terrible shock.'
'What kind of a shock"'
he young man gave a s%ift glance past her, and then a sharp uneasy
glance to either side. )is doing so gave Miss Marple a nervous feeling.
'&hall $ tell you"' )e looked at her doubtfully. '$ don't kno%. $ don't really
kno%. $'ve been so spied upon.'
Miss Marple made up her mind. &he took him firmly by the arm.
'$f %e %alk do%n this path... here, no%, there are no trees or bushes
near. -obody can overhear.'
'-o + no, you're right.' )e dre% a deep breath, bent his head and almost
%hispered his ne't %ords. '$'ve made a discovery. / terrible discovery.'
*dgar #a%son began to shake all over. )e %as almost %eeping.
'o have trusted someone. o have believed... and it %as lies + all lies.
#ies to keep me from finding out the truth. $ can't bear it. $t's too %icked.
4ou see, he %as the one person $ trusted, and no% to find out that all the
time he's been at the bottom of it all. $t's he %ho's been my enemy. $t's he
%ho has been having me follo%ed about and spied upon. 2ut he can't get
a%ay %ith it any more. $ shall speak out. $ shall tell him $ kno% %hat he
has been doing.'
'Who is 1he1"' demanded Miss Marple.
*dgar #a%son dre% himself up to his full height. )e might have looked
pathetic and dignified. 2ut actually he only looked ridiculous.
'$'m speaking of my father.'
'Viscount Montgomery + or do you mean Winston Churchill"'
*dgar thre% her a glance of scorn.
'hey let me think that + 8ust to keep me from guessing the truth. 2ut $
kno% no%. $'ve got a friend + a real friend. / friend %ho tells me the truth
and lets me kno% 8ust ho% $'ve been deceived. Well, my father %ill have to
reckon %ith me. $'ll thro% his lies in his face. $'ll challenge him %ith the
truth. We'll see %hat he's got to say to that.'
/nd suddenly breaking a%ay, *dgar %ent off at a run and disappeared in
the park.
)er face grave, Miss Marple %ent back to the house.
'We're all a little mad, dear lady,' ,r Maverick had said.
2ut it seemed to her that in *dgar's case it %ent rather further than that.
$$
#e%is &errocold arrived back at si'+thirty. )e stopped the car at the gates
and %alked to the house through the park. #ooking out of her %indo%,
Miss Marple sa% Christian 3ulbrandsen go out to meet him and the t%o
men, having greeted one another, turned and paced to and fro up and
do%n the terrace.
Miss Marple had been careful to bring her bird glasses %ith her. /t this
moment she brought them into action. Was there, or %as there not, a
flight of siskins by that far clump of trees"
&he noted as the glasses s%ept do%n before rising that both men %ere
looking seriously disturbed. Miss Marple leant out a little farther. &craps of
conversation floated up to her no% and then. $f either of the men should
look up, it %ould be (uite clear that an enraptured bird %atcher had her
attention luted on a point far removed from their conversation.
'... ho% to spare Carrie #ouise the kno%ledge +' 3ulbrandsen %as saying.
he ne't time they passed belo%, #e%is &errocold %as speaking.
'+ if it can be kept from her. $ agree that it is she %ho must be
considered...'
0ther faint snatches came to the listener.
'+ Really serious +', '+ not 8ustified +', '+ too big a responsibility to take +', '+
%e should, perhaps, take outside advice +'
5inally Miss Marple heard Christian 3ulbrandsen say>
'/ch, it gro%s cold. We must go inside.'
Miss Marple dre% her head in through the %indo% %ith a pu::led
e'pression. What she had heard %as too fragmentary to be easily pieced
together + but it served to confirm that vague apprehension that had been
gradually gro%ing upon her and about %hich Ruth Van Rydock had been
so positive.
Whatever %as %rong at &tonygates, it definitely affected Carrie #ouise.
$$$
,inner that evening %as a some%hat constrained meal. 2oth
3ulbrandsen and #e%is %ere absent+minded and absorbed in their o%n
thoughts. Walter )udd glo%ered even more than usual, and for once 3ina
and &tephen seemed to have little to say either to each other or to the
company at large. Conversation %as mostly sustained by ,r Maverick,
%ho had a lengthy technical discussion %ith Mr 2aumgarten, one of the
0ccupational herapists.
When they moved into the hall after dinner, Christian 3ulbrandsen
e'cused himself almost at once. )e said he had an important letter to
%rite.
'&o if you %ill forgive me, dear Carrie #ouise, $ %ill go no% to my room.'
'4ou have all you %ant there" !olly"'
'4es, yes. *verything. / type%riter, $ asked, and one has been put there.
Miss 2ellever has been most kind and attentive.'
)e left the 3reat )all by the door on the left %hich led past the foot of the
main staircase and along a corridor, at the end of %hich %as a suite of
bedroom and bathroom. When he had gone out Carrie #ouise said>
'-ot going do%n to the theatre tonight, 3ina"'
he girl shook her head. &he %ent over and sat by the %indo%
overlooking the front drive and the court.
&tephen glanced at her, then strolled over to the big grand piano. )e sat
do%n at it and strummed very softly + a (ueer melancholy little tune. he
t%o 0ccupational herapists, Mr 2aumgarten and Mr #acy, and ,r
Maverick, said goodnight and left. Walter turned on the s%itch of a
reading lamp and %ith a crackling noise half the lights in the hall %ent out.
)e gro%led.
'hat darned s%itch is al%ays faulty. $'ll go and put a ne% fuse in.'
)e left the )all and Carrie #ouise murmured, 'Wally's so clever %ith
electrical gadgets and things like that. 4ou remember ho% he fi'ed that
toaster"'
'$t seems to be all he does do here,' said Mildred &trete. 'Mother, have
you taken your tonic"'
Miss 2ellever looked annoyed.
'$ declare $ completely forgot tonight.' &he 8umped up and %ent into the
dining+room, returning presently %ith a small glass containing a little rose+
coloured fluid. &miling a little, Carrie #ouise held out an obedient hand.
'&uch horrid stuff and nobody lets me forget it,' she said, making a %ry
face.
/nd then, rather une'pectedly, #e%is &errocold said>
'$ don't think $ should take it tonight, my dear. $'m not sure it really agrees
%ith you.'
;uietly, but %ith that controlled energy al%ays so apparent in him, he took
the glass from Miss 2ellever and put it do%n on the big oak Welsh
dresser.
Miss 2ellever said sharply>
'Really, Mr &errocold, $ can't agree %ith you there. Mrs &errocold has
been very much better since +'
&he broke off and turned sharply.
he front door %as pushed violently open and allo%ed to s%ing to %ith a
crash. *dgar #a%son came into the big dim hall %ith the air of a star
performer making a triumphal entry.
)e stood in the middle of the floor and struck an attitude.
$t %as almost ridiculous + but not (uite ridiculous. *dgar said theatrically>
'&o $ have found you, 0 mine enemy.'
)e said it to #e%is &errocold.
Mr &errocold looked mildly astonished.
'Why, *dgar, %hat is the matter"'
'4ou can say that to me + you. 4ou kno% %hat's the matter. 4ou've been
deceiving me, spying on me, %orking %ith my enemies against me.'
#e%is took him by the arm.
'-o%, no%, my dear lad, don't e'cite yourself. ell me all about it (uietly.
Come into my office.'
)e led him across the )all and through a door on the right, closing it
behind him. /fter he had done so, there %as another sound, the sharp
sound of a key being turned in the lock.
Miss 2ellever looked at Miss Marple, the same idea in both their minds. $t
%as not #e%is &errocold %ho had turned the key.
Miss 2ellever said sharply> 'hat young man is 8ust about to go off his
head in my opinion. $t isn't safe.'
Mildred said> ')e's a most unbalanced young man and absolutely
ungrateful for everything that's been done for him + you ought to put your
foot do%n, Mother.'
With a faint sigh Carrie #ouise murmured>
'here's no harm in him really. )e's fond of #e%is. )e's very fond of him.'
Miss Marple looked at her curiously. here had been no fondness in the
e'pression that *dgar had turned on #e%is &errocold a fe% moments
previously, very far from it. &he %ondered, as she %ondered before, if
Carrie #ouise deliberately turned her back on reality. 3ina said sharply>
')e had something in his pocket. *dgar, $ mean. 7laying %ith it.'
&tephen murmured as he took his hands from the keys>
'$n a film it %ould certainly have been a revolver.'
Miss Marple coughed.
'$ think you kno%,' she said apologetically, 'it %as a revolver.'
5rom behind the closed door of #e%is's office the sound of voices had
been plainly discernible. -o%, suddenly, they became clearly audible.
*dgar #a%son shouted %hilst #e%is &errocold's voice kept its even
reasonable note.
'#ies + lies + lies, all lies. 4ou're my father. $'m your son. 4ou've deprived
me of my rights. $ ought to o%n this place. 4ou hate me + you %ant to get
rid of me.'
here %as a soothing murmur from #e%is and then the hysterical voice
rose still higher. $t screamed out foul epithets. *dgar seemed rapidly
losing control of himself.
0ccasional %ords came from #e%is + 'calm + 8ust be calm + you kno% none
of this is true +' 2ut they seemed not to soothe, but on the contrary to
enrage the young man still further.
$nsensibly everyone in the hall %as silent, listening intently to %hat %ent
on behind the locked door of #e%is's study.
'$'ll make you listen to me,' yelled *dgar. '$'ll take that supercilious
e'pression off your face. $'ll have revenge, $ tell you. Revenge for all
you've made me suffer.'
he other voice came curtly, unlike #e%is's usual unemotional tones.
'7ut that revolver do%n.'
3ina cried sharply>
'*dgar %ill kill him. )e's cra:y. Can't %e get the police or something"'
Carrie #ouise, still unmoved, said softly>
'here's no need to %orry, 3ina. *dgar loves #e%is. )e's 8ust dramati:ing
himself, that's all.'
*dgar's voice sounded through the door in a laugh that Miss Marple had
to admit sounded definitely insane.
'4es, $'ve got a revolver + and it's loaded. -o, don't speak, don't move.
4ou're going to hear me out. $t's you %ho started this conspiracy against
me and no% you're going to pay for it.'
What sounded like the report of a firearm made them all start, but Carrie
#ouise said>
'$t's all right, it's outside + in the park some%here.'
2ehind the locked door, *dgar %as raving in a high screaming voice.
'4ou sit there looking at me + looking at me pretending to be unmoved.
Why don't you get do%n on your knees and beg for mercy" $'m going to
shoot, $ tell you. $'m going to shoot you dead. $'m your son + your
unackno%ledged despised son + you %anted me hidden a%ay, out of the
%orld altogether, perhaps. 4ou set your spies to follo% me + to hound me
do%n + you plotted against me. 4ou, my father. My father. $'m only a
bastard, aren't $" 0nly a bastard. 4ou %ent on filling me up %ith lies.
7retending to be kind to me, and all the time + all the time + 4ou're not fit
to live. $ %on't let you live.'
/gain there came a stream of obscene profanity.
&ome%here during the scene Miss Marple %as conscious of Miss 2ellever
saying>
'We must do something,' and leaving the )all.
*dgar seemed to pause for breath and then he shouted out>
'4ou're going to die + to die. 4ou're going to die no%. ake that, you devil,
and that.'
%o sharp cracks rang out + not in the park this time, but definitely behind
the locked door.
&omebody, Miss Marple thought it %as Mildred, cried out>
'0h 3od, %hat shall %e do"'
here %as a thud from inside the room and then a sound, almost more
terrible than %hat had gone before, the sound of slo% heavy sobbing.
&omebody strode past Miss Marple and started shaking and rattling the
door.
$t %as &tephen Restarick.
'0pen the door. 0pen the door,' he shouted.
Miss 2ellever came back into the )all. $n her hand she held an
assortment of keys.
'ry some of these,' she said breathlessly.
/t that moment the fused lights came on again. he )all sprang into life
again after its eerie dimness.
&tephen Restarick began trying the keys. hey heard the inside key fall
out as he did so.
$nside that %ild desperate sobbing %ent on.
Walter )udd, coming la:ily back into the )all, stopped dead and
demanded>
'&ay, %hat's going on round here"'
Mildred said tearfully>
'hat a%ful cra:y young man has shot Mr &errocold.'
'7lease.' $t %as Carrie #ouise %ho spoke. &he got up and came across to
the study door. Very gently she pushed &tephen Restarick aside. '#et me
speak to him.'
&he called + very softly + '*dgar... *dgar... let me in, %ill you" 7lease,
*dgar.'
hey heard the key fitted into the lock. $t turned and the door %as slo%ly
opened.
2ut it %as not *dgar %ho opened it. $t %as #e%is &errocold. )e %as
breathing hard as though he had been running, but other%ise he %as
unmoved.
'$t's all right, dearest,' he said. ',earest, it's (uite all right.'
'We thought you'd been shot,' said Miss 2ellever gruffly.
#e%is &errocold fro%ned. )e said %ith a trifle of asperity>
'0f course $ haven't been shot.'
hey could see into the study by no%. *dgar #a%son had collapsed by
the desk. )e %as sobbing and gasping. he revolver lay on the floor
%here it had dropped from his hand.
'2ut %e heard the shots,' said Mildred.
'0h yes, he fired t%ice.'
'/nd he missed you"'
'0f course he missed me,' snapped #e%is.
Miss Marple did not consider that there %as any of course about it. he
shots must have been fired at fairly close range.
#e%is &errocold said irritably>
'Where's Maverick" $t's Maverick %e need.'
Miss 2ellever said>
'$'ll get him. &hall $ ring up the police as %ell"'
'7olice" Certainly not.'
'0f course %e must ring up the police,' said Mildred. ')e's dangerous.'
'-onsense,' said #e%is &errocold. '7oor lad. ,oes he look dangerous"'
/t the moment he did not look dangerous. )e looked young and pathetic
and rather repulsive.
)is voice had lost its carefully ac(uired accent.
'$ didn't mean to do it,' he groaned. '$ dunno %hat came over me + talking
all that stuff + $ must have been mad.'
Mildred sniffed.
'$ really must have been mad. $ didn't mean to. 7lease, Mr &errocold, $
really didn't mean to.'
#e%is &errocold patted him on the shoulder.
'hat's all right, my boy. -o damage done.'
'$ might have killed you, Mr &errocold.'
Walter )udd %alked across the room and peered at the %all behind the
desk.
'he bullets %ent in here,' he said. )is eye dropped to the desk and the
chair behind it. 'Must have been a near miss,' he said grimly.
'$ lost my head. $ didn't rightly kno% %hat $ %as doing. $ thought he'd done
me out of my rights. $ thought +'
Miss Marple put in the (uestion she had been %anting to ask for some
time.
'Who told you,' she asked, 'that Mr &errocold %as your father"'
!ust for a second a sly e'pression peeped out of *dgar's distracted face.
$t %as there and gone in a flash.
'-obody,' he said. '$ 8ust got it into my head.'
Walter )udd %as staring do%n at the revolver %here it lay on the floor.
'Where the hell did you get that gun"' he demanded.
'3un"' *dgar stared do%n at it.
'#ooks mighty like my gun,' said Walter. )e stooped do%n and picked it
up. '2y heck, it is. 4ou took it out of my room, you creeping louse, you.'
#e%is &errocold interposed bet%een the cringing *dgar and the menacing
/merican.
'/ll this can be gone into later,' he said. '/h, here's Maverick. ake a look
at him, %ill you, Maverick"'
,r Maverick advanced upon *dgar %ith a kind of professional :est.
'his %on't do, *dgar,' he said. 'his %on't do, you kno%.'
')e's a dangerous lunatic,' said Mildred sharply. ')e's been shooting off a
revolver and raving. )e only 8ust missed my stepfather.'
*dgar gave a little yelp and ,r Maverick said reprovingly>
'Careful, please, Mrs &trete.'
'$'m sick of all this. &ick of the %ay you all go on here. $ tell you this man's
a lunatic.'
With a bound *dgar %renched himself a%ay from ,r Maverick and fell to
the floor at &errocold's feet.
')elp me. )elp me. ,on't let them take me a%ay and shut me up. ,on't let
them...'
/n unpleasing scene, Miss Marple thought.
Mildred said angrily, '$ tell you he's +'
)er mother said soothingly>
'7lease Mildred. -ot no%. )e's suffering.'
Walter muttered>
'&uffering cripes. hey're all cuckoo round here.'
'$'ll take charge of him,' said ,r Maverick. '4ou come %ith me, *dgar. 2ed
and a sedative + and %e'll talk everything out in the morning. -o% you
trust me, don't you"'
Rising to his feet and trembling a little, *dgar looked doubtfully at the
young doctor and then at Mildred &trete.
'&he said + $ %as a lunatic.'
'-o, no, you're not a lunatic.'
Miss 2ellever's footsteps rang purposefully across the )all. &he came in
%ith her lips pursed together and a flushed face.
'$'ve telephoned the police,' she said grimly. 'hey %ill be here in a fe%
minutes.'
Carrie #ouise cried, '!olly.' in tones of dismay.
*dgar uttered a %ail.
#e%is &errocold fro%ned angrily.
'$ told you, !olly, $ did not %ant the police summoned. his is a medical
matter.'
'hat's as may be,' said Miss 2ellever. '$'ve my o%n opinion. 2ut $ had to
call the police. Mr 3ulbrandsen's been shot dead.'
Chapter B
$t %as a moment or t%o before anyone took in %hat she %as saying.
Carrie #ouise said incredulously>
'Christian shot" ,ead" 0h, surely, that's impossible.'
'$f you don't believe me,' said Miss 2ellever, pursing her lips, and
addressing not so much Carrie #ouise, as the assembled company, 'go
and look for yourselves.'
&he %as angry. /nd her anger sounded in the crisp sharpness of her
voice.
&lo%ly, unbelievingly, Carrie #ouise took a step to%ards the door. #e%is
&errocold put a hand on her shoulder.
'-o, dearest, let me go.'
)e %ent out through the door%ay. ,r Maverick, %ith a doubtful glance at
*dgar, follo%ed him. Miss 2ellever %ent %ith them.
Miss Marple gently urged Carrie #ouise into a chair.
&he sat do%n, her eyes looking hurt and stricken.
'Christian + shot"' she said again.
$t %as the be%ildered hurt tone of a child.
Walter )udd remained close to *dgar #a%son, glo%ering do%n at him. $n
his hand he held the gun that he had picked up from the floor.
Mrs &errocold said in a %ondering voice>
'2ut %ho could possibly %ant to shoot Christian"'
$t %as not a (uestion that demanded an ans%er. Walter muttered under
his breath>
'-uts. he %hole lot of them.'
&tephen had moved protectively closer to 3ina. )er young startled face
%as the most vivid thing in the room. &uddenly the front door opened and
a rush of cold air together %ith a man in a big overcoat came in. he
heartiness of his greeting seemed incredibly shocking.
')allo, everybody, %hat's going on tonight" / lot of fog on the road. $ had
to go dead slo%.'
5or a startled moment, Miss Marple thought that she %as seeing double.
&urely the same man could not be standing by 3ina and coming in by the
door. hen she reali:ed that it %as only a likeness and not, %hen you
looked closely, such a very strong likeness. he t%o men %ere clearly
brothers %ith a strong family resemblance, but no more.
Where &tephen Restarick %as thin to the point of emaciation the
ne%comer %as sleek. he big coat %ith the astrakhan collar fitted the
sleekness of body snugly. / handsome young man, and one %ho bore
upon him the authority and good humour of success.
2ut Miss Marple noted one thing about him. )is eyes, as he entered the
hall, looked immediately at 3ina. )e said, a little doubtfully>
'4ou did e'pect me" 4ou got my %ire"'
)e %as speaking no% to Carrie #ouise. )e came to%ards her.
/lmost mechanically, she put her hand out to him. )e took it and kissed it
gently. $t %as an affectionate act of homage, not a mere theatrical
courtesy.
&he murmured>
'0f course, /le' dear + of course. 0nly, you see, things have been
happening +'
')appening"'
Mildred gave the information, gave it %ith a kind of grim relish that Miss
Marple found distasteful.
'Christian 3ulbrandsen,' she said. 'My brother Christian 3ulbrandsen has
been found shot dead.'
'3ood 3od,' /le' registered a more than life+si:e dismay. '&uicide, do you
mean"'
Carrie #ouise moved s%iftly.
'0h no,' she said. '$t couldn't be suicide. -ot Christian. 0h no.'
'9ncle Christian %ould never shoot himself, $'m sure,' said 3ina.
/le' Restarick looked from one person to the other.
5rom his brother &tephen he received a short confirmative nod. Walter
)udd stared back at him %ith faint resentment. /le''s eyes rested on Miss
Marple %ith a sudden fro%n. $t %as as though he had found some
un%anted prop on a stage set.
)e looked as though he %ould like her e'plained. 2ut nobody e'plained
her, and Miss Marple continued to look an old, fluffy and s%eetly
be%ildered old lady.
'When"' asked /le'. 'When did this happen, $ mean"'
'!ust before you arrived,' said 3ina. '/bout + oh three or four minutes ago,
$ suppose. Why, of course, %e actually heard the shot. 0nly %e didn't
notice it + not really.'
',idn't notice it" Why not"'
'Well, you see, there %ere other things going on...' 3ina spoke rather
hesitantly.
'&ure %ere,' said Walter %ith emphasis.
!uliet 2ellever came into the )all by the door from the library.
'Mr &errocold suggests that %e should all %ait in the library. $t %ould be
convenient for the police. *'cept for Mrs &errocold. 4ou've had a shock,
Cara. $'ve ordered some hot bottles to be put in your bed. $'ll take you up
and +'
Rising to her feet, Carrie #ouise shook her head.
'$ must see Christian first,' she said.
'0h no, dear. ,on't upset yourself +'
Carrie #ouise put her very gently to one side.
',ear !olly + you don't understand.' &he looked round and said, '!ane"'
Miss Marple had already moved to%ards her.
'Come %ith me, %ill you, !ane.'
hey moved together to%ards the door. ,r Maverick, coming in, almost
collided %ith them.
Miss 2ellever e'claimed>
',r Maverick. ,o stop her. &o foolish.'
Carrie #ouise looked calmly at the young doctor. &he even gave a tiny
smile.
,r Maverick said>
'4ou %ant to go and + see him"'
'$ must.'
'$ see.' )e stood aside. '$f you feel you must, Mrs &errocold. 2ut
after%ards, please go and lie do%n and let Miss 2ellever look after you. /t
the moment you do not feel the shock, but $ assure you that you %ill do
so.'
'4es. $ e'pect you are right. $ %ill be (uite sensible. Come, !ane.'
he t%o %omen moved out through the door, past the foot of the main
staircase and along the corridor, past the dining+room on the right and the
double doors leading to the kitchen (uarters on the left, past the side door
to the terrace and on to the door that gave admission to the 0ak suite that
had been allotted to Christian 3ulbrandsen. $t %as a room furnished as a
sitting+room more than a bedroom, %ith a bed in an alcove to one side
and a door leading into a dressing+room and bathroom.
Carrie #ouise stopped on the threshold. Christian 3ulbrandsen had been
sitting at the big mahogany desk %ith a small portable type%riter open in
front of him. )e sat there no%, but slumped side%ays in the chair. he
high arms of the chair prevented him from slipping to the floor.
#e%is &errocold %as standing by the %indo%. )e had pulled the curtain a
little aside and %as ga:ing out into the night.
)e looked round and fro%ned.
'My dearest, you shouldn't have come.'
)e came to%ards her and she stretched out a hand to him. Miss Marple
retreated a step or t%o.
'0h yes, #e%is. $ had to + see him. 0ne has to kno% 8ust e'actly ho%
things are.'
&he %alked slo%ly to%ards the desk.
#e%is said %arningly>
'4ou mustn't touch anything. he police must have things left e'actly as
%e found them.'
'0f course. )e %as shot deliberately by someone, then"'
'0h yes.' #e%is &errocold looked a little surprised that the (uestion had
even been asked. '$ thought + you kne% that"'
'$ did really. Christian %ould not commit suicide, and he %as such a
competent person that it could not possibly have been an accident. hat
only leaves +' she hesitated a moment + 'murder.'
&he %alked up behind the desk and stood looking do%n at the dead man.
here %as sorro% and affection in her face.
',ear Christian,' she said. ')e %as al%ays good to me.' &oftly, she
touched the top of his head %ith her fingers.
'2less you and thank you, dear Christian,' she said.
#e%is &errocold said %ith something more like emotion than Miss Marple
had ever seen in him before>
'$ %ish to 3od $ could have spared you this, Caroline.'
)is %ife shook her head gently.
