ThistimeEdnagotwellawaywithhernewsbulletin.
"Oh,ma"am,itwaseversuchashocktoGladdie.Yousee,oneofMissEmily"sbroocheswasmissing,andsuchahueandcryforitasneverwas,andofcourse,n.o.bodylikesathinglikethattohappen;it"supsetting,ma"am.IfyouknowwhatImean.AndGladdie"shelpedsearcheverywhere,andtherewasMissLaviniasayingshewasgoingtothepoliceabout.i.t,andthenitturnedupagain,pushedrighttothebackofadrawerinthedressing-table,andverythankfulGladdiewas."
"Andtheverynextdayaseverwasaplategotbroken,andMissLavinia,shebouncedoutrightawayandtoldGladdietotakeamonth"snotice.AndwhatGladdiefeelsisitcouldn"thavebeentheplateandthatMissLaviniawasjustmakinganexcuseofthat,andthat.i.tmustbebecauseofthebroochandtheythinka.s.shetookitandput.i.tbackwhenthepolicewasmentioned,andGladdiewouldn"tdosuchathing,notnevershewouldn"t,andwhatshefeelsisasitwillgetroundandtellagainsther,andit"saveryseriousthingforagirlasyouknow,ma"am."
MissMarplenodded.Thoughhavingnoparticularlikingforthebouncing,self-opinionedGladys,shewasquitesureofthegirl"sintrinsichonestyandcouldwellimaginethattheaffairmusthaveupsether.
Ednasaidwistfully,"Isuppose,ma"am,thereisn"tanythingyoucoulddoabout.i.t?"
"Tellhernottobesilly,"saidMissMarplecrisply."Ifshedidn"ttakethebrooch-whichI"msureshedidn"t-thenshehasnocausetobeupset."
"It"llgetabout,"saidEdnadismally.
MissMarplesaid,"I-er-amgoingupthatwaythisafternoon.I"llhavewordwiththeMissesSkinner."
"Oh,thankyou,madam,"saidEdna.
OldHallwasabigVictorianhousesurroundedbywoodsandparkland.Sinceithadbeenprovedunlettableandunsalableasitwas,anenterprisingspeculatorhaddivideditintofourflatswithacentralhot-watersystem,andtheuseof"thegrounds"tobeheldincommonbythetenants.
Theexperimenthadbeensatisfactory.Arichandeccentricoldladyandhermaidoccupiedoneflat.Theoldladyhadapa.s.sionforbirdsandentertainedafeatheredgatheringtomealseveryday.AretiredIndianjudgeandhiswiferentedasecond.Averyyoungcouple,recentlymarried,occupiedthethird,andthefourthhadbeentakenonlytwomonthsagobytwomaidenladiesofthenameofSkinner.Thefoursetsoftenantswereonlyonthemostdistanttermswitheachother,sincenoneofthemhadanythingincommon.Thelandlordhadbeenheardtosaythatthiswasanexcellentthing.Whathedreadedwerefriendshipsfollowedbyestrangementsandsubsequentcomplaintstohim.
MissMarplewasacquaintedwithallthetenants,thoughsheknewnoneofthemwell.TheelderMissSkinner,Misswaswhatmightbetermedtheworkingmemberofthefirm.MissEmily,theyounger,spentmostofhertimeinbed,sufferingfromvariouscomplaintswhich,intheopinionofStMaryMead,werelargelyimaginary.OnlyMissLaviniabelieveddevoutlyinhersister"smartyrdomandpatienceunderafflictionandwillinglyranerrandsandtrottedupanddowntothevillageforthingsthat"mysisterhadsuddenlyfancied."
ItwastheviewofStMaryMeadthatifMissEmilysufferedhalfasmucha.s.shesaidshedid,shewouldhavesentforDrHaydocklongago.ButMissEmily,whenthiswashintedtoher,shuthereyesinasuperiorwayandmurmuredthathercasewasnotasimpleone-thebestspecialistsinLondonhadbeenbaffledbyit-andthatawonderfulnewmanhadputheronamostrevolutionarycourseoftreatmentandthatshereallyhopedherhealthwouldimproveunderit.NohumdrumG.P.couldpossiblyunderstandhercase.
"Andit"smyopinion,"saidtheoutspokenMissHartnell,"thatshe"sverywisenottosendforhim.DearDrHaydock,inthatbreezymannerofhis,wouldtellherthattherewasnothingthematterwithherandtogetupandnotmakeafuss!Doheralotofgood!"