'4ou can't really spare anyone anything,' she said. 'hings al%ays have to
be faced sooner or later. /nd therefore it had better be sooner. $'ll go and
lie do%n no%. $ suppose you'll stay here, #e%is, until the police come"'
'4es.'
Carrie #ouise turned a%ay and Miss Marple slipped an arm round her.
Chapter @
$nspector Curry and his entourage found Miss 2ellever alone in the 3reat
)all %hen they arrived.
&he came for%ard efficiently.
'$ am !uliet 2ellever, companion and secretary to Mrs &errocold.'
'$t %as you %ho found the body and telephoned to us"'
'4es. Most of the household are in the library through that door there. Mr
&errocold remained in Mr 3ulbrandsen's room to see that nothing %as
disturbed. ,r Maverick, %ho first e'amined the body, %ill be here very
shortly. )e had to take a + case over to the other %ing. &hall $ lead the
%ay"'
'$f you please.'
'Competent %oman,' thought the $nspector to himself. '&eems to have got
the %hole thing taped.'
)e follo%ed her along the corridor.
5or the ne't t%enty minutes the routine of police procedure %as duly set
in motion. he photographer took the necessary pictures. he police
surgeon arrived and %as 8oined by ,r Maverick. )alf an hour later, the
ambulance had taken a%ay the mortal remains of Christian 3ulbrandsen,
and $nspector Curry started his official interrogation.
#e%is &errocold took him into the library, and he glanced keenly round
the assembled people, making brief notes in his mind. /n old lady %ith
%hite hair, a middle+aged lady, the good looking girl he'd seen driving her
car round the countryside, that sulky looking /merican husband of hers. /
couple of young men %ho %ere mi'ed up in the outfit some%here or other
and the capable %oman, Miss 2ellever, %ho'd phoned him and met him
on arrival.
$nspector Curry had already thought out a little speech and he no%
delivered it as planned.
'$'m afraid this is all very upsetting to you,' he said, 'and $ hope not to keep
you too long this evening. We can go into things more thoroughly
tomorro%. $t %as Miss 2ellever %ho found Mr 3ulbrandsen dead, and $'ll
ask Miss 2ellever to give me an outline of the general situation as that %ill
save too much repetition. Mr &errocold, if you %ant to go up to your %ife,
please do, and %hen $ have finished %ith Miss 2ellever, $ should like to
talk to you. $s that all (uite clear" 7erhaps there is some small room
%here +'
#e%is &errocold said> 'My office, !olly"'
Miss 2ellever nodded, and said> '$ %as 8ust going to suggest it.'
&he led the %ay across the 3reat )all, and $nspector Curry and his
attendant &ergeant follo%ed her.
Miss 2ellever arranged them and herself suitably. $t might have been she
and not $nspector Curry %ho %as in charge of the investigation.
he moment had come, ho%ever, %hen the initiative passed to him.
$nspector Curry had a pleasant voice and manner. )e looked (uiet and
serious and 8ust a little apologetic. &ome people made the mistake of
underrating him. /ctually he %as as competent in his %ay as Miss
2ellever %as in hers. 2ut he preferred not to make a parade of the fact.
)e cleared his throat.
'$'ve had the main facts from Mr &errocold. Mr Christian 3ulbrandsen %as
the eldest son of the late *ric 3ulbrandsen, the founder of the
3ulbrandsen rust and 5ello%ships... and all the rest of it. )e %as one of
the trustees of this place and he arrived here une'pectedly yesterday.
hat is correct"'
'4es.'
$nspector Curry %as pleased by her conciseness. )e %ent on>
'Mr &errocold %as a%ay in #iverpool. )e returned this evening by the C.AD
train.'
'4es.'
'/fter dinner this evening, Mr 3ulbrandsen announced his intention of
%orking in his o%n room and left the rest of the party here after coffee had
been served. Correct"'
'4es.'
'-o%, Miss 2ellever, please tell me in your o%n %ords ho% you came to
discover him dead.'
'here %as a rather unpleasant incident this evening. / young man, a
psychopathic case, became very unbalanced and threatened Mr
&errocold %ith a revolver. hey %ere locked in this room. he young man
eventually fired the revolver + you can see the bullet holes in the %all
there. 5ortunately Mr &errocold %as unhurt. /fter firing the shots, this
young man %ent completely to pieces. Mr &errocold sent me to find ,r
Maverick. $ got through on the house phone but he %as not in his room. $
found him %ith one of his colleagues and gave him the message and he
came here at once. 0n my o%n %ay back $ %ent to Mr 3ulbrandsen's
room. $ %anted to ask him if there %as anything he %ould like + hot milk, or
%hisky, before settling for the night. $ knocked, but there %as no
response, so $ opened the door. $ sa% that Mr 3ulbrandsen %as dead. $
then rang you up.'
'What entrances and e'its are there to the house" /nd ho% are they
secured" Could anyone have come in from outside %ithout being heard or
seen"'
'/nyone could have come in by the side door to the terrace. hat is not
locked until %e all go to bed, as people come in and out that %ay to go to
the College buildings.'
'/nd you have, $ believe, bet%een t%o hundred and t%o hundred and fifty
8uvenile delin(uents in the College"'
'4es. 2ut the College buildings are %ell secured and patrolled. $ should
say it %as most unlikely that anyone could leave the College
unsponsored.'
'We shall have to check up on that, of course. )ad Mr 3ulbrandsen given
any cause for + shall %e say, rancour" /ny unpopular decisions as to
policy"'
Miss 2ellever shook her head.
'0h no, Mr 3ulbrandsen had nothing %hatever to do %ith the running of
the College, or %ith administrative matters.'
'What %as the purpose of his visit"'
'$ have no idea.'
'2ut he %as annoyed to find Mr &errocold absent, and immediately
decided to %ait until he returned"'
'4es.'
'&o his business here %as definitely %ith Mr &errocold"'
'4es. 2ut it %ould be + because it %ould be almost certainly business to do
%ith the $nstitute.'
'4es, presumably that is so. ,id he have a conference %ith Mr &errocold"'
'-o, there %as no time. Mr &errocold only arrived 8ust before dinner this
evening.'
'2ut after dinner, Mr 3ulbrandsen said he had important letters to %rite
and %ent a%ay to do so. )e didn't suggest a session %ith Mr &errocold"'
Miss 2ellever hesitated.
'-o. -o, he didn't.'
'&urely that %as rather odd + if he had %aited on at inconvenience to
himself to see Mr &errocold"'
'4es, it %as odd.'
he oddness of it seemed to strike Miss 2ellever for the first time.
'Mr &errocold did not accompany him to his room"'
'-o. Mr &errocold remained in the )all.'
'/nd you have no idea at %hat time Mr 3ulbrandsen %as killed"'
'$ think it is possible that %e heard the shot. $f so, it %as at t%enty+three
minutes past nine.'
'4ou heard a shot" /nd it did not alarm you"'
'he circumstances %ere peculiar.'
&he e'plained in rather more detail the scene bet%een #e%is &errocold
and *dgar #a%son %hich had been in progress.
'&o it occurred to no one that the shot might actually have come from
%ithin the house"'
'-o. -o, $ certainly don't think so. We %ere all so relieved, you kno%, that
the shot didn't come from in here.'
Miss 2ellever added rather grimly>
'4ou don't e'pect murder and attempted murder in the same house on the
same night.'
$nspector Curry ackno%ledged the truth of that.
'/ll the same,' said Miss 2ellever, suddenly, 'you kno%, $ believe that's
%hat made me go along to Mr 3ulbrandsen's room later. $ did mean to
ask him if he %ould like anything, but it %as a kind of e'cuse to reassure
myself that everything %as all right.'
$nspector Curry stared at her for a moment.
'What made you think it mightn't be all right"'
'$ don't kno%. $ think it %as the shot outside. $t hadn't meant anything at
the time. 2ut after%ards it came back into my mind. $ told myself that it
%as only a backfire from Mr Restarick's car +'
'Mr Restarick's car"'
'4es. /le' Restarick. )e arrived by car this evening he arrived 8ust after all
this happened.'
'$ see. When you discovered Mr 3ulbrandsen's body, did you touch
anything in the room"'
'0f course not.' Miss 2ellever sounded reproachful. '-aturally $ kne% that
nothing must be touched or moved. Mr 3ulbrandsen had been shot
through the head but there %as no firearm to be seen, so $ kne% it %as
murder.'
'/nd 8ust no%, %hen you took us into the room, everything %as e'actly as
it had been %hen you found the body"'
Miss 2ellever considered. &he sat back scre%ing up her eyes. &he had,
$nspector Curry thought, one of those photographic memories.
'0ne thing %as different,' she said. 'here %as nothing in the type%riter.'
'4ou mean,' said $nspector Curry, 'that %hen you first %ent in Mr
3ulbrandsen had been %riting a letter on the type%riter, and that that
letter had since been removed"'
'4es, $'m almost sure that $ sa% the %hite edge of the paper sticking up.'
'hank you, Miss 2ellever. Who else %ent into that room before %e
arrived"'
'Mr &errocold, of course. )e remained there %hen $ came to meet you.
/nd Mrs &errocold and Miss Marple %ent there. Mrs &errocold insisted.'
'Mrs &errocold and Miss Marple,' said $nspector Curry. 'Which is Miss
Marple"'
'he old lady %ith %hite hair. &he %as a school friend of Mrs &errocold's.
&he came on a visit about four days ago.'
'Well, thank you, Miss 2ellever. /ll that you have told us is (uite clear. $'ll
go into things %ith Mr &errocold no%. /h, but perhaps + Miss Marple's an
old lady, isn't she" $'ll 8ust have a %ord %ith her first and then she can go
off to bed. Rather cruel to keep an old lady like that up,' said $nspector
Curry virtuously. 'his must have been a shock to her.'
'$'ll tell her, shall $"'
'$f you please.'
Miss 2ellever %ent out. $nspector Curry looked at the ceiling.
'3ulbrandsen"' he said. 'Why 3ulbrandsen" %o hundred odd
malad8usted youngsters on the premises. -o reason any of them
shouldn't have done it. 7robably one of them did. 2ut %hy 3ulbrandsen"
he stranger %ithin the gates.'
&ergeant #ake said> '0f course %e don't kno% everything yet.'
$nspector Curry said>
'&o far, %e don't kno% anything at all.'
)e 8umped up and %as gallant %hen Miss Marple came in. &he seemed a
little flustered and he hurried to put her at her ease.
'-o% don't upset yourself, m'am.' he old ones like M'am, he thought. o
them, police officers %ere definitely of the lo%er classes and should sho%
respect to their betters. 'his is all very distressing, $ kno%. 2ut %e've 8ust
got to get the facts clear. 3et it all clear.'
'0h yes, $ kno%,' said Miss Marple. '&o difficult, isn't it" o be clear about
anything, $ mean. 2ecause if you're looking at one thing, you can't be
looking at another. /nd one so often looks at the %rong thing, though
%hether because one happens to do so or because you're meant to, it's
very hard to say. Misdirection, the con8urers call it. &o clever, aren't they"
/nd $ never have kno%n ho% they manage %ith a bo%l of goldfish +
because really that cannot fold up small, can it"'
$nspector Curry blinked a little and said soothingly>
';uite so. -o%, m'am, $'ve had an account of this evening's events from
Miss 2ellever. / most an'ious time for all of you, $'m sure.'
'4es, indeed. $t %as all so dramatic, you kno%.'
'5irst this to+do bet%een Mr &errocold and +' he looked do%n at a note he
had made + 'this *dgar #a%son.'
'/ very odd young man,' said Miss Marple. '$ have felt all along that there
%as something %rong about him.'
'$'m sure you have,' said $nspector Curry. '/nd then, after that e'citement
%as over, there came Mr 3ulbrandsen's death. $ understand that you
%ent %ith Mrs &errocold to see the + er + the body.'
'4es, $ did. &he asked me to come %ith her. We are very old friends.'
';uite so. /nd you %ent along to Mr 3ulbrandsen's room. ,id you touch
anything %hile you %ere in the room, either of you"'
'0h no. Mr &errocold %arned us not to.'
',id you happen to notice, ma'm, %hether there %as a letter or a piece of
paper, say, in the type%riter"'
'here %asn't,' said Miss Marple promptly. '$ noticed that at once because
it seemed to me odd. Mr 3ulbrandsen %as sitting there at the type%riter
so he must have been typing something. 4es, $ thought it very odd.'
$nspector Curry looked at her sharply. )e said>
',id you have much conversation %ith Mr 3ulbrandsen %hile he %as
here"'
'Very little.'
'here is nothing especial + or significant that you can remember"'
Miss Marple considered.
')e asked me about Mrs &errocold's health. $n particular, about her heart.'
')er heart" $s there something %rong %ith her heart"'
'-othing %hatsoever, $ understand.'
$nspector Curry %as silent for a moment or t%o, then he said>
'4ou heard a shot this evening during the (uarrel bet%een Mr &errocold
and *dgar #a%son"'
'$ didn't actually hear it myself. $ am a little deaf, you kno%. 2ut Mrs
&errocold mentioned it as being outside in the park.'
'Mr 3ulbrandsen left the party immediately after dinner, $ understand"'
'4es, he said he had letters to %rite.'
')e didn't sho% any %ish for a business conference %ith Mr &errocold"'
'-o.'
Miss Marple added>
'4ou see, they'd already had one little talk.'
'hey had" When" $ understood that Mr &errocold only returned home
8ust before dinner.'
'hat's (uite true, but he %alked up through the park, and Mr 3ulbrandsen
%ent out to meet him and they %alked up and do%n the terrace together.'
'Who else kno%s this"'
'$ shouldn't think anybody else,' said Miss Marple. '9nless, of course, Mr
&errocold told Mrs &errocold. $ 8ust happened to be looking out of my
%indo% + at some birds.'
'2irds"'
'2irds,' Miss Marple added after a moment or t%o, '$ thought, perhaps,
they might be siskins.'
$nspector Curry %as uninterested in siskins. '4ou didn't,' he said
delicately, 'happen to + er + overhear anything of %hat they said"'
$nnocent china blue eyes met his.
'0nly fragments, $'m afraid,' said Miss Marple gently.
'/nd those fragments"'
Miss Marple %as silent for a moment, then she said>
'$ do not kno% the actual sub8ect of their conversation, but their immediate
concern %as to keep %hatever it %as from the kno%ledge of Mrs
&errocold. o spare her + that %as ho% Mr 3ulbrandsen put it, and Mr
&errocold said, 1$ agree that it is she %ho must be considered.1 hey also
mentioned a 1big responsibility1 and that they should, perhaps, 1take
outside advice.1'
&he paused.
'$ think you kno%, you had better ask Mr &errocold himself about all this.'
'We shall do so, m'am. -o% there is nothing else that struck you as
unusual this evening"'
Miss Marple considered.
'$t %as all so unusual if you kno% %hat $ mean +'
';uite so. ;uite so.'
&omething flickered into Miss Marple's memory.
'here %as one rather unusual incident. Mr &errocold stopped Mrs
&errocold from taking her medicine. Miss 2ellever %as (uite put out about
it.'
&he smiled in a deprecating fashion.
'2ut that, of course, is such a little thing...'
'4es, of course. Well, thank you, Miss Marple.'
/s Miss Marple %ent out of the room, &ergeant #ake said>
'&he's old, but she's sharp...'
Chapter 1D
#e%is &errocold came into the office and immediately the %hole focus of
the room shifted. )e turned to close the door behind him, and in doing so
he created an atmosphere of privacy. )e %alked over and sat do%n, not
in the chair Miss Marple had 8ust vacated, but in his o%n chair behind the
desk. Miss 2ellever had settled $nspector Curry in a chair dra%n up to one
side of the desk, as though unconsciously she had reserved #e%is
&errocold's chair against his coming.
When he had sat do%n, #e%is &errocold looked at the t%o police officers
thoughtfully. )is face looked dra%n and tired. $t %as the face of a man
%ho %as passing through a severe ordeal, and it surprised $nspector
Curry a little because, though Christian 3ulbrandsen's death must
undeniably have been a shock to #e%is &errocold, yet 3ulbrandsen had
not been a close friend or relation, only a rather remote connection by
marriage.
$n an odd %ay, the tables seemed to have been turned. $t did not seem as
though #e%is &errocold had come into the room to ans%er police
(uestioning. $t seemed rather that #e%is &errocold had arrived to preside
over a court of in(uiry. $t irritated $nspector Curry a little.
)e said briskly>
'-o%, Mr &errocold +'
#e%is &errocold still seemed lost in thought. )e said %ith a sigh> ')o%
difficult it is to kno% the right thing to do.'
$nspector Curry said>
'$ think %e %ill be the 8udges of that, Mr &errocold. -o% about Mr
3ulbrandsen, he arrived une'pectedly, $ understand"'
';uite une'pectedly.'
'4ou did not kno% he %as coming.'
'$ had not the least idea of it.'
'/nd you have no idea of %hy he came"'
#e%is &errocold said (uietly>
'0h yes, $ kno% %hy he came. )e told me.'
'When"'
'$ %alked up from the station. )e %as %atching from the house and came
out to meet me. $t %as then that he e'plained %hat had brought him here.'
'2usiness connected %ith the 3ulbrandsen $nstitute, $ suppose"'
'0h no, it %as nothing to do %ith the 3ulbrandsen $nstitute.'
'Miss 2ellever seemed to think it %as.'
'-aturally. hat %ould be the assumption. 3ulbrandsen did nothing to
correct that impression. -either did $.'
'Why, Mr &errocold"'
#e%is &errocold said slo%ly>
'2ecause it seemed to both of us important that no hint should arise as to
the real purpose of his visit.'
'What %as the real purpose"'
#e%is &errocold %as silent for a minute or t%o. )e sighed.
'3ulbrandsen came over here regularly t%ice a year for meetings of the
trustees. he last meeting %as only a month ago. Conse(uently he %as
not due to come over again for another five months. $ think, therefore, that
anyone might reali:e that the business that brought him must definitely be
urgent business, but $ still think that the normal assumption %ould be that
it %as a business visit, and that the matter, ho%ever urgent + %ould be a
rust matter. /s far as $ kno%, 3ulbrandsen did nothing to contradict that
impression + or thought he didn't. 4es, perhaps that is nearer the truth + he
thought he didn't.'
'$'m afraid, Mr &errocold, that $ don't (uite follo% you.'
#e%is &errocold did not ans%er at once. hen he said gravely>
'$ fully reali:e that %ith 3ulbrandsen's death, %hich %as murder,
undeniably murder, $ have got to put all the facts before you. 2ut frankly, $
am concerned for my %ife's happiness and peace of mind. $t is not for me
to dictate to you, $nspector, but if you can see your %ay to keeping certain
things from her as far as possible $ shall be grateful. 4ou see, $nspector
Curry, Christian 3ulbrandsen came here e'pressly to tell me that he
believed my %ife %as being slo%ly and cold+bloodedly poisoned.'
'What"'
Curry leaned for%ard incredulously.
&errocold nodded.
'4es, it %as, as you can imagine, a tremendous shock to me. $ had had no
suspicion of such a thing myself, but as soon as Christian told me, $
reali:ed that certain symptoms my %ife had complained of lately %ere
(uite compatible %ith that belief. What she took to be rheumatism, leg
cramps, pain, and occasional sickness. /ll that fits in very %ell %ith the
symptoms of arsenical poisoning.'
'Miss Marple told us that Christian 3ulbrandsen asked her about the
condition of Mrs &errocold's heart.'
',id he no%" hat's interesting. $ suppose he thought that a heart poison
%ould be used since it paved the %ay to a sudden death %ithout undue
suspicion. 2ut $ think myself that arsenic is more likely.'
'4ou definitely think, then, that Christian 3ulbrandsen's suspicions %ere
%ell founded"'
'0h yes, $ think so. 5or one thing, 3ulbrandsen %ould hardly come to me
%ith such a suggestion unless he %as fairly sure of his facts. )e %as a
cautious and hardheaded man, difficult to convince, but very shre%d.'
'What %as his evidence"'
'We had no time to go into that. 0ur intervie% %as a hurried one. $t served
only the purpose of e'plaining his visit, and a mutual agreement that
nothing %hatever should be said to my %ife about the matter until %e
%ere sure of our facts.'
'/nd %hom did he suspect of administering poison"'
')e did not say, and actually $ don't think he kne%. )e may have
suspected. $ think no% that he probably did suspect + other%ise %hy
should he be killed"'
'2ut he mentioned no name to you"'
')e mentioned no name. We agreed that %e must investigate the matter
thoroughly, and he suggested inviting the advice and co+operation of ,r
3albraith, the 2ishop of Cromer. ,r 3albraith is a very old friend of the
3ulbrandsens and is one of the trustees of the $nstitute. )e is a man of
great %isdom and e'perience and %ould be of infinite help and comfort to
my %ife if + if it %as necessary to tell her of our suspicions. We meant to
rely on his advice as to %hether or not to consult the police.'
';uite e'traordinary,' said Curry.
'3ulbrandsen left us after dinner to %rite to ,r 3albraith. )e %as actually
in the act of typing a letter to him %hen he %as shot.'
')o% do you kno%"'
#e%is said calmly>
'2ecause $ took the letter out of the type%riter. $ have it here.'
5rom his breast pocket, he dre% out a folded type%ritten sheet of paper
and handed it to Curry.
he latter said sharply>
'4ou shouldn't have taken this, or touched anything in the room.'
'$ touched nothing else. $ kno% that $ committed an unpardonable offence
in your eyes in moving this, but $ had a very strong reason. $ felt certain
that my %ife %ould insist on coming into the room and $ %as afraid that
she might read something of %hat is %ritten here. $ admit myself in the
%rong, but $ am afraid $ %ould do the same again. $ %ould do anything +
anything + to save my %ife unhappiness.'
$nspector Curry said no more for the moment. )e read the type%ritten
sheet.
,ear ,r 3albraith.
$f it is at all possible, $ beg that you %ill come to &tonygates as soon as
you receive this. / crisis of e'traordinary gravity has arisen and $ am at a
loss ho% to deal %ith it. $ kno% ho% deep your affection is for our dear
Carrie #ouise, and ho% grave your concern %ill be for anything that
affects her. )o% much has she got to kno%" )o% much can %e keep
from her" hose are the (uestions that $ find difficult to ans%er.
-ot to beat about the bush, $ have reason to believe that that s%eet and
innocent lady is being slo%ly poisoned. $ first suspected this %hen here +
the letter broke off abruptly.
Curry said>
'/nd %hen he had reached this point Christian 3ulbrandsen %as shot"'
'4es.'
'2ut %hy on earth %as this letter in the type%riter"'
'$ can only conceive of t%o reasons + one, that the murderer had no idea
to %hom 3ulbrandsen %as %riting and %hat %as the sub8ect of the letter.
&econdly + he may not have had time. )e may have heard someone
coming and only had 8ust time to escape unobserved.'
'/nd 3ulbrandsen gave you no hint as to %hom he suspected + if he did
suspect anyone"'
here %as, perhaps, a very slight pause before #e%is ans%ered.
'-one %hatever.'
)e added, rather obscurely>
'Christian %as a very fair man.'
')o% do you think this poison, arsenic or %hatever it may be + %as or is
being administered"'
'$ thought over that %hilst $ %as changing for dinner and it seemed to me
that the most likely vehicle %as some medicine, a tonic, that my %ife %as
taking. /s regards food, %e all partake of the same dishes and my %ife
has nothing specially prepared for her. 2ut anyone could add arsenic to
the medicine bottle.'
'We must take the medicine and have it analysed.'
#e%is said (uietly>
'$ already have a sample of it. $ took it this evening before dinner.'
5rom a dra%er in the desk he took out a small corked bottle %ith a red
fluid in it.
$nspector Curry said %ith a curious glance>
'4ou think of everything, Mr &errocold.'
'$ believe in acting promptly. onight, $ stopped my %ife from taking her
usual dose. $t is still in a glass on the oak dresser in the )all + the bottle of
tonic itself is in the dining+room.'
Curry leaned for%ard across the desk. )e lo%ered his voice and spoke
confidentially and %ithout officialdom.
'4ou'll e'cuse me, Mr &errocold, but 8ust %hy are you so an'ious to keep
this from your %ife" /re you afraid she'd panic" &urely, for her o%n sake,
it %ould be as %ell if she %ere %arned.'
'4es + yes, that may %ell be so. 2ut $ don't think you (uite understand.
Without kno%ing my %ife Caroline, it %ould be difficult. My %ife, $nspector
Curry, is an idealist, a completely trustful person. 0f her it may truly be
said that she sees no evil, hears no evil, and speaks no evil. $t %ould be
inconceivable to her that anyone could %ish to kill her. 2ut %e have to go
farther than that. $t is not 8ust 1anyone.1 $t is a case + surely you see that +
of someone possibly very near and dear to her...'