Failingsucharbitrarytreatment,however,MissEmilycontinuedtolieonsofas,tosurroundherselfwithstrangelittlepillboxes,andtorejectnearlyeverythingthathadbeencookedforherandaskforsomethingelse-usuallysomethingdifficultandinconvenienttoget.
ThedoorwasopenedtoMissMarpleby"Gladdie,"lookingmoredepressedthanMissMarplehadeverthoughtpossible.Inthesitting-room(aquarterofthelatedrawing-room,whichhadbeenpart.i.tionedintoadining-room,drawing-room,bathroom,andhousemaid"scupboard),MissLaviniarosetogreetMissMarple.
LaviniaSkinnerwasatall,gaunt,bonyfemaleoffifty.Shehadagruffvoiceandanabruptmanner.
"Nicetoseeyou,"shesaid."Emily"slyingdown-feelinglowtoday,poordear.Hopeshe"llseeyou-itwouldcheerherup-b.u.t.therearetimeswhenshedoesn"tfeeluptoseeinganybody.Poordear,she"swonderfullypatient."
MissMarplerespondedpolitely.ServantswerethemaintopicofconversationinStMaryMead,soitwasnotdifficulttoleadtheconversationinthatdirection.MissMarplesaidshehadheardthatthatnicegirl,GladysHolmes,wasleaving.
MissLavinianodded.
"Wednesdayweek.Brokethings,youknow.Can"thavethat."
MissMarplesighedandsaidweallhadtoputupwiththingsnowadays.Itwa.s.sodifficulttogetgirlstocometothecountry.DidMissSkinnerreallythinkitwaswisetopartwithGladys?
"Knowit"sdifficulttogetservants,"admittedMissLavinia."TheDevereuxshaven"tgotanybody-b.u.t.thenIdon"twonder-alwaysquarrelling,jazzonallnight-mealsanytime-thatgirlknowsnothingofhousekeeping.Ipityherhusband!ThentheLarkinshavejustlosttheirmaid.Ofcourse,whatwiththejudge"stemperandhiswantingChotaHazri,ashecallsit,atsixinthemorning,andMrsLarkinalwaysfussing,Idon"twonderatthat,either.MrsCarmichael"sJanetisafixture,ofcourse-thoughinmyopinionshe"sthemostdisagreeablewomanandabsolutelybulliestheoldlady."
"Thendon"tyouthinkyoumightreconsideryourdecisionaboutGladys.Shereallyisanicegirl.Iknowallherfamily;veryhonestandsuperior."
MissLaviniashookherhead.
"I"vegotmyreasons,"shesaidimportantly.
MissMarplemurmured:"Youmissedabrooch,Iunderstand-"
"Nowwhohasbeentalking?Isupposethegirlhas.Quitefrankly,I"malmostcertainshetookit.Andthengotfrightenedandput.i.tbackbutofcourseonecan"tsayanythingunlessoneissure."Shechangedthesubject."DocomeandseeMissEmily,MissMarple.I"msureitwoulddohergood."
MissMarplefollowedmeeklytowhereMissLaviniaknockedonadoor,wasbiddenenter,andusheredherguestintothebestroomintheflat,mostofthelightofwhichwas.e.xcludedbyhalf-drawnblinds.MissEmilywaslyinginbed,apparentlyenjoyingthehalfgloomandherownindefinitesufferings.
Thedimlightshowedhertobeathin,indecisive-lookingcreature,withagooddealofgreyishyellowhairuntidilywoundaroundherheadanderuptingintocurls,thewholethinglookinglikeabird"snestofwhichnoself-respectingbirdcouldbeproud.Therewasasmellintheroomofeaudecologne,stalebiscuits,andcamphor.
Withhalf-closedeyesandinathin,weakvoice,EmilySkinnerexplainedthatthiswas"oneofherbaddays."
"Theworstofill-healthis,"saidMissEmilyinamelancholytone,"thatoneknowswhataburdenoneistoeveryonearoundone.
"Laviniaisverygoodtome.Lavviedear,Idosohategivingtrouble,butifmyhot.w.a.terbottlecouldonlybefilledinthewayIlikeit-toofullitweighsonmeso;ontheotherhand,ifitisnotsufficientlyfilled,itgetscoldimmediately!"
"I"msorry,dear.Giveittome.Iwillemptyalittleout."