'&o that's %hat you think"'
'We have got to face facts. Close at hand %e have a couple of hundred
%arped and stunted personalities %ho have e'pressed themselves often
enough by crude and senseless violence. 2ut by the very nature of things,
none of them can be suspect in this case. / slo% poisoner is someone
living in the intimacy of family life. hink of the people %ho are here in this
house6 her husband, her daughter, her granddaughter, her
granddaughter's husband, her stepson %hom she regards as her o%n
son, Miss 2ellever her devoted companion and friend of many years. /ll
very near and dear to her + and yet the suspicion must arise + is it one of
them"'
Curry said slo%ly>
'here are outsiders +'
'4es, in a sense. here is ,r Maverick, one or t%o of the staff are often
%ith us, there are the servants + but frankly, %hat possible motive could
they have"'
$nspector Curry said>
'/nd there's young + %hat is his name again + *dgar #a%son"'
'4es. 2ut he has only been do%n here as a casual visitor 8ust lately. )e
has no possible motive. 2esides, he is deeply attached to Caroline + 8ust
as everyone is.'
'2ut he's unbalanced. What about this attack on you tonight"'
&errocold %aved it aside impatiently.
'&heer childishness. )e had no intention of harming me.'
'-ot %ith these t%o bullet holes in the %all" )e shot at you, didn't he"'
')e didn't mean to hit me. $t %as play+acting, no more.'
'Rather a dangerous form of play+acting, Mr &errocold.'
'4ou don't understand. 4ou must talk to our psychiatrist, ,r Maverick.
*dgar is an illegitimate child. )e has consoled himself for his lack of a
father and a humble origin by pretending to himself that he is the son of a
celebrated man. $t's a %ell+kno%n phenomenon, $ assure you. )e %as
improving, improving very much. hen, for some reason, he had a set+
back. )e identified me as his 1father1 and made a melodramatic attack,
%aving a revolver and uttering threats. $ %as not in the least alarmed.
When he had actually fired the revolver, he broke do%n and sobbed and
,r Maverick took him a%ay and gave him a sedative. )e'll probably be
(uite normal tomorro% morning.'
'4ou don't %ish to bring a charge against him"'
'hat %ould be the %orst thing possible + for him, $ mean.'
'5rankly, Mr &errocold, it seems to me he ought to be under restraint.
7eople %ho go about firing off revolvers to bolster up their egos. 0ne has
to think of the community, you kno%.'
'alk to ,r Maverick on the sub8ect,' urged #e%is. ')e'll give you the
professional point of vie%. $n any case,' he added, 'poor *dgar certainly
did not shoot 3ulbrandsen. )e %as in here threatening to shoot me.'
'hat's the point $ %as coming to, Mr &errocold. We've covered the
outside. /nyone, it seems, could have come in from outside, and shot Mr
3ulbrandsen, since the terrace door %as unlocked. 2ut there is a
narro%er field inside the house, and in vie% of %hat you have been telling
me, it seems to me that very close attention must be paid to that. $t seems
possible that, %ith the e'ception of old Miss + er + yes, Marple, %ho
happened to be looking out of her bedroom %indo%, no one %as a%are
that you and Christian 3ulbrandsen had already had a private intervie%. $f
so, 3ulbrandsen may have been shot to prevent him communicating his
suspicions to you. 0f course it is too early to say as yet %hat other
motives may e'ist. Mr 3ulbrandsen %as a %ealthy man, $ presume"'
'4es, he %as a very %ealthy man. )e has sons and daughters and
grandchildren + all of them %ill probably benefit by his death. 2ut $ do not
think that any of his family are in this country, and they are all solid and
highly respectable people. /s far as $ kno%, there are no black sheep
amongst them.'
')ad he any enemies"'
'$ should think it most unlikely. )e %as + really, he %as not that type of
man.'
'&o it boils do%n, doesn't it, to this house and the people in it" Who from
inside the house could have killed him"'
#e%is &errocold said slo%ly>
'hat is difficult for me to say. here are the servants and the members of
my household and our guests. hey are, from your point of vie%, all
possibilities, $ suppose. $ can only tell you that, as far as $ kno%, everyone
e'cept the servants %as in the 3reat )all %hen Christian left it, and %hilst
$ %as there, nobody left it.'
'-obody at all"'
'$ think +' #e%is fro%ned in an effort of remembrance + 'oh yes. &ome of
the lights fused + Mr Walter )udd %ent to see to it.'
'hat's the young /merican gentleman"'
'4es + of course $ don't kno% %hat took place after *dgar and $ came in
here.'
'/nd you can't give me anything nearer than that, Mr &errocold"'
#e%is &errocold shook his head.
'-o, $'m afraid $ can't help you. $t's + it's all (uite inconceivable.'
$nspector Curry sighed. )e said> 'Mr 3ulbrandsen %as shot %ith a small
automatic pistol. ,o you kno% if anyone in the house has such a
%eapon"'
'$ have no idea, $ should think it most unlikely.' $nspector Curry sighed
again. )e said>
'4ou can tell the party that they can all go to bed. $'ll talk to them
tomorro%.'
When &errocold had left the room, $nspector Curry said to #ake>
'Well + %hat do you think"'
'Eno%s + or thinks he kno%s, %ho did it,' said #ake.
'4es. $ agree %ith you. /nd he doesn't like it a bit +'
Chapter 11
3ina greeted Miss Marple %ith a rush as the latter came do%n to
breakfast the ne't morning.
'he police are here again,' she said. 'hey're in the library this time. Wally
is absolutely fascinated by them. )e can't understand their being so (uiet
and so remote. $ think he's really (uite thrilled by the %hole thing. $'m not. $
hate it. $ think it's horrible. Why do you think $'m so upset" 2ecause $'m
half $talian"'
'Very possibly. /t least perhaps it e'plains %hy you don't mind sho%ing
%hat you feel.'
Miss Marple smiled 8ust a little as she said this.
'!olly's frightfully cross,' said 3ina, hanging on Miss Marple's arm and
propelling her into the dining+room. '$ think really because the police are in
charge and she can't e'actly 1run1 them like she runs everybody else.
'/le' and &tephen,' continued 3ina severely, as they came into the
dining+room %here the t%o brothers %ere finishing their breakfast, '8ust
don't care.'
'3ina dearest,' said /le', 'you are most unkind. 3ood morning, Miss
Marple. $ care intensely. *'cept for the fact that $ hardly kne% your 9ncle
Christian, $'m far and a%ay the best suspect. 4ou do reali:e that, $ hope.'
'Why"'
'Well, $ %as driving up to the house at about the right time, it seems. /nd
they've been checking up on things, and it seems that $ took too much
time bet%een the lodge and the house + time enough, the implication is, to
leave the car, run round the house, go in through the side door, shoot
Christian and rush out and back to the car again.'
'/nd %hat %ere you really doing"'
'$ thought little girls %ere taught (uite young not to ask indelicate
(uestions. #ike an idiot, $ stood for several minutes taking in the fog effect
in the headlights and thinking %hat $'d use to get that effect on a stage.
5or my ne% 1#imehouse1 ballet.'
'2ut you can tell them that.'
'-aturally. 2ut you kno% %hat policemen are like. hey say 1thank you1
very civilly and %rite it all do%n, and you've no idea %hat they are thinking
e'cept that one does feel they have rather sceptical minds.'
'$t %ould amuse me to see you in a spot, /le',' said &tephen %ith his thin,
rather cruel smile. '-o%, $'m (uite all right. $ never left the )all last night.'
3ina cried, '2ut they couldn't possibly think it %as one of us.'
)er dark eyes %ere round and dismayed.
',on't say it must have been a tramp, dear,' said /le', helping himself
lavishly to marmalade. '$t's so hackneyed.'
Miss 2ellever looked in at the door and said>
'Miss Marple, %hen you have finished your breakfast, %ill you go to the
library"'
'4ou again,' said 3ina. '2efore any of us.'
&he seemed a little in8ured.
')i, %hat %as that"' asked /le'.
',idn't hear anything,' said &tephen.
'$t %as a pistol shot.'
'hey've been firing shots in the room %here 9ncle Christian %as killed,'
said 3ina. '$ don't kno% %hy. /nd outside too.'
he door opened again and Mildred &trete came in. &he %as %earing
black %ith some ony' beads.
&he murmured good morning %ithout looking at anyone and sat do%n.
$n a hushed voice she said>
'&ome tea, please, 3ina. -othing much to eat + 8ust some toast.'
&he touched her nose and her eyes delicately %ith the handkerchief she
held in one hand. hen she raised her eyes and looked in an unseeing
%ay at the t%o brothers. &tephen and /le' became uncomfortable. heir
voices dropped to almost a %hisper and presently they got up and left.
Mildred &trete said, %hether to the universe or Miss Marple %as not (uite
certain, '-ot even a black tie.'
'$ don't suppose,' said Miss Marple apologetically, 'that they kne%
beforehand that a murder %as going to happen.'
3ina made a smothered sound and Mildred &trete looked sharply at her.
'Where's Walter this morning"' she asked.
3ina flushed.
'$ don't kno%. $ haven't seen him.'
&he sat there uneasily like a guilty child.
Miss Marple got up.
'$'ll go to the library no%,' she said.
$$
#e%is &errocold %as standing by the %indo% in the library.
here %as no one else in the room.
)e turned as Miss Marple came in and came for%ard to meet her, taking
her hand in his.
'$ hope,' he said, 'that you are not feeling the %orse for the shock. o be at
close (uarters %ith %hat is undoubtedly murder must be a great strain on
anyone %ho has not come in contact %ith such a thing before.'
Modesty forbade Miss Marple to reply that she %as, by no%, (uite at
home %ith murder. &he merely said that life in &t Mary Mead %as not
(uite so sheltered as outside people believed.
'Very nasty things go on in a village, $ assure you,' she said. '0ne has an
opportunity of studying things there that one %ould never have in a to%n.'
#e%is &errocold listened indulgently, but %ith only half an ear.
)e said very simply> '$ %ant your help.'
'2ut of course, Mr &errocold.'
'$t is a matter that affects my %ife + affects Caroline. $ think that you are
really attached to her"'
'4es, indeed. *veryone is.'
'hat is %hat $ believed. $t seems that $ am %rong. With the permission of
$nspector Curry, $ am going to tell you something that no one else as yet
kno%s. 0r perhaps $ should say %hat only one person kno%s.'
2riefly, he told her %hat he had told $nspector Curry the night before.
Miss Marple looked horrified.
'$ can't believe it, Mr &errocold. $ really can't believe it.'
'hat is %hat $ felt %hen Christian 3ulbrandsen told me.'
'$ should have said that dear Carrie #ouise had not got an enemy in the
%orld.'
'$t seems incredible that she should have. 2ut you see the implication"
7oisoning + slo% poisoning + is an intimate family matter. $t must be one of
our closely+knit little household.'
'$f it is true. /re you sure that Mr 3ulbrandsen %as not mistaken"'
'Christian %as not mistaken. )e is too cautious a man to make such a
statement %ithout foundation. 2esides, the police took a%ay Caroline's
medicine bottle and a separate sample of its contents. here %as arsenic
in both of them + and arsenic %as not prescribed. he actual (uantitative
tests %ill take longer + but the actual fact of arsenic being present is
established.'
'hen her rheumatism + the difficulty in %alking + all that +'
'4es, leg cramps are typical, $ understand. /lso, before you came,
Caroline has had one or t%o severe attacks of a gastric nature + $ never
dreamed until Christian came +' )e broke off. Miss Marple said softly>
'&o Ruth %as right.'
'Ruth"'
#e%is &errocold sounded surprised. Miss Marple flushed.
'here is something $ have not told you. My coming here %as not entirely
fortuitous. $f you %ill let me e'plain + $'m afraid $ tell things so badly.
7lease have patience.'
#e%is &errocold listened %hilst Miss Marple told him of Ruth's unease and
urgency.
'*'traordinary,' he commented. '$ had no idea of this.'
'$t %as all so vague,' said Miss Marple. 'Ruth herself didn't kno% %hy she
had this feeling. here must be a reason + in my e'perience there al%ays
is + but 1something %rong1 %as as near as she could get.'
#e%is &errocold said grimly>
'Well, it seems that she %as right. -o%, Miss Marple, you see ho% $ am
placed. /m $ to tell Carrie #ouise of this"'
Miss Marple said (uickly> '0h no,' in a distressed voice, and then flushed
and stared doubtfully at #e%is.
)e nodded.
'&o you feel as $ do" /s Christian 3ulbrandsen did. &hould %e feel like
that %ith an ordinary %oman"'
'Carrie #ouise is not an ordinary %oman. &he lives by her trust, by her
belief in human nature + oh dear, $ am e'pressing myself very badly. 2ut $
do feel that until %e kno% %ho +'
'4es, that is the cru'. 2ut you do see, Miss Marple, that there is a risk in
saying nothing +'
'/nd so you %ant me to + ho% shall $ put it" + %atch over her"'
'4ou see, you are the only person %hom $ can trust,' said #e%is &errocold
simply. '*veryone here seems devoted. 2ut are they" -o% your
attachment goes back many years.'
'/nd also $ only arrived a fe% days ago,' said Miss Marple pertinently.
#e%is &errocold smiled.
'*'actly.'
'$t is a very mercenary (uestion,' said Miss Marple apologetically. '2ut %ho
e'actly %ould benefit if dear Carrie #ouise %ere to die"'
'Money.' said #e%is bitterly. '$t al%ays boils do%n to money, doesn't it"'
'Well, $ really think it must be in this case. 2ecause Carrie #ouise is a very
s%eet person %ith a great deal of charm, and one cannot really imagine
anyone disliking her. &he couldn't, $ mean, have an enemy. &o then it
does boil do%n, as you put it, to a (uestion of money, because as you
don't need me to tell you, Mr &errocold, people %ill (uite often do anything
for money.'
'$ suppose so, yes.'
)e %ent on>
'-aturally $nspector Curry has already taken up that point. Mr 3ilfoy is
coming do%n from #ondon today and can give detailed information.
3ilfoy, 3ilfoy, !aimes and 3ilfoy are a very eminent firm of la%yers. his
3ilfoy's father %as one of the original trustees, and they dre% up both
Caroline's %ill and the original %ill of *ric 3ulbrandsen. $ %ill put it in
simple terms for you '
'hank you,' said Miss Marple gratefully. '&o mystifying the la%, $ al%ays
think.'
'*ric 3ulbrandsen, after endo%ment of the College and various
fello%ships and trusts and other charitable be(uests, and having settled
an e(ual sum on his daughter Mildred and on his adopted daughter 7ippa
<3ina's mother=, left the remainder of his vast fortune in trust, the income
from it to be paid to Caroline for her lifetime.'
'/nd after her death"'
'/fter her death it %as to be divided e(ually bet%een Mildred and 7ippa +
or their children if they themselves had predeceased Caroline.'
'&o that in fact it goes to Mrs &trete and to 3ina.'
'4es. Caroline has also (uite a considerable fortune of her o%n + though
not in the 3ulbrandsen class. )alf of this she made over to me four years
ago. 0f the remaining amount, she left ten thousand pounds to !uliet
2ellever, and the rest e(ually divided bet%een /le' and &tephen
Restarick, her t%o stepsons.'
'0h dear,' said Miss Marple. 'hat's bad. hat's very bad.'
'4ou mean"'
'$t means everyone in the house had a financial motive.'
'4es. /nd yet, you kno%, $ can't believe that any of these people %ould do
murder. $ simply can't... Mildred is her daughter + and already (uite %ell
provided for. 3ina is devoted to her grandmother. &he is generous and
e'travagant, but has no ac(uisitive feelings. !olly 2ellever is fanatically
devoted to Caroline. he t%o Restaricks care for Caroline as though she
%ere really their mother. hey have no money of their o%n to speak of,
but (uite a lot of Caroline's income has gone to%ards financing their
enterprises + especially so %ith /le'. $ simply can't believe either of those
t%o %ould deliberately poison her for the sake of inheriting money at her
death. $ 8ust can't believe any of it, Miss Marple.'
'here's 3ina's husband, isn't there"'
'4es,' said #e%is gravely. 'here is 3ina's husband.'
'4ou don't really kno% much about him. /nd one can't help seeing that
he's a very unhappy young man.'
#e%is sighed.
')e hasn't fitted in here + no. )e's no interest in or sympathy for %hat
%e're trying to do. 2ut after all, %hy should he" )e's young, crude, and he
comes from a country %here a man is esteemed by the success he
makes of life.'
'Whilst here %e are so very fond of failures,' said Miss Marple.
#e%is &errocold looked at her sharply and suspiciously.
&he flushed a little and murmured rather incoherently>
'$ think sometimes, you kno%, one can overdo things the other %ay... $
mean the young people %ith a good heredity, and brought up %isely in a
good home + and %ith grit and pluck and the ability to get on in life + %ell,
they are really, %hen one comes do%n to it + the sort of people a country
needs.'
#e%is fro%ned and Miss Marple hurried on, getting pinker and pinker and
more and more incoherent.
'-ot that $ don't appreciate + $ do indeed + you and Carrie #ouise + a really
noble %ork + real compassion and one should have compassion +
because after all it's %hat people are that counts + good and bad luck +
and much more e'pected <and rightly= of the lucky ones. 2ut $ do think
sometimes one's sense of proportion + oh, $ don't mean you, Mr &errocold.
Really $ don't kno% %hat $ mean + but the *nglish are rather odd that %ay.
*ven in %ar, so much prouder of their defeats and their retreats than of
their victories. 5oreigners never can understand %hy %e're so proud of
,unkirk. $t's the sort of thing they'd prefer not to mention themselves. 2ut
%e al%ays seem to be almost embarrassed by a victory + and treat it as
though it %eren't (uite nice to boast about it. /nd look at all our poets.
he Charge of the #ight 2rigade, and the little Revenge %ent do%n in the
&panish Main. $t's really a very odd characteristic %hen you come to think
of it.'
Miss Marple dre% a fresh breath.
'What $ really mean is that everything here must seem rather peculiar to
young Walter )udd.'
'4es,' #e%is allo%ed. '$ see your point. /nd Walter has certainly a fine %ar
record. here's no doubt about his bravery.'
'-ot that that helps,' said Miss Marple candidly. '2ecause %ar is one thing,
and everyday life is (uite another. /nd actually to commit a murder, $
think you do need bravery + or perhaps, more often, 8ust conceit. 4es,
conceit.'
'2ut $ %ould hardly say that Walter )udd had a sufficient motive.'
'Wouldn't you"' said Miss Marple. ')e hates it here. )e %ants to get a%ay.
)e %ants to get 3ina a%ay. /nd if it's really money he %ants, it %ould be
important for 3ina to get all the money before she + er + definitely forms
an attachment to someone else.'
'/n attachment to someone else,' said #e%is, in an astonished voice.
Miss Marple %ondered at the blindness of enthusiastic social reformers.
'hat's %hat $ said. 2oth the Restaricks are in love %ith her, you kno%.'
'0h, $ don't think so,' said #e%is absently. )e %ent on>
'&tephen's invaluable to us + (uite invaluable. he %ay he's got those lads
coming along + keen + interested. hey gave a splendid sho% last month.
&cenery, costumes, everything. $t 8ust sho%s, as $'ve al%ays said to
Maverick, that it's lack of drama in their lives that leads these boys to
crime. o dramati:e yourself is a child's natural instinct. Maverick says +
ah yes, Maverick +'
#e%is broke off.
'$ %ant Maverick to see $nspector Curry about *dgar. he %hole thing is
so ridiculous really.'
'What do you really kno% about *dgar #a%son, Mr &errocold"'
'*verything,' said #e%is positively. '*verything, that is, that one needs to
kno%. )is background, upbringing + his deep+seated lack of confidence in
himself.'
Miss Marple interrupted.
'Couldn't *dgar #a%son have poisoned Mrs &errocold"' she asked.
')ardly. )e's only been here a fe% %eeks. /nd any%ay, it's ridiculous.
Why should *dgar %ant to poison my %ife" What could he possibly gain
by doing so"'
'-othing material, $ kno%. 2ut he might have + some odd reason. )e is
odd, you kno%.'
'4ou mean unbalanced"'
'$ suppose so. -o, $ don't + not (uite. What $ mean is, he's all %rong.'
$t %as not a very lucid e'position of %hat she felt. #e%is &errocold
accepted the %ords at their face value.
'4es,' he said %ith a sigh. ')e's all %rong, poor lad. /nd he %as sho%ing
such marked improvement. $ can't really understand %hy he had this
sudden set+back...'
Miss Marple leaned for%ard eagerly.
'4es, that's %hat $ %ondered. $f +'
&he broke off as $nspector Curry came into the room.
Chapter 1?
#e%is &errocold %ent a%ay, and $nspector Curry sat do%n and gave Miss
Marple a rather peculiar smile.
'&o Mr &errocold has been asking you to act as %atchdog,' he said.
'Well, yes,' she added apologetically> '$ hope you don't mind.'
'$ don't mind. $ think it's a very good idea. ,oes Mr &errocold kno% 8ust
ho% %ell (ualified you are for the post"'
'$ don't (uite understand, $nspector.'
'$ see. )e thinks you're 8ust a very nice elderly lady %ho %as at school
%ith his %ife.' )e shook his head at her. 'We kno% you're a bit more than
that, Miss Marple, aren't you" Crime is right do%n your street. Mr
&errocold only kno%s one aspect of crime + the promising beginners.
Makes me a bit sick, sometimes. ,aresay $'m %rong and old+fashioned.
2ut there are plenty of good decent lads about, lads %ho could do %ith a
start in life. 2ut there, honesty has to be its o%n re%ard + millionaires don't
leave trust funds to help the %orth%hile. Well %ell, don't pay any attention
to me. $'m old+fashioned. $'ve seen boys + and girls + %ith everything
against them, bad homes, bad luck, every disadvantage, and they've had
the grit to %in through. hat's the kind $ shall leave my packet to, if $ ever
have one. 2ut then, of course, that's %hat $ never shall have. !ust my
pension and a nice bit of garden.'
)e nodded his head at Miss Marple.
'&uperintendent 2lacker told me about you last night. &aid you'd had a lot
of e'perience of the seamy side of human nature. Well no%, let's have
your point of vie%. Who's the nigger in the %oodpile" he 3.$. husband"'
'hat,' said Miss Marple, '%ould be very convenient for everybody.'
$nspector Curry smiled softly to himself.
'/ 3.$. pinched my best girl,' he said reminiscently. '-aturally, $'m
pre8udiced. )is manner doesn't help. #et's have the amateur point of vie%.
Who's been secretly and systematically poisoning Mrs &errocold"'
'Well,' said Miss Marple 8udicially, 'one is al%ays inclined, human nature
being %hat it is, to think of the husband. 0r if it's the other %ay round, the
%ife. hat's the first assumption, don't you think, in a poisoning case"'
'$ agree %ith you every time,' said $nspector Curry.
'2ut really + in this case +' Miss Marple shook her head. '-o, frankly + $ can
not seriously consider Mr &errocold. 2ecause you see, $nspector, he
really is devoted to his %ife. -aturally he %ould make a parade of being
so + but it isn't a parade. $t's very (uiet, but it's genuine. )e loves his %ife,
and $'m (uite certain that he %ouldn't poison her.'
'o say nothing of the fact that he %ouldn't have any motive for doing so.
&he's made over her money to him already.'
'0f course,' said Miss Marple primly, 'there are other reasons for a
gentleman %anting his %ife out of the %ay. /n attachment to a young
%oman, for instance. 2ut $ really don't see any signs of it in this case. Mr
&errocold does not act as though he had any romantic preoccupation. $'m
really afraid,' she sounded (uite regretful about it, '%e shall have to %ash
him out.'
'Regrettable, isn't it"' said the $nspector. )e grinned. '/nd any%ay, he
couldn't have killed 3ulbrandsen. $t seems to me that there's no doubt
that the one thing hinges on the other. Whoever is poisoning Mrs
&errocold killed 3ulbrandsen to prevent him spilling the beans. What
%e've got to get at no% is %ho had an opportunity to kill 3ulbrandsen last
night. /nd our pri:e suspect + there's no doubt about it + is young Walter
)udd. $t %as he %ho s%itched on a reading lamp %hich resulted in a fuse
going, thereby giving him the opportunity to leave the )all and go to the
fuse bo'. he fuse bo' is in the kitchen passage %hich opens off from the
main corridor. $t %as during his absence from the 3reat )all that the shot
%as heard. &o that's suspect -o.1 perfectly placed for committing the
crime.'