"Perhaps,ifyou"redoingthat,itmightberefilled.Therearenorusksinthehouse,Isuppose-no,no,itdoesn"tmatter.Icandowithout.Someweakteaandasliceoflemon-nolemons?No,really,Icouldn"tdrinkteawithoutlemon.Ithinkthemilkwa.s.slightlyturnedthismorning.Ithasputmerightagainstmilkinmytea.Itdoesn"tmatter.Icandowithoutmytea.OnlyIdofeelsoweak.Oysters,theysay,arenourishing.IwonderifIcouldfancyafew.No,no,toomuchbothertogetholdofthemsolateintheday.Icanfastuntiltomorrow."
Lavinialefttheroommurmuringsomethingincoherentaboutbicyclingdowntothevillage.
MissEmilysmiledfeeblyatherguestandremarkedthatshedidhategivinganyoneanytrouble.
MissMarpletoldEdnathateveningthatshewasafraidhermissionhadmetwithnosuccess.
ShewasrathertroubledtofindthatrumoursastoGladys"sdishonestywerealreadygoingaroundthevillage.
InthepostofficeMissWetherbytackledher:"MydearJane,theygaveherawrittenreferencesayingshewaswillingandsoberandrespectable,butsayingnothingabouthonesty.Thatseemstomemostsignificant!Iheartherewa.s.sometroubleaboutabrooch.Ithinktheremustbesomethinginit,youknow,becauseonedoesn"tletaservantgonowadaysunlessit"ssomethingrathergrave.They"llfinditmostdifficulttogetanyoneelse.GirlssimplywillnotgotoOldHall.They"renervouscominghomeontheirdaysout.You"llsee,theSkinnerswon"tfindanyoneelse,andthenperhapsthatdreadfulhypochondriacsisterwillhavetogetupanddosomething!"
GreatwasthechagrinofthevillagewhenitwasmadeknownthattheMissesSkinnerhadengaged,fromanagency,anewmaidwho,byallaccounts,wasaperfectparagon.
"Athreeyears"referencerecommendinghermostwarmly,sheprefersthecountryandactuallyaskslesswagesthanGladys.Ireallyfeelwehavebeenmostfortunate."
"Well,really,"saidMissMarple,towhomthesedetailswereimpartedbyMissLaviniainthefishmonger"sshop."Itdoesseemtoogoodtobetrue."
ItthenbecametheopinionofStMaryMeadthattheparagonwouldcryoffatthelastminuteandfailtoarrive.
Noneoftheprognosticationscametrue,however,andthevillagewasabletoobservethedomestictreasure,byname,MaryHiggins,drivingthroughthevillageinReed"staxitoOldHall.Ithadtobeadmittedthatherappearancewasgood.Amostrespectable-lookingwoman,veryneatlydressed.
WhenMissMarplenextvisitedOldHall,ontheoccasionofrecruitingstallholdersfortheVicarageFete,MaryHigginsopenedthedoor.Shewascertainlyamostsuperior-lookingmaid,ataguessfortyyearsof.a.ge,withneatblackhair,rosycheeks,aplumpfigurediscreetlyarrayedinblackwithawhiteap.r.o.nandcap-"quitethegood,old-fashionedtypeofservant,"asMissMarpleexplainedafterward,andwiththeproper,inaudible,respectfulvoice,sodifferentfromtheloudbutadenoidalaccentsofGladys.
MissLaviniawaslookingfarlesshara.s.sedtha.n.u.sualand,althoughsheregrettedthatshecouldnottakeastall,owingtoherpreoccupationwithhersister,sheneverthelesstenderedahandsomemonetarycontributionandpromisedtoproduceaconsignmentofpenwipersandbabies"socks.
MissMarplecommentedonherairofwell-being.
"IreallyfeelIoweagreatdealtoMary.IamsothankfulIhadtheresolutiontogetridofthatothergirl.Maryisreallyinvaluable.Cooksnicelyandwaitsbeautifullyandkeepsourlittleflatscrupulouslyclean-mattressesturnedovereveryday.AndsheisreallywonderfulwithEmily!"
MissMarplehastilyinquiredafterEmily.
"Oh,poordear,shehasbeenverymuchundertheweatherlately.Shecan"thelpit,ofcourse,but.i.treallymakesthingsalittledifficultsometimes.Wantingcertainthingscookedandthen,whentheycome,sayingshecan"teatnow-andthenwantingthemagainhalfanhourlaterandeverythingspoiledandhavingtobedoneagain.Itmakes,ofcourse,alotofwork-butfortunatelyMarydoesnotseemtomindatall.She"susedtowaitingoninvalids,shesays,andunderstandsthem.Itissuchacomfort."