'/nd suspect -o.?"' asked Miss Marple.
'&uspect -o.? is /le' Restarick, %ho %as alone in his car bet%een the
lodge and the house and took too long getting there.'
'/nybody else"' Miss Marple leaned for%ard eagerly remembering to add>
'$t's very kind of you to tell me all this.'
'$t's not kindness,' said $nspector Curry. '$'ve got to have your help. 4ou
put your finger on the spot %hen you said 1/nybody else"1 2ecause there
$'ve got to depend on you. 4ou %ere there, in the )all last night, and you
can tell me %ho left it...'
'4es + yes, $ ought to be able to tell you... 2ut can $" 4ou see + the
circumstances +'
'4ou mean that you %ere all listening to the argument going on behind the
door of Mr &errocold's study.'
Miss Marple nodded vehemently.
'4es, you see %e %ere all really very frightened. Mr #a%son looked + he
really did + (uite demented. /part from Mrs &errocold, %ho seemed (uite
unaffected, %e all feared that he %ould do a mischief to Mr &errocold. )e
%as shouting, you kno%, and saying the most terrible things + %e could
hear them (uite plainly + and %hat %ith that and %ith most of the lights
being out + $ didn't really notice anything else.'
'4ou mean that %hilst that scene %as going on, anybody could have
slipped out of the )all, gone along the corridor, shot Mr 3ulbrandsen and
slipped back again"'
'$ think it %ould have been possible...'
'Could you say definitely that anybody %as in the 3reat )all the %hole
time"'
Miss Marple considered.
'$ could say that Mrs &errocold %as + because $ %as %atching her. &he
%as sitting (uite close to the study door, and she never moved from her
seat. $t surprised me, you kno%, that she %as able to remain so calm.'
'/nd the others"'
'Miss 2ellever %ent out + but $ think + $ am almost sure + that that %as after
the shot. Mrs &trete" $ really don't kno%. &he %as sitting behind me, you
see. 3ina %as over by the far %indo%. $ think she remained there the
%hole time but of course $ cannot be sure. &tephen %as at the piano. )e
stopped playing %hen the (uarrel began to get heated +'
'We mustn't be misled by the time you heard the shot,' said $nspector
Curry. 'hat's a trick that's been done before no%, you kno%. 5ake up a
shot so as to fi' the time of a crime, and fi' it %rong. $f Miss 2ellever had
cooked up something of that kind <farfetched + but you never kno%= then
she'd leave as she did, openly, after the shot %as heard. -o, %e can't go
by the shot. he limits are bet%een %hen Christian 3ulbrandsen left the
)all to the moment %hen Miss 2ellever found him dead, and %e can only
eliminate those people %ho %ere kno%n not to have had opportunity. hat
gives us #e%is &errocold and young *dgar #a%son in the study, and Mrs
&errocold in the )all. $t's very unfortunate, of course, that 3ulbrandsen
should be shot on the same evening that this schemo::le happened
bet%een &errocold and this young #a%son.'
'!ust unfortunate, you think"' murmured Miss Marple.
'0h" What do you think"'
'$t occurred to me,' murmured Miss Marple, 'that it might have been
contrived.'
'&o that's your idea"'
'Well, everybody seems to think it very odd that *dgar #a%son should
(uite suddenly have a relapse, so to speak. )e'd got this curious
comple', or %hatever the term is, about his unkno%n father. Winston
Churchill and Viscount Montgomery + all (uite likely in his state of mind.
!ust any famous man he happened to think of. 2ut suppose somebody
puts it into his head that it's #e%is &errocold %ho is really his father, that
it's #e%is &errocold %ho has been persecuting him + that he ought by
rights to be the Cro%n 7rince as it %ere of &tonygates. $n his %eak mental
state he'll accept the idea + %ork himself up into a fren:y, and sooner or
later %ill make the kind of scene he did make. /nd %hat a %onderful
cover that %ill be. *verybody %ill have their attention fi'ed on the
dangerous situation that is developing + especially if somebody has
thoughtfully supplied him %ith a revolver.'
')m, yes. Walter )udd's revolver.'
'0h yes,' said Miss Marple, '$'d thought of that. 2ut you kno%, Walter is
uncommunicative and he's certainly sullen and ungracious, but $ don't
really think he's stupid.'
'&o you don't think it's Walter"'
'$ think everybody %ould be very relieved if it %as Walter. hat sounds
very unkind, but it's because he is an outsider.'
'What about his %ife"' asked $nspector Curry. 'Would she be relieved"'
Miss Marple did not ans%er. &he %as thinking of 3ina and &tephen
Restarick standing together as she had seen them on her first day. /nd
she thought of the %ay /le' Restarick's eyes had gone straight to 3ina as
he had entered the )all last night. What %as 3ina's o%n attitude"
$$
%o hours later $nspector Curry tilted back his chair, stretched himself
and sighed.
'Well,' he said, '%e've cleared a good deal of ground.' &ergeant #ake
agreed.
'he servants are out,' he said. 'hey %ere together all through the critical
period + those that sleep here. he ones that don't live in had gone home.'
Curry nodded. )e %as suffering from mental fatigue.
)e had intervie%ed physio+therapists, members of the teaching staff, and
%hat he called to himself the 't%o young lads,' %hose turn it had been to
dine %ith the family that night. /ll their stories dovetailed and checked. )e
could %rite them off. heir activities and habits %ere communal. here
%ere no lonely souls among them. Which %as useful for the purposes of
alibis. Curry had kept ,r Maverick, %ho %as, as far as he could 8udge, the
chief person in charge of the $nstitute, to the end.
'2ut %e'll have him in no%, #ake.'
&o the young doctor bustled in, neat and spruce and rather inhuman
looking behind his pincene:.
Maverick confirmed the statements of his staff, and agreed %ith Curry's
findings. here had been no slackness, no loophole in the College
impregnability. Christian 3ulbrandsen's death could not be laid to the
account of the 'young patients,' as Curry almost called them, so
hypnoti:ed had he become by the fervent medical atmosphere.
'2ut patients are e'actly %hat they are, $nspector,' said ,r Maverick %ith a
little smile.
$t %as a superior smile, and $nspector Curry %ould not have been human
if he had not resented it 8ust a little.
)e said professionally>
'-o% as regards your o%n movements, ,r Maverick" Can you give me an
account of them"'
'Certainly. $ have 8otted them do%n for you %ith appro'imate times.'
,r Maverick had left the 3reat )all at fifteen minutes after nine, %ith Mr
#acy and ,r 2aumgarten. hey had gone to ,r 2aumgarten's rooms,
%here they had all three remained discussing certain courses of treatment
until Miss 2ellever had come hurrying in and asked ,r Maverick to go to
the 3reat )all. hat %as at appro'imately half+past nine. )e had gone at
once to the )all and had found *dgar #a%son in a state of collapse.
$nspector Curry stirred a little.
'!ust a minute, ,r Maverick. $s this young man, in your opinion, definitely
a mental case"'
,r Maverick smiled the superior smile again.
'We are all mental cases, $nspector Curry.'
omfool ans%er, thought the $nspector. )e kne% (uite %ell he %asn't a
mental case, %hatever ,r Maverick might be.
'$s he responsible for his actions" )e kno%s %hat he is doing, $ suppose"'
'7erfectly.'
'hen %hen he fired that revolver at Mr &errocold it %as definitely
attempted murder.'
'-o, no, $nspector Curry. -othing of that kind.'
'Come no%, ,r Maverick. $'ve seen the t%o bullet holes in the %all. hey
must have gone dangerously near to Mr &errocold's head.'
'7erhaps. 2ut #a%son had no intention of killing Mr &errocold or even of
%ounding him. )e is very fond of Mr &errocold.'
'$t seems a curious %ay of sho%ing it.'
,r Maverick smiled again. $nspector Curry found that smile very trying.
'*verything one does is intentional. *very time you, $nspector, forget a
name or a face it is because, unconsciously, you %ish to forget it.'
$nspector Curry looked unbelieving.
'*very time you make a slip of the tongue, that slip has a meaning. *dgar
#a%son %as standing a fe% feet a%ay from Mr &errocold. )e could easily
have shot him dead. $nstead, he missed him. Why did he miss him"
2ecause he %anted to miss him. $t is as simple as that. Mr &errocold %as
never in any danger + and Mr &errocold himself %as (uite a%are of that
fact. )e understood *dgar's gesture for e'actly %hat it %as + a gesture of
defiance and resentment against a universe that has denied him the
simple necessities of a child's life security and affection.'
'$ think $'d like to see this young man.'
'Certainly if you %ish. )is outburst last night has had a cathartic effect.
here is a great improvement today. Mr &errocold %ill be very pleased.'
$nspector Curry stared hard at him, but ,r Maverick %as serious as
al%ays.
Curry sighed.
',o you have any arsenic"' he asked.
'/rsenic"' he (uestion took ,r Maverick by surprise. $t %as clearly
une'pected. 'What a very curious (uestion. Why arsenic"'
'!ust ans%er the (uestion, please.'
'-o, $ have no arsenic of any kind in my possession.'
'2ut you have some drugs"'
'0h, certainly. &edatives. Morphia + the barbiturates. he usual things.'
',o you attend Mrs &errocold"'
'-o. ,r 3unter of Market Eimble is the family physician. $ hold a medical
degree, of course, but $ practise purely as a psychiatrist.'
'$ see. Well, thank you very much, ,r Maverick.'
/s ,r Maverick %ent out, $nspector Curry murmured to #ake that
psychiatrists gave him a pain in the neck.
'We'll get on to the family no%,' he said. '$'ll see young Walter )udd first.'
Walter )udd's attitude %as cautious. )e seemed to be studying the police
officer %ith a slightly %ary e'pression. 2ut he %as (uite cooperative.
here %as a good deal of defective %iring in &tonygates + the %hole
electric system %as very old+fashioned. hey %ouldn't stand for a system
like that in the &tates.
'$t %as installed, $ believe, by the late Mr 3ulbrandsen %hen electric light
%as a novelty,' said $nspector Curry %ith a faint smile.
'$'ll say so. &%eet old feudal *nglish and never been brought up to date.'
he fuse %hich controlled most of the lights in the 3reat )all had gone,
and he had gone out to the fuse+bo' to see about it. $n due course he got
it repaired and came back.
')o% long %ere you a%ay"'
'Why that $ couldn't say for sure. he fuse+bo' is in an a%k%ard place. $
had to get steps and a candle. $ %as maybe ten minutes + perhaps a
(uarter of an hour.'
',id you hear a shot"'
'Why no, $ didn't hear anything like that. here are double doors through
to the kitchen (uarters and one of them is lined %ith a kind of felt.'
'$ see. /nd %hen you came back into the )all, %hat did you see"'
'hey %ere all cro%ded round the door into Mr &errocold's study. Mrs
&trete said that Mr &errocold had been shot + but actually that %asn't so.
Mr &errocold %as (uite all right. he boob had missed him.'
'4ou recogni:ed the revolver"'
'&ure $ recogni:ed it. $t %as mine.'
'When did you see it last"'
'%o or three days ago.'
'Where did you keep it"'
'$n the dra%er in my room.'
'Who kne% that you kept it there"'
'$ %ouldn't kno% %ho kno%s %hat in this house.'
'What do you mean by that, Mr )udd"'
'/%, they're all nuts.'
'When you came into the )all, %as everybody else there"'
'What d'you mean by everybody"'
'he same people %ho %ere there %hen you %ent to repair the fuse.'
'3ina %as there... and the old lady %ith %hite hair and Miss 2ellever... $
didn't notice particularly + but $ should say so.'
'Mr 3ulbrandsen arrived (uite une'pectedly the day before yesterday, did
he not"'
'$ guess so. $t %asn't his usual routine, $ understand.'
',id anyone seem upset by his arrival"'
Walter )udd took a moment or t%o before he ans%ered>
'Why no, $ %ouldn't say so.'
0nce more there %as a touch of caution in his manner.
')ave you any idea %hy he came"'
'heir precious 3ulbrandsen rust $ suppose. he %hole set+up here is
cra:y.'
'4ou have these 1set+ups1 as you call it, in the &tates.'
'$t's one thing to endo% a scheme, and another to give it the personal
touch as they do here. $ had enough of psychiatrists in the /rmy. his
place is stiff %ith them. eaching young thugs to make raffia baskets and
carve pipe+racks. Eids' games. $t's sissy.'
$nspector Curry did not comment on this criticism. 7ossibly he agreed %ith
it.
)e said, eying Walter carefully>
'&o you have no idea %ho could have killed Mr 3ulbrandsen"'
'0ne of the bright boys from the College practising his techni(ue, $'d say.'
'-o, Mr )udd, that's out. he College, in spite of its carefully produced
atmosphere of freedom, is none the less a place of detention and is run
on those lines. -obody can run in and out of it after dark and commit
murders.'
'$ %ouldn't put it past them. Well + if you %ant to fi' it nearer home, $'d say
your best bet %as /le' Restarick.'
'Why do you say that"'
')e had the opportunity. )e drove up through the grounds alone in his
car.'
'/nd %hy should he kill Christian 3ulbrandsen"'
Walter shrugged his shoulders.
'$'m a stranger. $ don't kno% the family setups. Maybe the old boy had
heard something about /le' and %as going to spill the beans to the
&errocolds.'
'With %hat results"'
'hey might cut off the dough. )e can use dough uses a good deal of it by
all accounts.'
'4ou mean + in theatrical enterprises"'
'hat's %hat he calls it"'
',o you suggest it %as other%ise"'
/gain Walter )udd shrugged his shoulders.
'$ %ouldn't kno%,' he said.
Chapter 1A
/le' Restarick %as voluble. )e also gestured %ith his hands.
'$ kno%, $ kno%. $'m the ideal suspect. $ drive do%n here alone and on the
%ay to the house, $ get a creative fit, $ can't e'pect you to understand.
)o% should you"'
'$ might,' Curry put in drily, but /le' Restarick s%ept on.
'$t's 8ust one of those things. hey come upon you there's no kno%ing
%hen or ho%. /n effect + an idea and everything else goes to the %inds.
$'m producing #imehouse -ights ne't month. &uddenly + last night + the
set+up %as %onderful... he perfect lighting. 5og + and the headlights
cutting through the fog and being thro%n back + and reflecting dimly a tall
pile of buildings. *verything helped. he shots + the running footsteps and
the chug+chugging of the electric po%er engine could have been a launch
on the hames. /nd $ thought + that's it + but %hat am $ going to use to get
8ust these effects + and +'
$nspector Curry broke in.
'4ou heard shots" Where"'
'0ut of the fog, $nspector.' /le' %aved his hands in the air + plump %ell+
kept hands. '0ut of the fog. hat %as the %onderful part about it.'
'$t didn't occur to you that anything %as %rong"'
'Wrong" Why should it"'
'/re shots such a usual occurrence"'
'/h, $ kne% you %ouldn't understand. he shots fitted into the scene $ %as
creating. $ %anted shots. ,anger, opium+cra:y business. What did $ care
%hat they %ere really" 2ackfires from a lorry on the road" / poacher after
rabbits"'
'hey snare rabbits mostly round here.'
/le' s%ept on>
'/ child letting off fire%orks" $ didn't even think about them as + shots. $
%as in #imehouse + or rather at the back of the stalls + looking at
#imehouse.'
')o% many shots"'
'$ don't kno%,' said /le' petulantly. '%o or three. %o close together, $ do
remember that.'
$nspector Curry nodded.
'/nd the sound of running footsteps, $ think you said" Where %ere they"'
'hey came to me out of the fog. &ome%here near the house.'
$nspector Curry said gently>
'hat %ould suggest that the murderer of Christian 3ulbrandsen came
from outside.'
'0f course. Why not" 4ou don't really suggest, do you, that he came from
inside the house"'
&till very gently $nspector Curry said>
'We have to think of everything.'
'$ suppose so,' said /le' Restarick generously. 'What a soul+destroying
8ob yours must be, $nspector. he details, the times and places, the
pettifogging pettiness of it. /nd in the end + %hat good is it all" ,oes it
bring the %retched Christian 3ulbrandsen back to life"'
'here's (uite a satisfaction in getting your man, Mr Restarick.'
'he Wild Western touch.'
',id you kno% Mr 3ulbrandsen %ell"'
'-ot %ell enough to murder him, $nspector. $ had met him, off and on,
since $ lived here as a boy. )e made brief appearances from time to time.
0ne of our captains of industry. he type does not interest me. )e has
(uite a collection, $ believe, of hor%aldsen's statuary +' /le' shuddered.
'hat speaks for itself, does it not" My 3od, these rich men.'
$nspector Curry eyed him meditatively. hen he said>
',o you take any interest in poisons, Mr Restarick"'
'$n poisons" My dear man, he %as surely not poisoned first and shot
after%ards. hat %ould be too madly detective story.'
')e %as not poisoned. 2ut you haven't ans%ered my (uestion.'
'7oison has a certain appeal... $t has not the crudeness of the revolver
bullet or the blunt %eapon. $ have no special kno%ledge of the sub8ect, if
that is %hat you mean.'
')ave you ever had arsenic in your possession"'
'$n sand%iches + after the sho%" he idea has its allurements. 4ou don't
kno% Rose 3lidon" hese actresses %ho think they have a name. -o $
have never thought of arsenic. 0ne e'tracts it from %eed killer or
flypapers, $ believe.'
')o% often are you do%n here, Mr Restarick"'
'$t varies, $nspector. &ometimes not for several %eeks. 2ut $ try to get
do%n for %eekends %henever $ can. $ al%ays regard &tonygates as my
true home.'
'Mrs &errocold has encouraged you to do so"'
'What $ o%e Mrs &errocold can never be repaid. &ympathy,
understanding, affection +'
'/nd (uite a lot of solid cash as %ell, $ believe"'
/le' looked faintly disgusted.
'&he treats me as a son, and she has belief in my %ork.'
')as she ever spoken to you about her %ill"'
'Certainly. 2ut may $ ask %hat is the point of all these (uestions,
$nspector" here is nothing %rong %ith Mrs &errocold.'
'here had better not be,' said $nspector Curry grimly.
'-o% %hat can you possibly mean by that"'
'$f you don't kno%, so much the better,' said $nspector Curry. '/nd if you do
+ $'m %arning you.'
When /le' had gone &ergeant #ake said>
'7retty bogus, %ould you say"'
Curry shook his head.
',ifficult to say. )e may have genuine creative talent. )e may 8ust like
living soft and talking big. 0ne doesn't kno%. )eard running footsteps, did
he" $'d be prepared to bet he made that up.'
'5or any particular reason"'
',efinitely for a particular reason. We haven't come to it yet, but %e %ill.'
'/fter all, sir, one of those smart lads may have got out of the College
buildings unbekno%nst. 7robably a fe% cat burglars amongst them, and if
so +'
'hat's %hat %e're meant to think. Very convenient. 2ut if that's so, #ake,
$'ll eat my ne% soft hat.'
$$
'$ %as at the piano,' said &tephen Restarick. '$'d been strumming softly
%hen the ro% ble% up. 2et%een #e%is and *dgar.'
'What did you think of it"'
'Well + to tell the truth $ didn't really take it seriously. he poor beggar has
these fits of venom. )e's not really loopy, you kno%. /ll this nonsense is a
kind of blo%ing off steam. he truth is, %e all get under his skin
particularly 3ina, of course.'
'3ina" 4ou mean Mrs )udd" Why does she get under his skin"'
'2ecause she's a %oman + and a very beautiful %oman, and because she
thinks he's funny. &he's half $talian, you kno%, and the $talians have that
unconscious vein of cruelty. hey've no compassion for anyone %ho's old
or ugly, or peculiar in any %ay. hey point %ith their fingers and 8eer.
hat's %hat 3ina did, metaphorically speaking. &he'd no use for young
*dgar. )e %as ridiculous, pompous, and at bottom fundamentally unsure
of himself. )e %anted to impress, and he only succeeded in looking silly.
$t %ouldn't mean anything to her that the poor fello% suffered a lot.'
'/re you suggesting that *dgar #a%son is in love %ith Mrs )udd"' asked
$nspector Curry.
&tephen replied cheerfully>
'0h yes. /s a matter of fact %e all are, more or less. &he likes us that
%ay.'
',oes her husband like it"'
')e takes a dim vie%. )e suffers, too, poor fello%. he thing can't last, you
kno%. heir marriage, $ mean. $t %ill break up before long. $t %as 8ust one
of these %ar affairs.'
'his is all very interesting,' said the $nspector. '2ut %e're getting a%ay
from our sub8ect, %hich is the murder of Christian 3ulbrandsen.'
';uite,' said &tephen. '2ut $ can't tell you anything about it. $ sat at the
piano, and $ didn't leave the piano until dear !olly came in %ith some rusty
old keys and tried to fit one to the lock of the study door.'
'4ou stayed at the piano. ,id you continue to play the piano"'
'/ gentle obbligato to the life and death struggle in #e%is's study" -o, $
stopped playing %hen the tempo rose. -ot that $ had any doubts as to the
outcome. #e%is has %hat $ can only describe as a dynamic eye. )e could
easily break up *dgar 8ust by looking at him.'
'4et *dgar #a%son fired t%o shots at him.'
&tephen shook his head gently.
'!ust putting on an act, that %as. *n8oying himself. My dear mother used
to do it. &he died or ran a%ay %ith someone %hen $ %as four, but $
remember her bla:ing off %ith a pistol if anything upset her. &he did it at a
night club once. Made a pattern on the %all. &he %as an e'cellent shot.
;uite a bit of trouble she caused. &he %as a Russian dancer, you kno%.'
'$ndeed. Can you tell me, Mr Restarick, %ho left the )all yesterday
evening %hilst you %ere there + during the relevant time"'
'Wally + to fi' the lights. !uliet 2ellever to find a key to fit the study door.
-obody else, as far as $ kno%.'
'Would you have noticed if somebody did"'
&tephen considered.
'7robably not. hat is, if they 8ust tiptoed out and back again. $t %as so
dark in the )all + and there %as the fight to %hich %e %ere all listening
avidly.'
'$s there anyone you are sure %as there the %hole time"'
'Mrs &errocold + yes, and 3ina. $'d s%ear to them.'
'hank you, Mr Restarick.'
&tephen %ent to%ards the door. hen he hesitated and came back.
'What's all this,' he said, 'about arsenic"'
'Who mentioned arsenic to you"'
'My brother.'
'/h + yes.'
&tephen said>
')as somebody been giving Mrs &errocold arsenic"'
'Why should you mention Mrs &errocold"'
'$'ve read of the symptoms of arsenical poisoning. 7eripheral neuritis, isn't
it" $t %ould s(uare more or less %ith %hat she's been suffering from lately.
/nd then #e%is snatching a%ay her tonic last night. $s that %hat's been
going on here"'
'he matter is under investigation,' said $nspector Curry in his most official
manner.
',oes she kno% about it herself"'
'Mr &errocold %as particularly an'ious that she should not be + alarmed.'
'/larmed isn't the right %ord, $nspector. Mrs &errocold is never alarmed...
$s that %hat lies behind Christian 3ulbrandsen's death" ,id he find out
she %as being poisoned + but ho% could he find out" /ny%ay, the %hole
thing seems most improbable. $t doesn't make sense.'
'$t surprises you very much, does it, Mr Restarick"'
'4es, indeed. When /le' spoke to me $ could hardly believe it.'
'Who, in your opinion, %ould be likely to administer arsenic to Mrs
&errocold"'
5or a moment a grin appeared upon &tephen Restarick's handsome face.
'-ot the usual person. 4ou can %ash out the husband. #e%is &errocold's
got nothing to gain. /nd also he %orships that %oman. )e can't bear her
to have an ache in her little finger.'
'Who then" )ave you any idea"'
'0h yes. $'d say it %as a certainty.'
'*'plain, please.'
&tephen shook his head.
'$t's a certainty psychologically speaking. -ot in any other %ay. -o
evidence of any kind. /nd you probably %ouldn't agree.'
&tephen Restarick %ent out nonchalantly, and $nspector Curry dre% cats
on the sheet of paper in front of him. )e %as thinking three things. /, that
&tephen Restarick thought a good deal of himself6 2, that &tephen
Restarick and his brother presented a united front6 and C, that &tephen
Restarick %as a handsome man %here Walter )udd %as a plain one.
)e %ondered about t%o other things + %hat &tephen meant by
'psychologically speaking' and %hether &tephen could possibly have seen
3ina from his seat at the piano. )e rather thought not.
$$$
$nto the 3othic gloom of the library, 3ina brought an e'otic glo%. *ven
$nspector Curry blinked a little at the radiant young %oman %ho sat do%n,
leaned for%ard over the table and said e'pectantly, 'Well"'
$nspector Curry, observing her scarlet shirt and dark green slacks, said
drily>
'$ see you're not %earing mourning, Mrs )udd"'
'$ haven't got any,' said 3ina. '$ kno% everyone is supposed to have a little
black number and %ear it %ith pearls. 2ut $ don't. $ hate black. $ think it's
hideous, and only receptionists and housekeepers and people like that
ought to %ear it. /ny%ay Christian 3ulbrandsen %asn't really a relation.
)e's my grandmother's stepson.'
'/nd $ suppose you didn't kno% him very %ell"'
3ina shook her head.
')e came here three or four times %hen $ %as a child, but then in the %ar $
%ent to /merica, and $ only came back here to live about si' months ago.'
'4ou have definitely come back here to live" 4ou're not 8ust on a visit"'
'$ haven't really thought,' said 3ina.
'4ou %ere in the 3reat )all last night, %hen Mr 3ulbrandsen %ent to his
room"'
'4es. )e said goodnight and %ent a%ay. 3randam asked if he had
everything he %anted and he said yes that !olly had fi'ed him up fine. -ot
those %ords, but that kind of thing. )e said he had letters to %rite.'
'/nd then"'
3ina described the scene bet%een #e%is and *dgar #a%son. $t %as the
same story that $nspector Curry had by no% heard many times, but it took
an added colour, a ne% gusto, under 3ina's handling. $t became drama.
'$t %as Wally's revolver,' she said. '5ancy *dgar's having the guts to go
and pinch it out of his room. $'d never have believed he'd have the guts.'
'Were you alarmed %hen they %ent into the study and *dgar #a%son
locked the door"'
'0h no,' said 3ina, opening her enormous bro%n eyes very %ide. '$ loved
it. $t %as so ham, you kno%, and so madly theatrical. *verything *dgar
does is al%ays ridiculous. 0ne can't take him seriously for a moment.'
')e did fire the revolver, though"'
'4es. We all thought then that he'd shot #e%is after +'
'/nd did you en8oy that"' $nspector Curry could not refrain from asking.
'0h no, $ %as terrified, then. *veryone %as, e'cept 3randam. &he never
turned a hair.'
'hat seems rather remarkable.'
'-ot really. &he's that kind of person. -ot (uite in this %orld. &he's the sort
of person %ho never believes anything bad can happen. &he's s%eet.'
',uring all this scene, %ho %as in the )all"'
'0h %e %ere all there. *'cept 9ncle Christian, of course.'
'-ot all, Mrs )udd. 7eople %ent in and out.'
',id they"' asked 3ina vaguely.
'4our husband, for instance, %ent out to fi' the lights.'
'4es. Wally's great at fi'ing things.'
',uring his absence, a shot %as heard, $ understand. / shot that you all
thought came from the 7ark"'
'$ don't remember that... 0h yes, it %as 8ust after the lights had come on
again and Wally had come back.'
',id anyone else leave the )all"'
'$ don't think so. $ don't remember.'
'Where %ere you sitting, Mrs )udd"'
'0ver by the %indo%.'
'-ear the door to the library"'
'4es.'
',id you yourself leave the )all at all"'
'#eave" With all the e'citement" 0f course not.'
3ina sounded scandali:ed by the idea.
'Where %ere the others sitting"'
'Mostly round the fireplace, $ think. /unt Mildred %as knitting and so %as
/unt !ane + Miss Marple, $ mean. 3randam %as 8ust sitting.'
'/nd Mr &tephen Restarick"'
'&tephen" )e %as playing the piano to begin %ith. $ don't kno% %here he
%ent later.'
'/nd Miss 2ellever"'
'5ussing about, as usual. &he practically never sits do%n. &he %as
looking for keys or something.'
&he said suddenly>
'What's all this about 3randam's tonic" ,id the chemist make a mistake in
making it up or something"'
'Why should you think that"'
'2ecause the bottle's disappeared, and !olly's been fussing round madly
looking for it, in no end of a ste%. /le' told her the police had taken it
a%ay. ,id you"'
$nstead of replying to the (uestion, $nspector Curry said>
'Miss 2ellever %as upset, you say"'
'0h. !olly al%ays fusses,' said 3ina carelessly. '&he likes fussing.
&ometimes $ %onder ho% 3randam can stand it.'
'!ust one last (uestion, Mrs )udd. 4ou've no ideas yourself as to %ho
killed Christian 3ulbrandsen and %hy"'
'0ne of the (ueers did it, $ should think. he thug ones are really (uite
sensible. $ mean they only cosh people so as to rob a till or get money or
8e%ellery + not 8ust for fun. 2ut one of the (ueers + you kno%, %hat they
call mentally malad8usted + might do it for fun, don't you think" 2ecause $
can't see %hat other reason there could be for killing 9ncle Christian
e'cept fun, do you" /t least $ don't mean fun, e'actly + but +'
'4ou can't think of a motive"'
'4es, that's %hat $ mean,' said 3ina gratefully. ')e %asn't robbed or
anything, %as he"'
'2ut you kno%, Mrs )udd, the College buildings %ere locked and barred.
-obody could get out from there %ithout a pass.'
',on't you believe it,' 3ina laughed merrily. 'hose boys could get out from
any%here. hey've taught me a lot of tricks.'
'&he's a lively one,' said #ake %hen 3ina had departed. '5irst time $'ve
seen her close to. #ovely figure, hasn't she. &ort of a foreign figure, if you
kno% %hat $ mean.'
$nspector Curry thre% him a cold glance. &ergeant #ake said hastily that
she %as a merry one. '&eems to have en8oyed it all, as you might say.'
'Whether &tephen Restarick is right or not about her marriage breaking
up, $ notice that she %ent out of her %ay to mention that Walter )udd %as
back in the 3reat )all before that shot %as heard.'
'Which, according to everyone else, isn't so"'
'*'actly.'
'&he didn't mention Miss 2ellever leaving the )all to look for keys, either.'
'-o,' said the $nspector thoughtfully, 'she didn't...'
Chapter 1F
Mrs &trete fitted into the library very much better than 3ina )udd had
done. here %as nothing e'otic about Mrs &trete. &he %ore black %ith an
ony' brooch, and she %ore a hairnet over carefully arranged grey hair.
&he looked, $nspector Curry reflected, e'actly as the relict of a Canon of
the *stablished Church should look + %hich %as almost odd, because so
fe% people ever did look like %hat they really %ere.
*ven the tight line of her lips had an ascetic ecclesiastical flavour. &he
e'pressed Christian *ndurance, and possibly Christian 5ortitude. 2ut not,
Curry thought, Christian Charity.
Moreover it %as clear that Mrs &trete %as offended. '$ should have
thought that you could have given me some idea of %hen you %ould %ant
me, $nspector. $ have been forced to sit around %aiting all the morning.'
$t %as, Curry 8udged, her sense of importance that %as hurt. )e hastened
to pour oil on the troubled %aters.
'$'m very sorry, Mrs &trete. 7erhaps you don't (uite kno% ho% %e set
about these things. We start, you kno%, %ith the less important evidence +
get it out of the %ay, so to speak. $t's valuable to keep to the last a person
on %hose 8udgment %e can rely + a good observer + by %hom %e can
check %hat has been told us up to date.'
Mrs &trete softened visibly.
'0h $ see. $ hadn't (uite reali:ed...'
'-o% you're a %oman of mature 8udgment, Mrs &trete. / %oman of the
%orld. /nd then this is your home + you're the daughter of the house, and
you can tell me all about the people %ho are in it.'
'$ can certainly do that,' said Mildred &trete.
'&o you see that %hen %e come to the (uestion of %ho killed Christian
3ulbrandsen, you can help us a great deal.'
'2ut is there any (uestion" $sn't it perfectly obvious %ho killed my
brother"'
$nspector Curry leant back in his chair. )is hand stroked his small neat
moustache.
'Well + %e have to be careful,' he said. '4ou think it's obvious"'
'0f course. hat dreadful /merican husband of poor 3ina's. )e's the only
stranger here. We kno% absolutely nothing about him. )e's probably one
of these dreadful /merican gangsters.'
'2ut that %ouldn't (uite account for his killing Christian 3ulbrandsen,
%ould it" Why should he"'
'2ecause Christian had found out something about him. hat's %hat he
came here for so soon after his last visit.'
'/re you sure of that, Mrs &trete"'
'/gain it seems to me (uite obvious. )e let it be thought his visit %as in
connection %ith the rust + but that's nonsense. )e %as here for that only
a month ago. /nd nothing of importance has arisen since. &o he must
have come on some private business. )e sa% Walter on his last visit, and
he may have recogni:ed him + or perhaps made in(uiries about him in the
&tates + naturally he has agents all over the %orld + and found out
something really damaging. 3ina is a very silly girl. &he al%ays has been.
$t is 8ust like her to marry a man she kno%s nothing about + she's al%ays
been man mad. / man %anted by the police, perhaps, or a man %ho's
already married, or some bad character in the under%orld. 2ut my brother
Christian %asn't an easy man to deceive. )e came here, $'m sure, to
settle the %hole business. *'pose Walter and sho% him up for %hat he is.
/nd so, naturally, Walter shot him.'
$nspector Curry, adding some out+si:ed %hiskers to one of the cats on his
blotting pad, said>
'4e+es.'
',on't you agree %ith me that that's %hat must have happened"'
'$t could be + yes,' admitted the $nspector.
'What other solution could there be" Christian had no enemies. What $
can't understand is %hy you haven't already arrested Walter"'
'Well, you see, Mrs &trete, %e have to have evidence.'
'4ou could probably get that easily enough. $f you %ired to /merica +'
'0h yes, %e shall check up on Mr Walter )udd. 4ou can be sure of that.
2ut until %e can prove motive, there's not very much to go upon. here's
opportunity, of course +'
')e %ent out 8ust after Christian, pretending the lights had fused +'
'hey did fuse.'
')e could easily arrange that.'
'rue.'
'hat gave him his e'cuse. )e follo%ed Christian to his room, shot him
and then repaired the fuse and came back to the )all.'
')is %ife says he came back before you heard the shot from outside.'
'-ot a bit of it. 3ina %ould say anything. he $talians are never truthful.
/nd she's a Roman Catholic, of course.'
$nspector Curry side+stepped the ecclesiastical angle.
'4ou think his %ife %as in it %ith him"'
Mildred &trete hesitated for a moment.
'-o + no, $ don't think that.' &he seemed rather disappointed not to think
so. &he %ent on> 'hat must have been partly the motive + to prevent
3ina's learning the truth about him. /fter all, 3ina is his bread and butter.'
'/nd a very beautiful girl.'
'0h yes. $'ve al%ays said 3ina is good looking. / very common type in
$taly, of course. 2ut if you ask me, it's money that Walter )udd is after.
hat's %hy he came over here and has settled do%n living on the
&errocolds.'
'Mrs )udd is very %ell off, $ understand"'
'-ot at present. My father settled the same sum on 3ina's mother as he
did on me. 2ut of course she took her husband's nationality <$ believe the
la% is altered no%= and %hat %ith the %ar and his being a 5ascist, 3ina
has very little of her o%n. My mother spoils her, and her /merican aunt,
Mrs Van Rydock, spent fabulous sums on her and bought her everything
she %anted during the %ar years. -evertheless, from Walter's point of
vie%, he can't lay his hands on much until my mother's death, %hen a very
large fortune %ill come to 3ina.'
'/nd to you, Mrs &trete.'
/ faint colour came into Mildred &trete's cheek. '/nd to me, as you say.
My husband and myself al%ays lived (uietly. )e spent very little money
e'cept on books + he %as a great scholar. My o%n money has almost
doubled itself. $t is more than enough for my simple needs. &till one can
al%ays use money for the benefit of others. /ny money that comes to me,
$ shall regard as a sacred trust.'
'2ut it %on't be in a rust, %ill it"' said Curry, %ilfully misunderstanding. '$t
%ill come to you absolutely.'
'0h yes + in that sense. 4es, it %ill be mine absolutely.'
&omething in the ring of that last %ord made $nspector Curry raise his
head sharply. Mrs &trete %as not looking at him. )er eyes %ere shining,
and her long thin mouth %as curved in a triumphant smile.
$nspector said in a considering voice>
'&o in your vie% + and of course you've had ample opportunities of 8udging
+ Master Walter )udd %ants the money that %ill come to his %ife %hen
Mrs &errocold dies. 2y the %ay, she's not very strong, is she, Mrs &trete"'
'My mother has al%ays been delicate.'
';uite so. 2ut delicate people ' often live as long or longer than people
%ho have robust health.'
'4es, $ suppose they do.'
'4ou haven't noticed your mother's health failing 8ust lately"'
'&he suffers from rheumatism. 2ut then one must have something as one
gro%s older. $'ve no sympathy %ith people %ho make a fuss over
inevitable aches and pains.'
',oes Mrs &errocold make a fuss"'
Mildred &trete %as silent for a moment. &he said at last>
'&he does not make a fuss herself, but she is used to being made a fuss
of. My stepfather is far too solicitous. /nd as for Miss 2ellever, she makes
herself positively ridiculous. $n any case, Miss 2ellever has had a very
bad influence in this house. &he came here many years ago, and her
devotion to my mother, though admirable in itself, has really become
some%hat of an infliction. &he literally tyranni:es over my mother. &he
runs the %hole house and takes far too much upon herself. $ think it
annoys #e%is sometimes. $ should never be surprised if he told her to go.
&he has no tact + no tact %hatever, and it is trying for a man to find his
%ife completely dominated by a bossy %oman.'
$nspector Curry nodded his head gently.
'$ see... $ see...'
)e %atched her speculatively.
'here's one thing $ don't (uite get, Mrs &trete. he position of the t%o
Restarick brothers"'
'More foolish sentiment. heir father married my poor mother for her
money. %o years after%ards he ran a%ay %ith a !ugoslavian singer of
the lo%est morals. )e %as a very un%orthy person. My mother %as
softhearted enough to be sorry for these t%o boys. &ince it %as out of the
(uestion for them to spend their holidays %ith a %oman of such notorious
morals, she more or less adopted them. hey have been hangers+on here
ever since. 0h yes, %e've plenty of spongers in this house, $ can tell you
that.'
'/le' Restarick had an opportunity of killing Christian 3ulbrandsen. )e
%as in his car alone + driving from the #odge to the house + %hat about
&tephen"'
'&tephen %as in the )all %ith us. $ don't approve of /le' Restarick + he is
getting to look very coarse, and $ imagine he leads an irregular life + but $
don't really see him as a murderer. 2esides, %hy should he kill my
brother"'
'hat's %hat %e al%ays come back to, isn't it"' said $nspector Curry
genially. 'What did Christian 3ulbrandsen kno% + about someone + that
made it necessary for that someone to kill him"'
'*'actly,' said Mrs &trete triumphantly. '$t must be Walter )udd.'
'9nless it's someone nearer home.'
Mildred said sharply>
'What did you mean by that"'
$nspector Curry said slo%ly>
'Mr 3ulbrandsen seemed very concerned about Mrs &errocold's health
%hilst he %as here.'
Mrs &trete fro%ned.
'hey al%ays fuss over mother because she looks fragile. $ think she likes
them to. 0r else Christian had been listening to !uliet 2ellever.'
'4ou're not %orried about your mother's health yourself, Mrs &trete"'
'-o. $ hope $'m sensible. -aturally mother is not young +'
'/nd death comes to all of us,' said $nspector Curry. '2ut not ahead of its
appointed time. hat's %hat %e have to prevent.'
)e spoke meaningly. Mildred &trete flared into sudden animation.
'0h it's %icked + %icked. -o one else here really seems to care. Why
should they" $'m the only person %ho %as a blood relation to Christian. o
mother, he %as only a gro%n+up stepson. o 3ina, he isn't really any
relation at all. 2ut he %as my o%n brother.'
')alf+brother,' suggested $nspector Curry.
')alf+brother, yes. 2ut %e %ere both 3ulbrandsens in spite of the
difference in age.'
Curry said gently>
'4es + yes, $ see your point...'
ears in her eyes, Mildred &trete marched out. Curry looked at #ake.
'&o she's (uite sure it's Walter )udd,' he said. 'Won't entertain for a
moment the idea of its being anybody else.'
'/nd she may be right.'
'&he certainly may. Wally fits. 0pportunity + and motive. 2ecause if he
%ants money (uick, his %ife's mother %ould have to die. &o Wally
tampers %ith her tonic, and Christian 3ulbrandsen sees him do it + or
hears about it in some %ay. 4es, it fits very nicely.'
)e paused and said>
'2y the %ay, Mildred &trete likes money... &he mayn't spend it, but she
likes it. $'m not sure %hy... &he may be a miser + %ith a miser's passion.
0r she may like the po%er that money gives. Money for benevolence,
perhaps" &he's a 3ulbrandsen. &he may %ant to emulate 5ather.'
'Comple', isn't it"' said &ergeant #ake, and scratched his head.
$nspector Curry said>
'We'd better see this scre%y young man #a%son, and after that %e'll go to
the 3reat )all and %ork out %ho %as %here + and if + and %hy + and
%hen... We've heard one or t%o rather interesting things this morning.'
$$
$t %as very difficult, $nspector Curry thought, to get a true estimate of
someone from %hat other people said.
*dgar #a%son had been described by a good many different people that
morning, but looking at him no%, Curry's o%n impressions %ere almost
ludicrously different.
*dgar did not impress him as '(ueer' or 'dangerous,' or 'arrogant' or even
as 'abnormal.' )e seemed a very ordinary young man, very much cast
do%n and in a state of humility approaching that of 9riah )eep's. )e
looked young and slightly common and rather pathetic.
)e %as only too an'ious to talk and to apologi:e.
'$ kno% $'ve done very %rong. $ don't kno% %hat came over me + really $
don't. Making that scene and kicking up such a ro%. /nd actually shooting
off a pistol. /t Mr &errocold too, %ho's been so good to me and so patient,
too.'
)e t%isted his hands nervously. hey %ere rather pathetic hands, %ith
bony %rists.
'$f $'ve got to be had up for it, $'ll come %ith you at once. $ deserve it. $'ll
plead guilty.'
'-o charge has been made against you,' said $nspector Curry crisply. '&o
%e've no evidence on %hich to act. /ccording to Mr &errocold, letting off
the pistol %as an accident.'
'hat's because he's so good. here never %as a man as good as Mr
&errocold. )e's done everything for me. /nd $ go and repay him by acting
like this.'
'What made you act as you did"'
*dgar looked embarrassed.
'$ made a fool of myself.'
$nspector Curry said drily>
'&o it seems. 4ou told Mr &errocold in the presence of %itnesses that you
had discovered that he %as your father. Was that true"'
'-o, it %asn't.'
'What put that idea into your head" ,id someone suggest it to you"'
'Well, it's a bit hard to e'plain.'
$nspector Curry looked at him thoughtfully, then said in a kindly voice>
'&uppose you try. We don't %ant to make things hard for you.'
'Well, you see, $ had a rather hard time of it as a kid. he other boys
8eered at me. 2ecause $ hadn't got a father. &aid $ %as a little bastard +
%hich $ %as, of course. Mum %as usually drunk and she had men coming
in all the time. My father %as a foreign seaman, $ believe. he house %as
al%ays filthy, and it %as all pretty fair hell. /nd then $ got to thinking,
supposing my ,ad had been not 8ust some foreign sailor, but someone
important + and $ used to make up a thing or t%o. Eid stuff first + changed
at birth + really the rightful heir + that sort of thing. /nd then $ %ent to a
ne% school and $ tried it on once or t%ice hinting things. &aid my father
%as really an /dmiral in the -avy. $ got to believing it myself. $ didn't feel
so bad then.'
)e paused and then %ent on>
'/nd then + later + $ thought up some other ideas. $ used to stay at hotels
and told a lot of silly stories about being a fighter pilot + or about being in
Military $ntelligence. $ got all sort of mi'ed up. $ didn't seem able to stop
telling lies.
'0nly $ didn't really try to get money by it. $t %as 8ust s%ank so as to make
people think a bit more of me. $ didn't %ant to be dishonest. Mr &errocold
%ill tell you and ,r Maverick + they've got all the stuff about it.'
$nspector Curry nodded. )e had already studied *dgar's case history and
his police record.
'Mr &errocold got me clear in the end and brought me do%n here. )e said
he needed a secretary to help him and $ did help him. $ really did. 0nly the
others laughed at me. hey %ere al%ays laughing at me.'
'What others" Mrs &errocold"'
'-o, not Mrs &errocold. &he's a lady + she's al%ays gentle and kind. -o,
but 3ina treated me like dirt. /nd &tephen Restarick. /nd Mrs &trete
looked do%n on me for not being a gentleman. &o did Miss 2ellever + and
%hat's she" &he's a paid companion, isn't she"'
Curry noted the signs of rising e'citement.
'&o you didn't find them very sympathetic"'
*dgar said passionately>
'$t %as because of me being a bastard. $f $'d had a proper father they
%ouldn't have gone on like that.'
'&o you appropriated a couple of famous fathers"'
*dgar blushed.
'$ al%ays seem to get to telling lies,' he muttered.
'/nd finally you said Mr &errocold %as your father. Why"'
'2ecause that %ould stop them once for all, %ouldn't it" $f he %as my
father they couldn't do anything to me.'
'4es. 2ut you accused him of being your enemy + of persecuting you.'
'$ kno% +' )e rubbed his forehead. '$ got things all %rong. here are times
%hen $ don't + %hen $ don't get things (uite right. $ get muddled.'
'/nd you took the revolver from Mr Walter )udd's room"'
*dgar looked pu::led.
',id $" $s that %here $ got it"'
',on't you remember %here you got it"'
*dgar said>
'$ meant to threaten Mr &errocold %ith it. $ meant to frighten him. $t %as kid
stuff all over again.'
$nspector Curry said patiently>
')o% did you get the revolver"'
'4ou 8ust said + out of Walter's room.'
'4ou remember doing that no%"'
'$ must have got it from his room. $ couldn't have got hold of it any other
%ay, could $"'
'$ don't kno%,' said $nspector Curry. '&omebody might have given it to
you"'
*dgar %as silent + his face a blank.
'$s that ho% it happened"'
*dgar said passionately>
'$ don't remember. $ %as so %orked up. $ %alked about the garden in a red
mist of rage. $ thought people %ere spying on me, %atching me, trying to
hound me do%n. *ven that nice %hite+haired old lady... $ can't understand
it all no%. $ feel $ must have been mad. $ don't remember %here $ %as and
%hat $ %as doing half the time.'
'&urely you remember %ho told you Mr &errocold %as your father"'
*dgar gave the same blank stare.
'-obody told me,' he said sullenly. '$t 8ust came to me.'
$nspector Curry sighed. )e %as not satisfied. 2ut he 8udged he could
make no further progress at present.
'Well, %atch your step in future,' he said.
'4es, sir. 4es indeed $ %ill.'
/s *dgar %ent, $nspector Curry slo%ly shook his head.
'hese pathological cases are the devil.'
','you think he's mad, sir"'
'Much less mad than $'d imagined. Weak+headed, boastful, a liar + yet a
certain pleasant simplicity about him. )ighly suggestible $ should
imagine...'
'4ou think someone did suggest things to him"'
'0h yes, old Miss Marple %as right there. &he's a shre%d old bird. 2ut $
%ish $ kne% %ho it %as. )e %on't tell. $f %e only kne% that... Come on,
#ake, let's have a thorough reconstruction of the scene in the )all.'
$$$
'hat fi'es it pretty %ell.'
$nspector Curry %as sitting at the piano. &ergeant #ake %as in a chair by
the %indo% overlooking the lake. Curry %ent on>
'$f $'m half+turned on the piano stool, %atching the study door, $ can't see
you.'
&ergeant #ake rose softly and edged (uietly through the door to the
library.
'/ll this side of the room %as dark. he only lights that %ere on %ere the
ones beside the study door. -o, #ake, $ didn't see you go. 0nce in the
library, you could go out through the other door to the corridor + t%o
minutes to run along to the oak suite, shoot 3ulbrandsen and come back
through the library to your chair by the %indo%.
'he %omen by the fire have their backs to you. Mrs &errocold %as sitting
here + on the right of the fireplace, near the study door. *veryone agrees
she didn't move and she's the only one %ho's in the line of direct vision.
Miss Marple %as here. &he %as looking past Mrs &errocold to the study.
Mrs &trete %as on the left of the fireplace + close to the door out of the
)all to the lobby, and it's a very dark corner. &he could have gone and
come back. 4es, it's possible.'
Curry grinned suddenly.