"Dearme,"saidMissMarple."Youarefortunate."
"Yes,indeed.IreallyfeelMaryhasbeensenttousasananswertoprayer."
"Shesoundstome,"saidMissMarple,"almosttoogoodtobetrue.Ishould-well,IshouldbealittlecarefulifIwereyou."
LaviniaSkinnerfailedtoperceivethepointofthisremark.Shesaid,"Oh,Ia.s.sureyouIdoallIcantomakehercomfortable.Idon"tknowwhatIshoulddoifsheleft."
"Idon"texpectshe"llleaveuntilshe"sreadytoleave,"saidMissMarpleandstaredveryhardatherhostess.
MissLaviniasaid,"Ifonehasnodomesticworries,ittakessuchaloadoffone"smind,doesn"t.i.t?HowisyourlittleEdnashaping?"
"She"sdoingquitenicely.NotlikeyourMary.StillIdoknowallaboutEdna,becauseshe"savillagegirl."
a.s.shewentoutintothehallsheheardtheinvalid"svoicefretfullyraised:"Thiscompresshasbeenallowedtogetquitedry-DrAllertonparticularlysaidmoisturecontinuallyrenewed.There,there,leaveit.Iwantacupofteaandaboiledegg-boiledonlythreeminutesandahalf,remember,andsendMissLaviniatome."
TheefficientMaryemergedfromthebedroomand,sayingtoLavinia,"MissEmilyisaskingforyou,madam,"proceededtoopenthedoorforMissMarple,helpingherintohercoatandhandingherherumbrellainthemostirreproachablefashion.
MissMarpletooktheumbrella,droppedit,triedtopickitup,anddroppedherbagwhichflewopen.Marypolitelyretrievedvariousoddsandends-ahandkerchief,anengagementbook,anold-fashionedleatherpurse,twoshillings,threepennies,andastripedpieceofpeppermintrock.
MissMarplereceivedthelastwithsomesignsofconfusion.
"Ohdear,thatmusthavebeenMrsClement"slittleboy.Hewa.s.suckingit,Iremember,andhetookmybagtoplaywith.Hemusthaveput.i.tinside.It"sterriblysticky,isn"t.i.t?"
"ShallItakeit,madam?"
"Oh,wouldyou?Thankyousomuch."
Marystoopedtoretrievethelast.i.tem,asmallmirror,uponrecoveringwhichMissMarpleexclaimedfervently,"Howluckynowthatthatisn"tbroken."
Shethereupondeparted,Marystandingpolitelybythedoorholdingapieceofstripedrockwithacompletelyexpressionlessface.
FortendayslongerStMaryMeadhadtoendurehearingoftheexcellenciesofMissLavinia"sandMissEmily"streasure.
Ontheeleventhdaythevillageawoketoitsbigthrill.
Mary,theparagon,wasmissing!Herbedhadnotbeensleptinandthefrontdoorwasfoundajar.Shehadslippedoutquietlyduringthenight.
AndnotMaryalonewasmissing!TwobroochesandfiveringsofMissLavinia"s,threerings,apendant,abracelet,andfourbroochesofMissEmily"sweremissingalso!
Itwasthebeginningofachapterofcatastrophe.
YoungMrsDevereuxhadlostherdiamondswhichshekeptinanunlockeddrawerandalsosomevaluablefursgiventoherasaweddingpresent.Thejudgeandhiswifealsohadhadjewelrytakenandacertainamountofmoney.MrsCarmichaelwasthegreatestsufferer.Notonlyhadshesomeveryvaluablejewels,butshealsokeptalargesumofmoneyintheflatwhichhadgone.IthadbeenJanet"seveningoutandhermistresswasinthehabitofwalkingroundthegardensatdusk,callingtothebirdsandscatteringcrumbs.ItseemedclearthatMary,theperfectmaid,hadhadkeystofitalltheflats!
Therewas,itmustbeconfessed,acertainamountofill-naturedpleasureinStMaryMead.MissLaviniahadboastedsomuchofhermarvellousMary.
"Andallthetime,mydear,justacommonthief!"
Aninterestingrevelationfollowed.NotonlyhadMarydisappearedintotheblue,b.u.t.theagencywhichhadprovidedherandvouchedforhercredentialswasalarmedtofindthattheMaryHigginswhohadappliedtothemandwhosereferencestheyhadtakenuphad,toallintentsandpurposes,neverexisted.Itwasthenameofabonafideservantwhohadlivedwiththebonafidesisterofadean,b.u.t.therealMaryHigginswas.e.xistingpeacefullyinaplaceinCornwall.