'/nd $ could go.' )e slipped off the music stool and sidled along the %all
and out through the door. 'he only person %ho might notice $ %asn't still
at the piano %ould be 3ina )udd. /nd you remember %hat 3ina said>
1&tephen %as at the piano to begin %ith. $ don't kno% %here he %as
later.1'
'&o you think it's &tephen"'
'$ don't kno% %ho it is,' said Curry. '$t %asn't *dgar #a%son or #e%is
&errocold or Mrs &errocold or Miss !ane Marple. 2ut for the rest +' )e
sighed. '$t's probably the /merican. hose fused lights %ere a bit too
convenient + a coincidence. /nd yet, you kno%, $ rather like the chap. &till,
that isn't evidence.'
)e peered thoughtfully at some music on the side of the piano.
')indemith" Who's he" -ever heard of him. &hostakovitch. What names
these people have.' )e got up and then looked do%n at the old+fashioned
music stool. )e lifted the top of it.
')ere's the old+fashioned stuff. )andel's #argo, C:erny's *'ercises. ,ates
back to old 3ulbrandsen, most of this. 1$ kno% a lovely 3arden1 + Vicar's
%ife used to sing that %hen $ %as a boy +'
)e stopped + the yello% pages of the song in his hand. 2eneath them,
reposing on Chopin's 7reludes, %as a small automatic pistol.
'&tephen Restarick,' e'claimed &ergeant #ake 8oyfully.
'-o% don't 8ump to conclusions,' $nspector Curry %arned him. 'en to one
that's %hat %e're meant to think.'
Chapter 1G
Miss Marple climbed the stairs and tapped on the door of Mrs &errocold's
bedroom.
'May $ come in, Carrie #ouise"'
'0f course, !ane dear.'
Carrie #ouise %as sitting in front of the dressing table, brushing her silvery
hair. &he turned her head over her shoulder.
'$s it the police" $'ll be ready in a fe% minutes.'
'/re you all right"'
'4es, of course. !olly insisted on my having my breakfast in bed. /nd 3ina
came into the room %ith it on tiptoe as though $ might be at death's door. $
don't think people reali:e that tragedies like Christian's death are much
less shock to someone old. 2ecause one kno%s by then ho% anything
may happen + and ho% little anything really matters that happens in this
%orld.'
'4e+es,' said Miss Marple dubiously.
',on't you feel the same, !ane" $ should have thought you %ould.'
Miss Marple said slo%ly>
'Christian %as murdered.'
'4es... $ see %hat you mean. 4ou think that does matter"'
',on't you"'
'-ot to Christian,' said Carrie #ouise simply. '$t matters, of course, to
%hoever murdered him.'
')ave you any idea %ho murdered him"'
Mrs &errocold shook her head in a be%ildered fashion.
'-o, $'ve absolutely no idea. $ can't even think of a reason. $t must have
been something to do %ith his being here before + 8ust over a month ago.
2ecause other%ise $ don't think he %ould have come here suddenly again
for no particular reason. Whatever it %as must have started off then. $'ve
thought and $'ve thought, but $ can't remember anything unusual.'
'Who %as here then"'
'0h. he same people %ho are here no% + yes, /le' %as do%n from
#ondon about then. /nd + oh yes, Ruth %as here.'
'Ruth"'
')er usual flying visit.'
'Ruth,' said Miss Marple again. )er mind %as active. Christian
3ulbrandsen and Ruth" Ruth had come a%ay %orried and apprehensive,
but had not kno%n %hy. &omething %as %rong %as all that Ruth could
say. Christian 3ulbrandsen had kno%n or suspected something that Ruth
did not. )e had kno%n or suspected that someone %as trying to poison
Carrie #ouise. )o% had Christian 3ulbrandsen come to entertain those
suspicions" What had he seen or heard" Was it something that Ruth also
had seen or heard but %hich she had failed to appreciate at its rightful
significance" Miss Marple %ished that she kne% %hat it could possibly
have been. )er o%n vague hunch that it <%hatever it %as= had to do %ith
*dgar #a%son seemed unlikely since Ruth had not mentioned him.
&he sighed.
'4ou're all keeping something from me, aren't you"' asked Carrie #ouise.
Miss Marple 8umped a little as the (uiet voice spoke.
'Why do you say that"'
'2ecause you are. -ot !olly. 2ut everyone else. *ven #e%is. )e came in
%hile $ %as having my breakfast, and he acted very oddly. )e drank some
of my coffee and even had a bit of toast and marmalade. hat's so unlike
him, because he al%ays has tea and he doesn't like marmalade, so he
must have been thinking of something else + and $ suppose he must have
forgotten to have his o%n breakfast. )e does forget things like meals, and
he looked so concerned and preoccupied.'
'Murder +' began Miss Marple.
Carrie #ouise said (uickly>
'0h $ kno%. $t's a terrible thing. $'ve never been mi'ed up in it before. 4ou
have, haven't you, !ane"'
'Well + yes + actually $ have,' Miss Marple admitted.
'&o Ruth told me.'
',id she tell you that last time she %as do%n here"' asked Miss Marple
curiously.
'-o, $ don't think it %as then. $ can't really remember.'
Carrie #ouise spoke vaguely, almost absentmindedly.
'What are you thinking about, Carrie #ouise"'
Mrs &errocold smiled and seemed to come back from a long %ay a%ay.
'$ %as thinking of 3ina,' she said. '/nd of %hat you said about &tephen
Restarick. 3ina's a dear girl, you kno%, and she does really love Wally.
$'m sure she does.'
Miss Marple said nothing.
'3irls like 3ina like to kick up their heels a bit.' Mrs &errocold spoke in an
almost pleading voice. 'hey're young and they like to feel their po%er. $t's
natural, really. $ kno% Wally )udd isn't the sort of man %e imagined 3ina
marrying. -ormally she'd never have met him. 2ut she did meet him, and
fell in love %ith him + and presumably she kno%s her o%n business best.'
'7robably she does,' said Miss Marple.
'2ut it's so very important that 3ina should be happy.'
Miss Marple looked curiously at her friend.
'$t's important, $ suppose, that everyone should be happy.'
'0h yes. 2ut 3ina's a very special case. When %e took her mother + %hen
%e took 7ippa + %e felt that it %as an e'periment that had simply got to
succeed. 4ou see, 7ippa's mother +'
Carrie #ouise paused.
Miss Marple said>
'Who %as 7ippa's mother"'
Carrie #ouise said> '*ric and $ agreed that %e should never tell anybody
that. &he never kne% herself.'
'$'d like to kno%,' said Miss Marple.
Mrs &errocold looked at her doubtfully.
'$t isn't 8ust curiosity,' said Miss Marple. '$ really %ell + need to kno%. $ can
hold my tongue, you kno%.'
'4ou could al%ays keep a secret, !ane,' said Carrie #ouise %ith a
reminiscent smile. ',r 3albraith + he's the 2ishop of Cromer no% + he
kno%s. 2ut no one else. 7ippa's mother %as Eatherine *ls%orth.'
'*ls%orth" Wasn't that the %oman %ho administered arsenic to her
husband" Rather a celebrated case.'
'4es.'
'&he %as hanged"'
'4es. 2ut you kno% it's not at all sure that she did it. he husband %as an
arsenic eater + they didn't understand so much about those things then.'
'&he soaked flypapers.'
'he maid's evidence, %e al%ays thought, %as definitely malicious.'
'/nd 7ippa %as her daughter"'
'4es. *ric and $ determined to give the child a fresh start in life + %ith love
and care and all the things a child needs. We succeeded. 7ippa %as +
herself. he s%eetest, happiest creature imaginable.'
Miss Marple %as silent a long time.
Carrie #ouise turned a%ay from the dressing table.
'$'m ready no%. 7erhaps you'll ask the $nspector or %hatever he is to
come up to my sitting+room. )e %on't mind, $'m sure.'
$$
$nspector Curry did not mind. $n fact he rather %elcomed the chance of
seeing Mrs &errocold in her o%n territory.
/s he stood there %aiting for her, he looked round him curiously. $t %as
not his idea of %hat he termed to himself 'a rich %oman's boudoir.'
$t had an old+fashioned couch and some rather uncomfortable looking
Victorian chairs %ith t%isted %ood%ork backs. he chint:es %ere old and
faded but of an attractive pattern displaying the Crystal 7alace. $t %as one
of the smaller rooms, though even then it %as larger than the dra%ing+
room of most modern houses. 2ut it had a cosy rather cro%ded
appearance %ith its little tables, its bric++brac, and its photographs. Curry
looked at an old snapshot of t%o little girls, one dark and lively, the other
plain and staring out sulkily on the %orld from under a heavy fringe. )e
had seen that same e'pression that morning. '7ippa and Mildred' %as
%ritten on the photograph. here %as a photograph of *ric 3ulbrandsen
hanging on the %all, %ith a gold mount and a heavy ebony frame. Curry
had 8ust found a photograph of a good+looking man %ith eyes crinkling
%ith laughter %ho he presumed %as !ohn Restarick %hen the door
opened and Mrs &errocold came in.
&he %ore black, a floating and diaphanous black. )er little pink and %hite
face looked unusually small under its cro%n of silvery hair, and there %as
a frailness about her that caught sharply at $nspector Curry's heart. )e
understood at that moment a good deal that had perple'ed him earlier in
the morning. )e understood %hy people %ere so an'ious to spare
Caroline #ouise &errocold everything that could be spared her.
/nd yet, he thought, she isn't the kind that %ould ever make a fuss...
&he greeted him, asked him to sit do%n, and took a chair near him. $t %as
less he %ho put her at her ease than she %ho put him at his. )e started to
ask his (uestions and she ans%ered them readily and %ithout hesitation.
he failure of the lights, the (uarrel bet%een *dgar #a%son and her
husband, the shot they had heard...
'$t did not seem to you that the shot %as in the house"'
'-o, $ thought it came from outside. $ thought it might have been the
backfire of a car.'
',uring the (uarrel bet%een your husband and this young fello% #a%son
in the study, did you notice anybody leaving the )all"'
'Wally had already gone to see about the lights. Miss 2ellever %ent out
shortly after%ards + to get something, but $ can't remember %hat.'
'Who else left the )all"'
'-obody, so far as $ kno%.'
'Would you kno%, Mrs &errocold"'
&he reflected a moment.
'-o, $ don't think $ should.'
'4ou %ere completely absorbed in %hat you could hear going on in the
study"'
'4es.'
'/nd you %ere apprehensive as to %hat might happen there"'
'-o + no, $ %ouldn't say that. $ didn't think anything %ould really happen.'
'2ut #a%son had a revolver"'
'4es.'
'/nd %as threatening your husband %ith it"'
'4es. 2ut he didn't mean it.'
$nspector Curry felt his usual slight e'asperation at this statement. &o she
%as another of them.
'4ou can't possibly have been sure of that, Mrs &errocold.'
'Well, but $ %as sure. $n my o%n mind, $ mean. What is it the young people
say + putting on an act" hat's %hat $ felt it %as. *dgar's only a boy. )e
%as being melodramatic and silly and fancying himself as a bold
desperate character. &eeing himself as the %ronged hero in a romantic
story. $ %as (uite sure he %ould never fire that revolver.'
'2ut he did fire it, Mrs &errocold.'
Carrie #ouise smiled.
'$ e'pect it %ent off by accident.'
/gain e'asperation mounted in $nspector Curry.
'$t %as not an accident. #a%son fired that revolver t%ice + and fired it at
your husband. he bullets only 8ust missed him.'
Carrie #ouise looked startled and then grave.
'$ can't really believe that. 0h yes +' she hurried on to forestall the
$nspector's protest + 'of course $ have to believe it if you tell me so. 2ut $
still feel there must be a simple e'planation. 7erhaps ,r Maverick can
e'plain it to me.'
'0h yes, ,r Maverick %ill e'plain it all right,' said Curry grimly. ',r
Maverick can e'plain anything. $'m sure of that.'
9ne'pectedly Mrs &errocold said>
'$ kno% that a lot of %hat %e do here seems to you foolish and pointless,
and psychiatrists can be very irritating sometimes. 2ut %e do achieve
results, you kno%. We have our failures, but %e have successes too. /nd
%hat %e try to do is %orth doing. /nd though you probably %on't believe it,
*dgar is really devoted to my husband. )e started this silly business
about #e%is's being his father because he %ants so much to have a father
like #e%is. 2ut %hat $ can't understand is %hy he should suddenly get
violent. )e had been so very much better + really practically normal.
$ndeed he has al%ays seemed normal to me.'
he $nspector did not argue the point.
)e said> 'he revolver that *dgar #a%son had %as one belonging to your
granddaughter's husband. 7resumably #a%son took it from Walter )udd's
room. -o% tell me, have you ever seen this %eapon before"'
0n the palm of his hand he held out the small black automatic.
Carrie #ouise looked at it.
'-o, $ don't think so.'
'$ found it in the piano stool. $t has recently been fired. We haven't had
time to check on it fully yet, but $ should say that it is almost certainly the
%eapon %ith %hich Mr 3ulbrandsen %as shot.'
&he fro%ned.
'/nd you found it in the piano stool"'
'9nder some very old music. Music that $ should say had not been played
for years.'
')idden, then"'
'4es. 4ou remember %ho %as at the piano last night"'
'&tephen Restarick.'
')e %as playing"'
'4es. !ust softly. / funny melancholy little tune.'
'When did he stop playing, Mrs &errocold"'
'When did he stop" $ don't kno%.'
'2ut he did stop" )e didn't go on playing all through the (uarrel.'
'-o. he music 8ust died do%n.'
',id he get up from the piano stool"'
'$ don't kno%. $'ve no idea %hat he did until he came over to the study door
to try and fit a key to it.'
'Can you think of any reason %hy &tephen Restarick should shoot Mr
3ulbrandsen"'
'-one %hatever.' &he added thoughtfully, '$ don't believe he did.'
'3ulbrandsen might have found out something discreditable about him.'
'hat seems to me very unlikely.'
$nspector Curry had a %ild %ish to reply>
'7igs may fly but they're very unlikely birds.' $t had been a saying of his
grandmother's. Miss Marple, he thought, %as sure to kno% it.
$$$
Carrie #ouise came do%n the broad stair%ay and three people converged
upon her from different directions, 3ina from the long corridor, Miss
Marple from the library, and !uliet 2ellever from the 3reat )all.
3ina spoke first.
',arling.' she e'claimed passionately. '/re you all right" hey haven't
bullied you or given you third degree or anything"'
'0f course not, 3ina. What odd ideas you have. $nspector Curry %as
charming and most considerate.'
'&o he ought to be,' said Miss 2ellever. '-o%, Carrie, $'ve got all your
letters here and a parcel. $ %as going to bring them up to you.'
'2ring them into the library,' said Carrie #ouise. /ll four of them %ent into
the library.
Carrie #ouise sat do%n and began opening her letters. here %ere about
t%enty or thirty of them.
/s she opened them, she handed them to Miss 2ellever, %ho sorted them
into heaps, e'plaining to Miss Marple as she did so>
'hree main categories. 0ne + from relations of the boys. hose $ hand
over to ,r Maverick. 2egging letters $ deal %ith myself. /nd the rest are
personal + and Cara gives me notes on ho% to deal %ith them.'
he correspondence once disposed of, Mrs &errocold turned her attention
to the parcel, cutting the string %ith scissors.
0ut of the neat %rappings there appeared an attractive bo' of chocolates
tied up %ith gold ribbon.
'&omeone must think it's my birthday,' said Mrs &errocold %ith a smile.
&he slipped off the ribbon and opened the bo'. $nside %as a visiting card.
Carrie #ouise looked at it %ith slight surprise.
'With love from /le',' she said. ')o% odd of him to send me a bo' of
chocolates by post on the same day he %as coming do%n here.'
9neasiness stirred in Miss Marple's mind.
&he said (uickly>
'Wait a minute, Carrie #ouise. ,on't eat one yet.'
Mrs &errocold looked faintly surprised.
'$ %as going to hand them round.'
'Well, don't. Wait %hile $ ask + is /le' about the house, do you kno%,
3ina"'
3ina said (uickly> '/le' %as in the )all 8ust no%, $ think.'
&he %ent across, opened the door, and called him.
/le' Restarick appeared in the door%ay a moment later.
'Madonna darling. &o you're up. -one the %orse"'
)e came across to Mrs &errocold and kissed her gently on both cheeks.
Miss Marple said>
'Carrie #ouise %ants to thank you for the chocolates.'
/le' looked surprised.
'What chocolates"'
'hese chocolates,' said Carrie #ouise.
'2ut $ never sent you any chocolates, darling.'
'he bo' has got your card in,' said Miss 2ellever. /le' peered do%n.
'&o it has. )o% odd. )o% very odd... $ certainly didn't send them.'
'What a very e'traordinary thing,' said Miss 2ellever.
'hey look absolutely scrumptious,' said 3ina, peering into the bo'. '#ook,
3randam, there are your favourite Eirsch ones in the middle.'
Miss Marple gently but firmly took the bo' a%ay from her. Without a %ord
she took it out of the room and %ent to find #e%is &errocold. $t took her
some time because he had gone over to the College + she found him in ,r
Maverick's room there. &he put the bo' on the table in front of him. )e
listened to her brief account of the circumstances. )is face gre% suddenly
stern and hard.
Carefully, he and the doctor lifted out chocolate after chocolate and
e'amined them.
'$ think,' said ,r Maverick, 'that these ones $ have put aside have almost
certainly been tampered %ith. 4ou see the unevenness of the chocolate
coating underneath" he ne't thing to do is to get them analysed.'
'2ut it seems incredible,' said Miss Marple. 'Why, everyone in the house
might have been poisoned.'
#e%is nodded. )is face %as still %hite and hard. '4es. here is a
ruthlessness + a disregard +' he broke off. '/ctually $ think all these
particular chocolates are Eirsch flavouring. hat is Caroline's favourite.
&o, you see, there is kno%ledge behind this.'
Miss Marple said (uietly>
'$f it is as you suspect + if there is + poison + in these chocolates, then $'m
afraid Carrie #ouise %ill have to kno% %hat is going on. &he must be put
upon her guard.'
#e%is &errocold said heavily>
'4es. &he %ill have to kno% that someone %ants to kill her. $ think that she
%ill find it almost impossible to believe.'
Chapter 1C
1*re, Miss. $s it true as there's an 'ideous poisoner at %ork"'
3ina pushed the hair back from her forehead and 8umped as the hoarse
%hisper reached her. here %as paint on her cheek and paint on her
slacks. &he and her selected helpers had been busy on the backcloth of
the -ile at &unset for their ne't theatrical production.
$t %as one of these helpers %ho %as no% asking the (uestion. *rnie, the
boy %ho had given her such valuable lessons in the manipulation of locks.
*rnie's fingers %ere e(ually de'terous at stage carpentry, and he %as one
of the most enthusiastic theatrical assistants.
)is eyes no% %ere bright and beady %ith pleasurable anticipation.
*rnie shut one eye.
'$t's all round the dorms,' he said. '2ut look 'ere, Miss, it %asn't one of us.
-ot a thing like that. /nd nobody %ouldn't do a thing to Mrs &errocold.
*ven !enkins %ouldn't cosh her. 'isn't as though it %as the old bitch.
Wouldn't 'alf like to poison 'er, $ %ouldn't.'
',on't talk like that about Miss 2ellever.'
'&orry, Miss. $t slipped out. What poison %as it, Miss" &trickline, %as it"
Makes you arch your back and die in agonies, that does. 0r %as it
7russian acid"'
'$ don't kno% %hat you're talking about, *rnie.' *rnie %inked again.
'-ot 'alf you don't. Mr /le' it %as done it, so they say. 2rought them chocs
do%n from #ondon. 2ut that's a lie. Mr /le' %ouldn't do a thing like that,
%ould he, Miss"'
'0f course he %ouldn't,' said 3ina.
'Much more likely to be Mr 2aumgarten. When he's giving us 7.. he
makes the most a%ful faces, and ,on and $ think as he's batty.'
'!ust move that turpentine out of the %ay.'
*rnie obeyed, murmuring to himself>
',on't 'arf see life 'ere. 0ld 3ulbrandsen done in yesterday and no% a
secret poisoner. ,'you think it's the same person doing both" What 'ud
you say, Miss, if $ told you as $ kno% oo it %as done 'im in"'
'4ou can't possibly kno% anything about it.'
'Coo, carn't $ neither" &upposin' $ %as outside last night and sa%
something.'
')o% could you have been out" he College is locked up after roll call at
seven.'
'Roll call... $ can get out %henever $ likes, Miss. #ocks don't mean nothing
to me. 3et out and %alk around the grounds 8ust for the fun of it, $ do.'
3ina said>
'$ %ish you'd stop telling lies, *rnie.'
'Who's telling lies"'
'4ou are. 4ou tell lies and you boast about things that you've never done
at all.'
'hat's %hat you say, Miss. 4ou %ait till the coppers come round and arsk
me all about %hat $ sa% last night.'
'Well, %hat did you see"'
'/h,' said *rnie, '%ouldn't you like to kno%"'
3ina made a rush at him and he beat a strategic retreat. &tephen came
over from the other side of the theatre and 8oined 3ina. hey discussed
various technical matters and then, side by side, they %alked back
to%ards the house.
'$s this about the place %here you stopped your car last night"' he asked.
/le' Restarick stood back a little as though considering.
'-ear enough,' he said. '$t's difficult to tell e'actly because of the fog. 4es,
$ should say this %as the place.'
$nspector Curry stood looking round %ith an appraising eye.
he gravelled s%eep of drive s%ept round in a slo% curve, and at this
point, emerging from a screen of rhododendrons, the %est faade of the
house came suddenly into vie% %ith its terrace and ye% hedges and
steps leading do%n to the la%ns. hereafter the drive continued in its
curving progress, s%eeping through a belt of trees and round bet%een the
lake and the house until it ended in the big gravel s%eep at the east side
of the house.
',odgett,' said $nspector Curry.
7olice Constable ,odgett, %ho had been holding himself at the ready,
started spasmodically into motion. )e hurled himself across the
intervening space of la%n in a diagonal line to%ards the house, reached
the terrace, %ent in by the side door. / fe% moments later the curtains of
one of the %indo%s %ere violently agitated. hen Constable ,odgett
reappeared out of the garden door, and ran back to re8oin them, breathing
like a steam engine.
'%o minutes and forty+t%o seconds,' said $nspector Curry, clicking the
stop %atch %ith %hich he had been timing him.
'hey don't take long, these things, do they"'
)is tone %as pleasantly conversational.
'$ don't run as fast as your constable,' said /le'. '$ presume it is my
supposed movements you have been timing"'
'$'m 8ust pointing out that you had the opportunity to do murder. hat's all,
Mr Restarick. $'m not making any accusations + as yet.'
/le' Restarick said kindly to Constable ,odgett, %ho %as still panting>
'$ can't run as fast as you can, but $ believe $'m in better training.'
'$t's since having the bronchitis last %inter,' said ,odgett.
/le' turned back to the $nspector.
'&eriously, though, in spite of trying to make me uncomfortable and
observing my reactions + and you must remember that %e artistic folk are
oh. so sensitive, such tender plants.' + his voice took on a mocking note +
'you can't really believe $ had anything to do %ith all this" $'d hardly send a
bo' of poisoned chocolates to Mrs &errocold and put my card inside,
%ould $"'
'hat might be %hat %e are meant to think. here's such a thing as a
double bluff, Mr Restarick.'
'0h, $ see. )o% ingenious you ar. 2y the %ay, those chocolates %ere
poisoned"'
'he si' chocolates containing Eirsch flavouring in the top layer %ere
poisoned, yes. hey contained aconitine.'
'-ot one of my favourite poisons, $nspector. 7ersonally, $ have a
%eakness for curare.'
'Curare has to be introduced into the bloodstream, Mr Restarick, not into
the stomach.'
')o% %onderfully kno%ledgeable the police force are,' said /le'
admiringly.
$nspector Curry cast a (uiet side%ays glance at the young man. )e noted
the slightly pointed ears, the un+*nglish Mongolian type of face. he eyes
that danced %ith mischievous mockery. $t %ould have been hard at any
time to kno% %hat /le' Restarick %as thinking. / satyr + or did he mean a
faun" /n overfed faun, $nspector Curry thought suddenly, and someho%
there %as an unpleasantness about that idea.
/ t%ister %ith brains + that's ho% he %ould sum up /le' Restarick.
Cleverer than his brother. Mother had been a Russian or so he had
heard. 'Russians' to $nspector Curry %ere %hat '2ony' had been in the
early days of the nineteenth century, and %hat 'the )uns' had been in the
early t%entieth century. /nything to do %ith Russia %as bad in $nspector
Curry's opinion, and if /le' Restarick had murdered 3ulbrandsen he
%ould be a very satisfactory criminal. 2ut unfortunately Curry %as by no
means convinced that he had.
Constable ,odgett, having recovered his breath, no% spoke.
'$ moved the curtains as you told me, sir,' he said. '/nd counted thirty. $
noticed that the curtains have a hook torn off at the top. Means that
there's a gap. 4ou'd see the light in the room from outside.'
$nspector Curry said to /le'>
',id you notice light streaming out from that %indo% last night"'
'$ couldn't see the house at all because of the fog. $ told you so.'
'5og's patchy, though. &ometimes it clears for a minute here and there.'
'$t never cleared so that $ could see the house + the main part, that is. he
gymnasium building close at hand loomed up out of the mist in a
deliciously unsubstantial %ay. $t gave a perfect illusion of dock
%arehouses. /s $ told you, $ am putting on a #imehouse 2allet and +'
'4ou told me,' agreed $nspector Curry.
'0ne gets in the habit, you kno%, of looking at things from the point of
vie% of a stage set, rather than from the point of vie% of reality.'
'$ daresay. /nd yet a stage set's real enough, isn't it, Mr Restarick"'
'$ don't see e'actly %hat you mean, $nspector.'
'Well, it's made of real materials + canvas and %ood and paint and
cardboard. he illusion is in the eye of the beholder, not in the set itself.
hat, as $ say, is real enough, as real behind the scenes as it is in front.'
/le' stared at him.
'-o% that, you kno%, is a very penetrating remark, $nspector. $t's given me
an idea.'
'5or another ballet"'
'-o, not for another ballet... ,ear me, $ %onder if %e've all been rather
stupid"'
$$$
he $nspector and ,odgett %ent back to the house across the la%n.
<#ooking for footprints, /le' said to himself. 2ut here he %as %rong. hey
had looked for footprints very early that morning and had been
unsuccessful because it had rained heavily at ? a.m.= /le' %alked slo%ly
up the drive, turning over in his mind the possibilities of his ne% idea.
)e %as diverted from this, ho%ever, by the sight of 3ina %alking on the
path by the lake. he house %as on a slight eminence, and the ground
sloped gently do%n from the s%eeps of gravel to the lake, %hich %as
bordered by rhododendrons and other shrubs. /le' ran do%n the gravel
and found 3ina.
'$f you could black out that absurd Victorian monstrosity,' he said,
scre%ing up his eyes, 'this %ould make a very good &%an #ake, %ith you,
3ina, as the &%an Maiden. 4ou are more like the &no% ;ueen though,
%hen $ come to think of it. Ruthless, determined to have your o%n %ay,
(uite %ithout pity or kindliness or the rudiments of compassion. 4ou are
very, very feminine, 3ina dear.'
')o% malicious you are, /le' dear.'
'2ecause $ refuse to be taken in by you" 4ou're very pleased %ith
yourself, aren't you, 3ina" 4ou've got us all %here you %ant us. Myself,
&tephen, and that large simple husband of yours.'
'4ou're talking nonsense.'
'0h no, $'m not. &tephen's in love %ith you. $'m in love %ith you, and
Wally's desperately miserable. What more could a %oman %ant"'
3ina looked at him and laughed.
/le' nodded his head vigorously.
'4ou have the rudiments of honesty, $'m glad to see. hat's the #atin in
you. 4ou don't go to the trouble of pretending that you're not attractive to
men + and that you're terribly sorry about it if they are attracted to you.
4ou like having men in love %ith you, don't you, cruel 3ina" *ven
miserable little *dgar #a%son.'
3ina looked at him steadily.
&he said in a (uiet serious tone>
'$t doesn't last very long, you kno%. Women have a much %orse time of it
in the %orld than men do. hey're more vulnerable. hey have children,
and they mind terribly + about their children. /s soon as they lose their
looks, the men they love don't love them any more. hey're betrayed and
deserted and pushed aside. $ don't blame men. $'d be the same myself. $
don't like people %ho are old or ugly or ill or %ho %hine about their
troubles or %ho are ridiculous like *dgar, strutting about and pretending
he's important and %orth%hile. 4ou say $'m cruel" $t's a cruel %orld.
&ooner or later it %ill be cruel to me. 2ut no% $'m young and $'m nice
looking and people find me attractive.' )er teeth flashed out in her
peculiar %arm sunny smile. '4es, $ en8oy it, /le'. Why shouldn't $"'
'Why indeed"' said /le'. 'What $ %ant to kno% is %hat are you going to do
about it. /re you going to marry &tephen or are you going to marry me"'
'$'m married to Wally.'
'emporarily. *very %oman should make one mistake matrimonially + but
there's no need to d%ell on it. )aving tried out the sho% in the provinces,
the time has come to bring it to the West *nd.'
'/nd you're the West *nd"'
'$ndubitably.'
',o you really %ant to marry me" $ can't imagine you married.'
'$ insist on marriage. /ffaires, $ al%ays think, are so very old+fashioned.
,ifficulties %ith passports and hotels and all that. $ shall never have a
mistress unless $ can't get her any other %ay.'
3ina's laugh rang out fresh and clear.
'4ou do amuse me, /le'.'
'$t is my principal asset. &tephen is much better looking than $ am. )e's
e'tremely handsome and very intense %hich, of course, %omen adore.
2ut intensity is fatiguing in the home. With me, 3ina, you %ill find life
entertaining.'
'/ren't you going to say you love me madly"'
')o%ever true that may be, $ shall certainly not say it. $t %ould be one up
to you and one do%n to me if $ did. -o, all $ am prepared to do is to make
you a businesslike offer of marriage.'
'$ shall have to think about it,' said 3ina smiling.
'-aturally. 2esides, you've got to put Wally out of his misery first. $'ve a lot
of sympathy %ith Wally. $t must be absolute hell for him to be married to
you and trailed along at your chariot %heels into this heavy family
atmosphere of philanthropy.'
'What a beast you are, /le'"
'/ perceptive beast.'
'&ometimes,' said 3ina, '$ don't think Wally cares for me one little bit. )e
8ust doesn't notice me any more.'
'4ou've stirred him up %ith a stick and he doesn't respond" Most
annoying.'
#ike a flash 3ina s%ung her palm and delivered a ringing slap on /le''s
smooth cheek.
'ouch.' cried /le'.
With a (uick deft movement he gathered her into his arms and before she
could resist, his lips fastened on hers in a long ardent kiss. &he struggled
a moment and then rela'ed...
'3ina.'
hey sprang apart. Mildred &trete, her face red, her lips (uivering, glared
at them balefully. 5or a moment the eagerness of her %ords choked their
utterance.
',isgusting... disgusting... you abandoned beastly girl.., you're 8ust like
your mother... 4ou're a bad lot... $ al%ays kne% you %ere a bad lot...
utterly depraved... and you're not only an adulteress + you're a murderess
too. 0h yes, you are. $ kno% %hat $ kno%.'
'/nd %hat do you kno%" ,on't be ridiculous, /unt Mildred.'
'$'m no aunt of yours, thank goodness. -o blood relation to you. Why, you
don't even kno% %ho your mother %as or %here she came from. 2ut you
kno% %ell enough %hat my father %as like and my mother. What sort of a
child do you think they %ould adopt" / criminal's child or prostitute's
probably. hat's the sort of people they %ere. hey ought to have
remembered that bad blood %ill tell. hough $ daresay that it's the $talian
in you that makes you turn to poison.'
')o% dare you say that"'
'$ shall say %hat $ like. 4ou can't deny no%, can you, that somebody tried
to poison mother" /nd %ho's the most likely person to do that" Who
comes into an enormous fortune if mother dies" 4ou do, 3ina, and you
may be sure that the police have not overlooked that fact.'
&till trembling, Mildred moved rapidly a%ay.
'7athological,' said /le'. ',efinitely pathological. Really most interesting. $t
makes one %onder about the late Canon &trete... religious scruples,
perhaps"... 0r %ould you say impotent"'
',on't be disgusting, /le'. 0h $ hate her, $ hate her, $ hate her.'
3ina clenched her hands and shook %ith fury.
'#ucky you hadn't got a knife in your stocking,' said /le'. '$f you had, dear
Mrs &trete might have kno%n something about murder from the point of
vie% of the victim. Calm do%n, 3ina. ,on't look so melodramatic and like
$talian 0pera.'
')o% dare she say $ tried to poison 3randam"'
'Well, darling, somebody tried to poison her. /nd from the point of vie% of
motive you're %ell in the picture, aren't you"'
'/le'.' 3ina stared at him, dismayed. ',o the police think so"'
'$t's e'tremely difficult to kno% %hat the police think... hey keep their o%n
counsel remarkably %ell. hey're by no means fools, you kno%. hat
reminds me +'
'Where are you going"'
'o %ork out an idea of mine.'
Chapter 1H
'4ou say somebody has been trying to poison me"' Carrie #ouise's voice
held be%ilderment and disbelief.
'4ou kno%,' she said, '$ can't really believe it...'
&he %aited a fe% moments, her eyes half closed.
#e%is said gently, '$ %ish $ could have spared you this, dearest.'
/lmost absently she stretched out a hand to him and he took it.
Miss Marple, sitting close by, shook her head sympathetically.
Carrie #ouise opened her eyes.
'$s it really true, !ane"' she asked.
'$'m afraid so, my dear.'
'hen everything +' Carrie #ouise broke off.
&he %ent on>
'$'ve al%ays thought $ kne% %hat %as real and %hat %asn't... his doesn't
seem real + but it is... &o $ may be %rong every%here... 2ut %ho could
%ant to do such a thing to me" -obody in this house could %ant to + kill
me"'
)er voice still held incredulity.
'hat's %hat $ %ould have thought,' said #e%is. '$ %as %rong.'
'/nd Christian kne% about it" hat e'plains it.'
'*'plains %hat"' asked #e%is.
')is manner,' said Carrie #ouise. '$t %as very odd, you kno%. -ot at all his
usual self. )e seemed + upset about me + as though he %as %anting to
say something to me and then not saying it. /nd he asked me if my heart
%as strong" /nd if $'d been %ell lately" rying to hint to me, perhaps. 2ut
%hy not say something straight out" $t's so much simpler 8ust to say it
straight out.'
')e didn't %ant to + cause you pain, Caroline.'
'7ain" 2ut %hy + 0h $ see...' )er eyes %idened. '&o that's %hat you
believe. 2ut you're %rong, #e%is, (uite %rong. $ can assure you of that.'
)er husband avoided her eyes.
'$'m sorry,' said Mrs &errocold after a moment or t%o. '2ut $ can't believe
anything of %hat has happened lately is true. *dgar shooting at you. 3ina
and &tephen. hat ridiculous bo' of chocolates. $t 8ust isn't true.'
-obody spoke.
Caroline #ouise &errocold sighed.
'$ suppose,' she said, 'that $ must have lived outside reality for a long
time... 7lease, both of you, $ think $ %ould like to be alone... $'ve got to try
and understand...'
$$
Miss Marple came do%n the stairs and into the 3reat )all to find /le'
Restarick standing near the large arched entrance door %ith his hand
flung out in a some%hat flamboyant gesture.
'Come in, come in,' said /le' happily and as though he %ere the o%ner of
the 3reat )all. '$'m 8ust thinking about last night.'
#e%is &errocold, %ho had follo%ed Miss Marple do%n from Carrie
#ouise's sitting+room, crossed the 3reat )all to his study and %ent in and
shut the door.
'/re you trying to reconstruct the crime"' asked Miss Marple %ith subdued
eagerness.
'*h"' /le' looked at her %ith a fro%n. hen his bro% cleared.
'0h that,' he said. '-o, not e'actly. $ %as looking at the %hole thing from
an entirely different point of vie%. $ %as thinking of this place in the terms
of the theatre. -ot reality, but artificiality. !ust come over here. hink of it
in the terms of a stage set. #ighting, entrances, e'its. ,ramatis 7ersonae.
-oises off. /ll very interesting. -ot all my o%n idea. he $nspector gave it
to me. $ think he's rather a cruel man. )e did his best to frighten me this
morning.'
'/nd did he frighten you"'
'$'m not sure.'
/le' described the $nspector's e'periment and the timing of the
performance of the puffing Constable ,odgett.
'ime,' he said, 'is so very misleading. 0ne thinks things take such a long
time, but really, of course, they don't.'
'-o,' said Miss Marple.
Representing the audience, she moved to a different position. he stage
set no% consisted of a vast tapestry covered %all going up to dimness,
%ith a grand piano up #. and a %indo% and %indo% seat up R. Very near
the %indo% seat %as the door into the library. he piano stool %as only
about eight feet from the door into the s(uare lobby %hich led to the
corridor. %o very convenient e'its. he audience, of course, had an
e'cellent vie% of both of them...
2ut last night, there had been no audience. -obody, that is to say, had
been facing the stage set that Miss Marple %as no% facing. he
audience, last night, had been sitting %ith their backs to that particular
stage.
)o% long, Miss Marple %ondered, %ould it have taken to slip out of the
room, run along the corridor, shoot 3ulbrandsen and come back" -ot
nearly so long as one %ould think. Measured in minutes and seconds a
very short time indeed...
What had Carrie #ouise meant %hen she had said to her husband> '&o
that's %hat you believe + but you're %rong, #e%is.'
'$ must say that that %as a very penetrating remark of the $nspector's,'
/le''s voice cut in on her meditations. '/bout a stage set being real. Made
of %ood and cardboard and stuck together %ith glue and as real on the
unpainted as on the painted side. 1he illusion,1 he pointed out, 1is in the
eyes of the audience.1'
'#ike con8urers,' Miss Marple murmured vaguely.
'hey do it %ith mirrors is, $ believe, the slang phrase.' &tephen Restarick
came in, slightly out of breath.
')allo, /le',' he said. 'hat little rat, *rnie 3regg + $ don't kno% if you
remember him"'
'he one %ho played 5este %hen you did %elfth -ight" ;uite a bit of
talent there, $ thought.'
'4es, he's got talent of a sort. Very good %ith his hands too. ,oes a lot of
our carpentry. )o%ever, that's neither here nor there. )e's been boasting
to 3ina that he gets out at night and %anders about the grounds. &ays he
%as %andering round last night and boasts he sa% something.'
/le' spun round.
'&a% %hat"'
'&ays he's not going to tell. /ctually $'m pretty certain he's only trying to
sho% off and get into the limelight. )e's an a%ful liar, but $ thought
perhaps he ought to be (uestioned.'
/le' said sharply> '$ should leave him for a bit. ,on't let him think %e're too
interested.'
'7erhaps + yes, $ think you may be right there. his evening, perhaps.'
&tephen %ent on into the library.
Miss Marple, moving gently round the )all in her character of mobile
audience, collided %ith /le' Restarick as he stepped back suddenly.
Miss Marple said, '$'m so sorry.'
/le' fro%ned at her, said in an absent sort of %ay>
'$ beg your pardon,' and then added in a surprised voice, '0h, it's you.'
$t seemed to Miss Marple an odd remark for someone %ith %hom she had
been conversing for some considerable time.
'$ %as thinking of something else,' said /le' Restarick. 'hat boy *rnie +'
)e made vague motions %ith both hands.
hen, %ith a sudden change of manner, he crossed the )all and %ent
through the library door, shutting it behind him.
he murmur of voices came from behind the closed door, but Miss Marple
hardly noticed them. &he %as uninterested in the versatile *rnie and %hat
he had seen or pretended to see. &he had a shre%d suspicion that *rnie
had seen nothing at all. &he did not believe for a moment that on a cold
ra% foggy night like last night, *rnie %ould have troubled to use his
lockpicking activities and %ander about in the 7ark. $n all probability he
never had got out at night. 2oasting, that %as all it had been.
'#ike !ohnnie 2ackhouse,' thought Miss Marple, %ho al%ays had a good
storehouse of parallels to dra% upon selected from inhabitants of &t Mary
Mead.
'$ seen you last night,' had been !ohnnie 2ackhouse's unpleasant taunt to
all he thought it might affect.
$t had been a surprisingly successful remark. &o many people, Miss
Marple reflected, have been in places %here they are an'ious not to be
seen.
&he dismissed !ohnnie from her mind and concentrated on a vague
something %hich /le''s account of $nspector Curry's remarks had stirred
to life. hose remarks had given /le' an idea. &he %as not sure that they
had not given her an idea, too. he same idea" 0r a different one"
&he stood %here /le' Restarick had stood. &he thought to herself, 'his
is not a real )all. his is only cardboard and canvas and %ood. his is a
stage scene...'
&crappy phrases flashed across her mind. '$llusion +' '$n the eyes of the
audience.' 'hey do it %ith mirrors...' 2o%ls of goldfish... yards of coloured
ribbon... vanishing ladies... all the panoply and misdirection of the
con8urer's art...
&omething stirred in her consciousness + a picture + something that /le'
had said... something that he had described to her... Constable ,odgett
puffing and panting... 7anting... &omething shifted in her mind came into
sudden focus...
'Why of course.' said Miss Marple. 'hat must be it...'
Chapter 1B
'0h, Wally, ho% you startled me.'
3ina, emerging from the shado%s by the theatre, 8umped back a little, as
the figure of Wally )udd materiali:ed out of the gloom. $t %as not yet (uite
dark, but had that eerie half light %hen ob8ects lose their reality and take
on the fantastic shapes of nightmare.
'What are you doing do%n here" 4ou never come near the theatre as a
rule.'
'Maybe $ %as looking for you, 3ina. $t's usually the best place to find you,
isn't it"'
Wally's soft, faintly dra%ling voice held no special insinuation, and yet
3ina flinched a little.
'$t's a 8ob and $'m keen on it. $ like the atmosphere of paint and canvas,
and back stage generally.'
'4es. $t means a lot to you. $'ve seen that. ell me, 3ina, ho% long do you
think it %ill be before this business is all cleared up"'
'he in(uest's tomorro%. $t %ill 8ust be ad8ourned for a fortnight or
something like that. /t least, that's %hat $nspector Curry gave us to
understand.'
'/ fortnight,' said Wally thoughtfully. '$ see. &ay three %eeks, perhaps.
/nd after that + %e're free. $'m going back to the &tates then.'
'0h. but $ can't rush off like that,' cried 3ina. '$ couldn't leave 3randam.
/nd %e've got these t%o ne% productions %e're %orking on +'
'$ didn't say 1%e.1 $ said $ %as going.'
3ina stopped and looked up at her husband. &omething in the effect of
the shado%s made him seem very big. / big, (uiet figure + and in some
%ay, or so it seemed to her, faintly menacing... &tanding over her.
hreatening + %hat"
',o you mean +' she hesitated + 'you don't %ant me to come"'
'Why, no + $ didn't say that.'
'4ou don't care if $ come or not" $s that it"'
&he %as suddenly angry.
'&ee here, 3ina. his is %here %e've got to have a sho%do%n. We didn't
kno% much about each other %hen %e got married + not much about each
other's backgrounds, not much about the other one's folks. We thought it
didn't matter. We thought nothing mattered e'cept having a s%ell time
together. Well, stage one is over. 4our folks didn't + and don't + think much
of me. Maybe they're right. $'m not their kind. 2ut if you think $'m staying
on here, kicking my heels, and doing odd 8obs in %hat $ consider is 8ust a
cra:y set+up + %ell, think again. $ %ant to live in my o%n country, doing the
kind of 8ob $ %ant to do, and can do. My idea of a %ife is the kind of %ife
%ho used to go along %ith the old pioneers, ready for anything, hardship,
unfamiliar country, danger, strange surroundings... 7erhaps that's too
much to ask of you, but it's that or nothing. Maybe $ hustled you into
marriage. $f so, you'd better get free of me and start again. $t's up to you. $f
you prefer one of these arty boys + it's your life and you've got to choose.
2ut $'m going home.'
'$ think you're an absolute pig,' said 3ina. '$'m en8oying myself here.'
'$s that so" Well, $'m not. 4ou even en8oy murder, $ suppose"'
3ina dre% in her breath sharply.
'hat's a cruel %icked thing to say. $ %as very fond of 9ncle Christian. /nd
don't you reali:e that someone has been (uietly poisoning 3randam for
months" $t's horrible.'
'$ told you $ didn't like it here. $ don't like the kind of things that go on. $'m
(uitting.'
'$f you're allo%ed to. ,on't you reali:e you'll probably be arrested for 9ncle
Christian's murder" $ hate the %ay $nspector Curry looks at you. )e's 8ust
like a cat %atching a mouse %ith a nasty sharp+cla%ed pa% all ready to
pounce. !ust because you %ere out of the )all fi'ing those lights, and
because you're not *nglish, $'m sure they'll go fastening it on you.'
'hey'll need some evidence first.'
3ina %ailed>
'$'m frightened for you, Wally. $'ve been frightened all along.'
'-o good being scared. $ tell you they've got nothing on me.'
hey %alked in silence to%ards the house.
3ina said>
'$ don't believe you really %ant me to come back to /merica %ith you...'
Walter )udd did not ans%er.
3ina )udd turned on him and stamped her foot.
'$ hate you. $ hate you. 4ou are horrible + a beast + a cruel unfeeling beast.
/fter all $'ve tried to do for you. 4ou %ant to be rid of me. 4ou don't care if
you never see me again. Well, $ don't care if $ never see you again. $ %as
a stupid little fool ever to marry you, and $ shall get a divorce as soon as
possible, and $ shall marry &tephen or /le'is and be much happier than $
ever could be %ith you. /nd $ hope you go back to the &tates and marry
some horrible girl %ho makes you really miserable.'
'5ine.' said Wally. '-o% %e kno% %here %e are.'
$$
Miss Marple sa% 3ina and Wally go into the house together.
&he %as standing at the spot %here $nspector Curry had made his
e'periment %ith Constable ,odgett earlier in the afternoon.
Miss 2ellever's voice behind her made her 8ump.
'4ou'll get a chill, Miss Marple, standing about like that after the sun's
gone do%n.'
Miss Marple fell meekly into step %ith her and they %alked briskly through
the house.
'$ %as thinking about con8uring tricks,' said Miss Marple. '&o difficult %hen
you're %atching them to see ho% they're done, and yet, once they are
e'plained, so absurdly simple. </lthough, even no%, $ can't imagine ho%
con8urers produce bo%ls of goldfish.= ,id you ever see the #ady %ho is
&a%n in )alf + such a thrilling trick. $t fascinated me %hen $ %as eleven
years old, $ remember. /nd $ never could think ho% it %as done. 2ut the
other day there %as an article in some paper giving the %hole thing a%ay.
$ don't think a ne%spaper should do that, do you" $t seems it's not one girl
+ but t%o. he head of one and the feet of the other. 4ou think it's one girl
and it's really t%o + and the other %ay round %ould %ork e(ually %ell,
%ouldn't it"'
Miss 2ellever looked at her %ith faint surprise.
Miss Marple %as not often so fluffy and incoherent as this. '$t's all been
too much for the old lady,' she thought.
'When you only look at one side of a thing, you only see one side,'
continued Miss Marple. '2ut everything fits in perfectly %ell if you can only
make up your mind %hat is reality and %hat is illusion.' &he added
abruptly, '$s Carrie #ouise + all right"'
'4es,' said Miss 2ellever. '&he's all right, but it must have been a shock,
you kno% + finding out that someone %anted to kill her. $ mean particularly
a shock to her, because she doesn't understand violence.'
'Carrie #ouise understands some things that %e don't,' said Miss Marple
thoughtfully. '&he al%ays has.'
'$ kno% %hat you mean + but she doesn't live in the real %orld.'
',oesn't she"'
Miss 2ellever looked at her in surprise.
'here never %as a more un%orldly person than Cara +'
'4ou don't think that perhaps +' Miss Marple broke off, as *dgar #a%son
passed them, s%inging along at a great pace. )e gave a kind of
shamefaced nod, but averted his face as he passed.
'$'ve remembered no% %ho he reminds me of,' said Miss Marple. '$t came
to me suddenly 8ust a fe% moments ago. )e reminds me of a young man
called #eonard Wylie. )is father %as a dentist, but he got old and blind
and his hand used to shake, and so people preferred to go to the son. 2ut
the old man %as very miserable about it, and moped, said he %as no
good for anything any more, and #eonard %ho %as very softhearted and
rather foolish, began to pretend he drank more than he should. )e al%ays
smelt of %hisky and he used to sham being rather fuddled %hen his
patients came. )is idea %as that they'd go back to the father again and
say the younger man %as no good.'