"Clever,thewholething,"InspectorSlackwasforcedtoadmit."And,ifyouaskme,thatwomanworksinwithagang.TherewasacaseofmuchthesamekindinNorthumberlandayearago.Stuffwasnevertracedandtheynevercaughther.However,we"lldobetterthanthatinMuchBenham!"
InspectorSlackwasalwaysaconfidentman.
Nevertheless,weekspa.s.sedandMaryHigginsremainedtriumphantlyatlarge.InvainInspectorSlackredoubledthatenergythatsobeliedhisname.
MissLaviniaremainedtearful.MissEmilywa.s.soupsetandfeltsoalarmedbyherconditionthatsheactuallysentforDrHaydock.
ThewholeofthevillagewasterriblyanxioustoknowwhathethoughtofMissEmily"sclaimstoill-healthbutnaturallycouldnotaskhim.Satisfactorydatacametohandonthesubject,however,throughMrMeek,thechemist"sa.s.sistant,whowaswalkingoutwithClara,MrsPriceRidley"smaid.ItwasthenknownthatDrHaydockhadprescribedamixtureofasafoetidaandvalerianwhich,accordingtoMrMeek,wasthestockremedyformalingerersinthearmy!
SoonafterwarditwaslearnedthatMissEmily,notrelishingthemedicalattentionshehadhad,wasdeclaringthatinthestateofherhealthshefelt.i.therdutytobenearthespecialistinLondonwhounderstoodhercase.Itwas,shesaid,onlyfairtoLavinia.
Theflatwasputupforsubletting.
ItwasafewdaysafterthatthatMissMarple,ratherpinkandfl.u.s.tered,calledatthepolicestationinMuchBenhamandaskedforInspectorSlack.
InspectorSlackdidnotlikeMissMarple.Buthewasawarethatthechiefconstable,ColonelMelchett,didnotsharethatopinion.Rathergrudgingly,therefore,hereceivedher.
"Goodafternoon,MissMarple.WhatcanIdoforyou?"
"Oh,dear,"saidMissMarple,"I"mafraidyou"reinahurry."
"Lotofworkon,"saidInspectorSlack,"butIcanspareafewmoments."
"Oh,dear,"saidMissMarple."IhopeIshallbeabletoputwhatIsayproperly.Sodifficult,youknow,toexplainoneself,don"tyouthink?No,perhapsyoudon"t.Butyousee,nothavingbeeneducatedinthemodernstyle-justagoverness,youknow,whotaughtonethedatesoftheKingsofEnglandandGeneralKnowledge-andhowneedlesaremadeandallthat.Discursive,youknow,butnotteachingonetokeeptothepoint.WhichiswhatIwanttodo.It"saboutMissSkinner"smaid,Gladys,youknow."
"MaryHiggins,"saidInspectorSlack.
"Ohyes,thesecondmaid.But.i.t"sGladysHolmesImean-ratheranimpertinentgirlandfartoopleasedwithherself,butreallystrictlyhonest,andit"ssoimportantthatthatshouldberecognised."
"NochargeagainsthersofarasIknow,"saidtheinspector.
"No,Iknowthereisn"tacharge-b.u.t.thatmakesitworse.Because,yousee,peoplegoonthinkingthings.Oh,dear-IknewIshouldexplainbadly.WhatIreallymeanisthattheimportantthingistofindMaryHiggins."
"Certainly,"saidInspectorSlack."Haveyouanyideasonthesubject?"
"Well,asamatteroffact,Ihave,"saidMissMarple."MayIaskyouaquestion?Arefingerprintsofnousetoyou?"
"Ah,"saidInspectorSlack,"that"swhereshewasabittooartfulforus.Didmostofherworkinrubberglovesorhousemaid"sgloves,itseems.Andshe"dbeencareful-wipedoffeverythinginherbedroomandonthesink.Couldn"tfindasinglefingerprintintheplace!"
"Ifyoudidhaveherfingerprints,wouldithelp?"
"Itmight,madam.TheymaybeknownattheYard.Thisisn"therfirstjob,I"dsay!"
MissMarplenoddedbrightly.Sheopenedherbagandextractedasmallcardboardbox.Insideit,wedgedincottonwool,wasasmallmirror.
"Frommyhandbag,"saidMissMarple."Themaid"sprintsareonit.Ithinktheyshouldbesatisfactory-shetouchedanextremelystickysubstanceamomentpreviously."