'/nd did they"'
'0f course not,' said Miss Marple. 'What happened %as %hat anybody
%ith any sense could have told him %ould happen. he patients %ent to
Mr Reilly, the rival dentist. &o many people %ith good hearts have no
sense. 2esides, #eonard Wylie %as so unconvincing... )is idea of
drunkenness %asn't in the least like real drunkenness, and he overdid the
%hisky + spilling it on his clothes, you kno%, to a perfectly impossible
e'tent.'
hey %ent into the house by the side door.
Chapter 1@
$nside the house, they found the family assembled in the library. #e%is
%as %alking up and do%n, and there %as an air of general tension in the
atmosphere.
'$s anything the matter"' asked Miss 2ellever.
#e%is said shortly> '*rnie 3regg is missing from roll call tonight.'
')as he run a%ay"'
'We don't kno%. Maverick and some of the staff are searching the
grounds. $f %e cannot find him %e must communicate %ith the police.'
'3randam.' 3ina ran over to Carrie #ouise, startled by the %hiteness of
her face. '4ou look ill.'
'$ am unhappy. he poor boy...'
#e%is said> '$ %as going to (uestion him this evening as to %hether he had
seen anything note%orthy last night. $ have the offer of a good post for
him and $ thought that after discussing that, $ %ould bring up the other
topic. -o% +' he broke off.
Miss Marple murmured softly>
'5oolish boy... 7oor foolish boy...'
&he shook her head, and Mrs &errocold said gently> '&o you think so too,
!ane..."'
&tephen Restarick came in. )e said, '$ missed you at the theatre, 3ina. $
thought you said you %ould + )allo, %hat's up"'
#e%is repeated his information, and as he finished speaking, ,r Maverick
came in %ith a fair+haired boy %ith pink cheeks and a suspiciously angelic
e'pression. Miss Marple remembered his being at dinner on the night she
had arrived at &tonygates.
'$'ve brought /rthur !enkins along,' said ,r Maverick. ')e seems to have
been the last person to talk to *rnie.'
'-o%, /rthur,' said #e%is &errocold, 'please help us if you can. Where has
*rnie gone" $s this 8ust a prank"'
'$ dunno, sir. &traight, $ don't. ,idn't say nothing to me, he didn't. /ll full of
the play at the theatre he %as, that's all. &aid as ho% he'd had a
smashing idea for the scenery, %hat Mrs )udd and Mr &tephen thought
%as first class.'
'here's another thing, /rthur. *rnie claims he %as pro%ling about the
grounds after lock+up last night. Was that true"'
1Course it ain't. !ust boasting, that's all. 7erishing liar, *rnie. )e never got
out at night. 9sed to boast he could, but he %asn't that good %ith locks.
)e couldn't do anything %ith a lock as %as a lock. /ny%ay 'e %as in last
night, that $ do kno%.'
'4ou're not saying that 8ust to satisfy us, /rthur"'
'Cross my heart,' said /rthur virtuously.
#e%is did not look (uite satisfied.
'#isten,' said ,r Maverick. 'What's that"'
/ murmur of voices %as approaching. he door %as flung open and
looking very pale and ill, the spectacled Mr 2aumgarten staggered in.
)e gasped out> 'We've found him + them. $t's horrible...'
)e sank do%n on a chair and mopped his forehead.
Mildred &trete said sharply>
'What do you mean + found them"'
2aumgarten %as shaking all over.
',o%n at the theatre,' he said. 'heir heads crushed in + the big
counter%eight must have fallen on them. /le' Restarick and that boy
*rnie 3regg. hey're both dead...'
Chapter ?D
'$'ve brought you a cup of strong soup, Carrie #ouise,' said Miss Marple.
'-o% please drink it.'
Mrs &errocold sat up in the big carved oak four+poster bed. &he looked
very small and childlike. )er cheeks had lost their pink flush, and her eyes
had a curiously absent look.
&he took the soup obediently from Miss Marple. /s she sipped it, Miss
Marple sat do%n in a chair beside the bed.
'5irst, Christian,' said Carrie #ouise, 'and no% /le' and poor, sharp, silly
little *rnie. ,id he really + kno% anything"'
'$ don't think so,' said Miss Marple. ')e %as 8ust telling lies + making
himself important by hinting that he had seen or kne% something. he
tragedy is that somebody believed his lies...'
Carrie #ouise shivered. )er eyes %ent back to their far a%ay look.
'We meant to do so much for these boys... We did do something. &ome of
them have done %onderfully %ell. &everal of them are in really
responsible positions. / fe% slid back + that can't be helped. Modern
civili:ed conditions are so comple' + too comple' for some simple and
undeveloped natures. 4ou kno% #e%is's great scheme" )e al%ays felt
that transportation %as a thing that had saved many a potential criminal in
the past. hey %ere shipped overseas + and they made ne% lives in
simpler surroundings. )e %ants to start a modern scheme on that basis.
o buy up a great tract of territory + or a group of islands. 5inance it for
some years, make it a co+operative self+supporting community + %ith
everyone taking a stake in it. 2ut cut off so that the early temptation to go
back to cities and the bad old days can be neutrali:ed. $t's his dream. 2ut
it %ill take a lot of money, of course, and there aren't many philanthropists
%ith vision no%. We %ant another *ric. *ric %ould have been
enthusiastic.'
Miss Marple picked up a little pair of scissors and looked at them
curiously.
'What an odd pair of scissors,' she said. 'hey've got t%o fingers holes on
one side and one on the other.'
Carrie #ouise's eyes came back from that frightening far distance.
'/le' gave them to me this morning,' she said. 'hey're supposed to make
it easier to cut your right hand nails. ,ear boy, he %as so enthusiastic. )e
made me try them then and there.'
'/nd $ suppose he gathered up the nail clippings and took them tidily
a%ay,' said Miss Marple.
'4es,' said Carrie #ouise. ')e +' &he broke off. 'Why did you say that"'
'$ %as thinking about /le'. )e had brains. 4es, he had brains.'
'4ou mean + that's %hy he died"'
'$ think so + yes.'
')e and *rnie + it doesn't bear thinking about. When do they think it
happened"'
'#ate this evening. 2et%een si' and seven o'clock probably...'
'/fter they'd knocked off %ork for the day"'
'4es.'
3ina had been do%n there that evening + and finally )udd. &tephen, too,
said he had been do%n to look for 3ina...
2ut as far as that %ent, anybody could have...
Miss Marple's train of thought %as interrupted.
Carrie #ouise said (uietly and une'pectedly>
')o% much do you kno%, !ane"'
Miss Marple looked up sharply. he eyes of the t%o %omen met.
Miss Marple said slo%ly> '$f $ %as (uite sure...'
'$ think you are sure, !ane.'
!ane Marple said slo%ly, 'What do you %ant me to do"'
Carrie leaned back against her pillo%s.
'$t is in your hands, !ane + 4ou'll do %hat you think right.'
&he closed her eyes.
'omorro% +' Miss Marple hesitated + '$ shall have to try and talk to
$nspector Curry + if he'll listen...'
Chapter ?1
$nspector Curry said rather impatiently>
'4es, Miss Marple"'
'Could %e, do you think, go into the 3reat )all.'
$nspector Curry looked faintly surprised,
'$s that your idea of privacy" &urely in here +'
)e looked round the study.
'$t's not privacy $'m thinking of so much. $t's something $ %ant to sho% you.
&omething /le' Restarick made me see.'
$nspector Curry, stifling a sigh, got up and follo%ed Miss Marple.
'&omebody has been talking to you"' he suggested hopefully.
'-o,' said Miss Marple. '$t's not a (uestion of %hat people have said. $t's
really a (uestion of con8uring tricks. hey do it %ith mirrors, you kno% +
that sort of thing if you understand me.'
$nspector Curry did not understand. )e stared and %ondered if Miss
Marple %as (uite right in the head.
Miss Marple took up her stand and beckoned the $nspector to stand
beside her.
'$ %ant you to think of this place as at stage set, $nspector. /s it %as on
the night Christian 3ulbrandsen %as killed. 4ou're here in the audience
looking at the people on the stage. Mrs &errocold and myself and Mrs
&trete, and 3ina and &tephen + and 8ust like on the stage there are
entrances and e'its and the characters go out to different places. 0nly
you don't think %hen you're in the audience %here they are really going to.
hey go out 1to the front door1 or 1to the kitchen1 and %hen the door
opens you see a little bit of painted backcloth. 2ut really of course they go
out to the %ings + or the back of the stage %ith carpenters and
electricians, and other characters %aiting to come on + they go out + to a
different %orld.'
'$ don't (uite see, Miss Marple '
'0h, $ kno% + $ daresay it sounds very silly + but if you think of this as a
play and the scene is 1the 3reat )all at &tonygates1 + %hat e'actly is
behind the scene" + $ mean + %hat is back stage" he terrace + isn't it" +
the terrace and a lot of %indo%s opening on to it.
'/nd that, you see, is ho% the con8uring trick %as done. $t %as the trick of
the #ady &a%n in )alf that made me think of it.'
'he #ady &a%n in )alf"' $nspector Curry %as no% (uite sure that Miss
Marple %as a mental case.
'/ most thrilling con8uring trick. 4ou must have seen it + only not really one
girl but t%o girls. he head of one and the feet of the other. $t looks like
one person and is really t%o. /nd so $ thought it could 8ust as %ell be the
other %ay about. %o people could be really one person.'
'%o people really one"' $nspector Curry looked desperate.
'4es. -ot for long. )o% long did your constable take in the 7ark to run to
this house and back" %o minutes and forty+five seconds, %asn't it" his
%ould be less than that. Well under t%o minutes.'
'What %as under t%o minutes"'
'he con8uring trick. he trick %hen it %asn't t%o people but one person. $n
there + in the study. We're only looking at the visible part of the stage.
2ehind the scenes there is the terrace and a ro% of %indo%s. &o easy
%hen there are t%o people in the study to open the study %indo%, get out,
run along the terrace <those footsteps /le' heard=, in at the side door,
shoot Christian 3ulbrandsen and run back, and during that time, the other
person in the study does both voices so that %e're all (uite sure there are
t%o people in there. /nd so there %ere most of the time, but not for that
little period of under t%o minutes.'
$nspector Curry found his breath and his voice.
',o you mean that it %as *dgar #a%son %ho ran along the terrace and
shot 3ulbrandsen" *dgar #a%son %ho poisoned Mrs &errocold"'
'2ut you see, $nspector, no one has been poisoning Mrs &errocold at all.
hat's %here the misdirection comes in. &omeone very cleverly used the
fact that Mrs &errocold's sufferings from arthritis %ere not unlike the
symptoms of arsenical poisoning. $t's the old con8urer's trick of forcing a
card on you. ;uite easy to add arsenic to a bottle of tonic + (uite easy to
add a fe% lines to a type%ritten letter. 2ut the real reason for Mr
3ulbrandsen's coming here %as the most likely reason + something to do
%ith the 3ulbrandsen rust. Money, in fact. &uppose that there had been
embe::lement + embe::lement on a very big scale + you see %here that
points" o 8ust one person +'
$nspector Curry gasped> '#e%is &errocold"' he murmured incredulously.
'#e%is &errocold...' said Miss Marple.
Chapter ??
7art of letter from 3ina )udd to her aunt Mrs Van Rydock>
+ and so you see, darling /unt Ruth, the %hole thing has been 8ust like a
nightmare + especially the end of it. $'ve told you all about this funny man
*dgar #a%son. )e al%ays %as a complete rabbit + and %hen the
$nspector began (uestioning him and breaking him do%n he lost his nerve
completely and scuttled like a rabbit. !ust lost his nerve and ran + literally
ran. !umped out of the %indo% and round the house and do%n the drive
and then there %as a policeman coming to head him off, and he s%erved
and ran full tilt for the lake. )e leaped into a rotten old punt that's
mouldered there for years and pushed off. ;uite a mad senseless thing to
do, of course, but as $ say he %as 8ust a panic+stricken rabbit. /nd then
#e%is gave a great shout and said 'hat punt's rotten,' and raced off to the
lake too. he punt %ent do%n and there %as *dgar struggling in the
%ater. )e couldn't s%im. #e%is 8umped in and s%am out to him. )e got to
him but they %ere both in difficulty because they'd got among the reeds.
0ne of the $nspector's men %ent in %ith a rope round him but he got
entangled too and they had to pull him in. /unt Mildred said 'hey'll dro%n
+ they'll dro%n + they'll both dro%n...' in a silly sort of %ay, and 3randam
8ust said '4es.' $ can't describe to you 8ust ho% she made that one %ord
sound. !ust '4es' and it %ent through you like + like a s%ord.
/m $ being 8ust silly and melodramatic" $ suppose $ am. 2ut it did sound
like that...
/nd then + %hen it %as all over, and they'd got him out and tried artificial
respiration, but it %as no good, and the $nspector came to us and said to
3randam>
'$'m afraid, Mrs &errocold, there's no hope.'
3randam said very (uietly>
'hank you, $nspector.'
hen she looked at us all. We longing to help and kno%ing ho%, and !olly,
looking grim and tender and ready to minister as usual, and &tephen
stretching out his hand and funny old Miss Marple looking so sad, and
tired, and Wally looking upset. /ll so fond of her.
2ut 3randam 8ust said 'Mildred.' /nd /unt Mildred said 'Mother. '/nd they
%ent a%ay together. 3randam looking so small and frail and leaning on
Mildred. $ never reali:ed, until then, ho% fond of each other they %ere. $t
didn't sho% much, you kno%, but it %as there all the time.
3ina paused and sucked the end of her fountain pen.
&he resumed>
/bout me and Wally + %e're coming back to the &tates as soon as %e
can...
Chapter ?A
'What made you guess, !ane"'
Miss Marple took her time about replying. &he looked thoughtfully at the
other t%o + Carrie #ouise thinner and frailer and yet curiously untouched +
and the old man %ith the s%eet smile and the thick %hite hair, ,r
3albraith, 2ishop of Cromer.
he 2ishop took Carrie #ouise's hand in his.
'his has been a great sorro% to you, my poor child, and a great shock.'
'/ sorro%, yes, but not really a shock.'
'-o,' said Miss Marple. 'hat's %hat $ discovered, you kno%. *veryone
kept saying ho% Carrie #ouise lived in another %orld from this and %as
out of touch %ith reality. 2ut actually, Carrie #ouise, it %as reality you
%ere in touch %ith, and not the illusion. 4ou are never deceived by illusion
like most of us are. When $ suddenly reali:ed that, $ sa% that $ must go by
%hat you thought and felt. 4ou %ere (uite sure that no one %ould try to
poison you, you couldn't believe it + and you %ere (uite right not to believe
it, because it %asn't so. 4ou never believed that *dgar %ould harm #e%is
+ and again you %ere right. )e never %ould have harmed #e%is. 4ou
%ere sure that 3ina did not love anyone but her husband + and that again
%as (uite true.
'&o therefore, if $ %as to go by you, all the things that seemed to be true
%ere only illusions. $llusions created for a definite purpose + in the same
%ay that con8urers create illusions, to deceive an audience. We %ere the
audience. /le' Restarick got an inkling of the truth first because he had
the chance of seeing things from a different angle + from the outside
angle. )e %as %ith the $nspector in the drive, and he looked at the house
and reali:ed the possibilities of the %indo%s + and he remembered the
sound of running feet he had heard that night, and then the timing of the
constable sho%ed him %hat a very short time things take to %hat %e
should imagine they %ould take. he constable panted a lot, and later,
thinking of a puffing constable, $ remembered that #e%is &errocold %as
out of breath that night %hen he opened the study door. )e'd 8ust been
running hard, you see...
'2ut it %as *dgar #a%son that %as the pivot of it all to me. here %as
al%ays something %rong to me about *dgar #a%son. /ll the things he
said and did %ere e'actly right for %hat he %as supposed to be, but he
himself %asn't right. 2ecause he %as actually a normal young man
playing the part of a schi:ophrenic + and he %as al%ays, as it %ere, a little
larger than life. )e %as al%ays theatrical.
'$t must have all been very carefully planned and thought out. #e%is must
have reali:ed on the occasion of Christian's last visit that something had
aroused his suspicions. /nd he kne% Christian %ell enough to kno% that if
he suspected he %ould not rest until he had satisfied himself that his
suspicions %ere either 8ustified or unfounded.'
Carrie #ouise stirred.
'4es,' she said. 'Christian %as like that. &lo% and painstaking, but actually
very shre%d. $ don't kno% %hat it %as aroused his suspicions but he
started investigating + and he found out the truth.'
he 2ishop said> '$ blame myself for not having been a more
conscientious trustee.'
'$t %as never e'pected of you to understand finance,' said Carrie #ouise.
'hat %as originally Mr 3ilfoy's province. hen, %hen he died, #e%is's
great e'perience put him in %hat amounted to complete control. /nd that,
of course, %as %hat %ent to his head.'
he pink colour came up in her cheeks.
'#e%is %as a great man,' she said. '/ man of great vision, and a
passionate believer in %hat could be accomplished + %ith money. )e
didn't %ant it for himself + or at least not in the greedy vulgar sense + he
did %ant the po%er of it + he %anted the po%er to do great good %ith it.'
')e %anted,' said the 2ishop, 'to be 3od.' )is voice %as suddenly stem.
')e forgot that man is only the humble instrument of 3od's %ill.'
'/nd so he embe::led the rust funds"' said Miss Marple.
,r 3albraith hesitated.
'$t %asn't only that...'
'ell her,' said Carrie #ouise. '&he is my oldest friend.'
he 2ishop said>
'#e%is &errocold %as %hat one might call a financial %i:ard. $n his years
of highly technical accountancy, he had amused himself by %orking out
various methods of s%indling %hich %ere practically foolproof. his had
been merely an academic study, but %hen he once began to envisage the
possibilities that a vast sum of money could encompass, he put these
methods into practice. 4ou see, he had at his disposal some first+class
material. /mongst the boys %ho passed through here, he chose out a
small select band. hey %ere boys %hose bent %as naturally criminal,
%ho loved e'citement and %ho had a very high order of intelligence.
We've not got nearly to the bottom of it all, but it seems clear that this
esoteric circle %as secret and specially trained and %ere later placed in
key positions, %here, by carrying out #e%is's directions, books %ere
falsified in such a %ay that large sums of money %ere converted %ithout
any suspicion being aroused. $ gather that the operations and the
ramifications are so complicated that it %ill be months before the auditors
can unravel it all. 2ut the net result seems to be that under various names
and banking accounts and companies #e%is &errocold %ould have been
able to dispose of a colossal sum %ith %hich he intended to establish an
overseas colony for a cooperative e'periment in %hich 8uvenile
delin(uents should eventually o%n this territory and administer it. $t may
have been a fantastic dream +'
'$t %as a dream that might have come true,' said Carrie #ouise.
'4es, it might have come true. 2ut the means #e%is &errocold adopted
%ere dishonest means, and Christian 3ulbrandsen discovered that. )e
%as very upset, particularly by the reali:ation of %hat the discovery and
the probable prosecution of #e%is %ould mean to you, Carrie #ouise.'
'hat's %hy he asked me if my heart %as strong, and seemed so %orried
about my health,' said Carrie #ouise. '$ couldn't understand it.'
'hen #e%is &errocold arrived back from the -orth and Christian met him
outside the house and told him that he kne% %hat %as going on. #e%is
took it calmly, $ think. 2oth men agreed they must do all they could to
spare you. Christian said he %ould %rite to me and ask me to come here,
as a co+trustee, to discuss the position.'
'2ut of course,' said Miss Marple, '#e%is &errocold had already prepared
for this emergency. $t %as all planned. )e had brought the young man
%ho %as to play the part of *dgar #a%son to the house. here %as a real
*dgar #a%son + of course + in case the police looked up his record. his
false *dgar kne% e'actly %hat he had to do + act the part of a
schi:ophrenic victim of persecution + and give #e%is &errocold an alibi for
a fe% vital minutes.
'he ne't step had been thought out too. #e%is's story that you, Carrie
#ouise, %ere being slo%ly poisoned %hen one actually came to think of it
there %as only #e%is's story of %hat Christian had told him + that, and a
fe% lines added on the type%riter %hilst he %as %aiting for the police. $t
%as easy to add arsenic to the tonic. -o danger for you there + since he
%as on the spot to prevent you drinking it. he chocolates %ere 8ust an
added touch + and of course the original chocolates %eren't poisoned +
only those he substituted before turning them over to $nspector Curry.'
'/nd /le' guessed,' said Carrie #ouise.
'4es + that's %hy he collected your nail parings. hey %ould sho% if
arsenic actually had been administered over a long period.'
'7oor /le' + poor *rnie.'
here %as a moment's silence as the other t%o thought of Christian
3ulbrandsen, of /le'is Restarick, and of the boy *rnie + and of ho%
(uickly the act of murder could distort and deform.
'2ut surely,' said the 2ishop, '#e%is %as taking a big risk in persuading
*dgar to be his accomplice + even if he had some hold over him +'
Carrie shook her head.
'$t %asn't e'actly a hold over him. *dgar %as devoted to #e%is.'
'4es,' said Miss Marple. '#ike #eonard Wylie and his father. $ %onder
perhaps if +'
&he paused delicately.
'4ou sa% the likeness, $ suppose"' said Carrie #ouise.
'&o you kne% that all along"'
'$ guessed. $ kne% #e%is had once had a short infatuation for an actress,
before he met me. )e told me about it. $t %asn't serious, she %as a gold+
digging type of %oman and she didn't care for him, but $'ve no doubt at all
that *dgar %as actually #e%is's son...'
'4es,' said Miss Marple. 'hat e'plains everything...'
'/nd he gave his life for him in the end,' said Carrie #ouise. &he looked
pleadingly at the 2ishop. ')e did, you kno%.'
here %as a silence and then Carrie #ouise said> '$'m glad it ended that
%ay, %ith his life given in the hope of saving the boy... 7eople %ho can be
very good can be very bad, too. $ al%ays kne% that %as true about
#e%is... 2ut + he loved me very much + and $ loved him.'
',id you + ever suspect him"' asked Miss Marple.
'-o,' said Carrie #ouise. '2ecause $ %as pu::led by the poisoning. $ kne%
#e%is %ould never poison me and yet that letter of Christian's said
definitely that someone %as poisoning me + so $ thought that everything $
thought $ kne% about people must be %rong...'
Miss Marple said> '2ut %hen /le' and *rnie %ere found killed. 4ou
suspected then"'
'4es,' said Carrie #ouise. '2ecause $ didn't think anyone else but #e%is
%ould have dared. /nd $ began to be afraid of %hat he might do ne't...'
&he shivered slightly.
'$ admired #e%is. $ admired his + %hat shall $ call it + his goodness" 2ut $
do see that if you're + good, you have to be humble as %ell.'
,r 3albraith said gently>
'hat, Carrie #ouise, is %hat $ have al%ays admired in you + your humility.'
he lovely blue eyes opened %ide in surprise.
'2ut $'m not clever + and not particularly good. $ can only admire goodness
in other people.'
',ear Carrie #ouise,' said Miss Marple.
*pilogue
'$ think 3randam %ill be (uite all right %ith /unt Mildred,' said 3ina. '/unt
Mildred seems much nicer no% + not so peculiar, if you kno% %hat $
mean"'
'$ kno% %hat you mean,' said Miss Marple.
'&o Wally and $ %ill go back to the &tates in a fortnight's time.'
3ina cast a look side%ays at her husband.
'$ shall forget all about &tonygates and $taly and all my girlish past and
become a hundred per cent /merican. 0ur son %ill be al%ays addressed
as !unior. $ can't say fairer than that, can $, Wally"'
'4ou certainly cannot, Eate,' said Miss Marple.
Wally, smiling indulgently at an old lady %ho got names %rong, corrected
her gently>
'3ina, not Eate.'
2ut 3ina laughed.
'&he kno%s %hat she's saying. 4ou see + she'll call you 7etruchio in a
moment.'
'$ 8ust think,' said Miss Marple to Walter, 'that you have acted very %isely,
my dear boy.'
'&he thinks you're 8ust the right husband for me,' said 3ina.
Miss Marple looked from one to the other. $t %as very nice, she thought,
to see t%o young people so much in love, and Walter )udd %as
completely transformed from the sulky young man she had first
encountered into a good+humoured smiling giant...
'4ou t%o remind me,' she said, 'of +'
3ina rushed for%ard and placed a hand firmly over Miss Marple's mouth.
'-o, darling,' she e'claimed. ',on't say it. $'m suspicious of these village
parallels. hey've al%ays got a sting in the tail. 4ou really are a %icked old
%oman, you kno%.'
)er eyes %ent misty.
'When $ think of you, and /unt Ruth and 3randam all being young
together... )o% $ %onder %hat you %ere all like. $ can't imagine it
someho%...'
'$ don't suppose you can,' said Miss Marple. '$t %as all a long time ago...'