InspectorSlackstared.
"Didyougetherfingerprintsonpurpose?"
"Ofcourse."
"Yoususpectedherthen?"
"Well,youknowitdidstrikemethatshewasalittletoogoodtobetrue.IpracticallytoldMissLaviniaso.Butshesimplywouldn"ttakethehint!I"mafraid,youknow,Inspector,thatIdon"tbelieveinparagons.Mostofushaveourfaults-anddomesticserviceshowsthemupveryquickly!"
"Well,"saidInspectorSlack,recoveringhisbalance,"I"mobligedtoyou,I"msure.We"llsendtheseuptotheYardandseewhattheyhavetosay."
Hestopped.MissMarplehadputherheadalittleononesideandwasregardinghimwithagooddealofmeaning.
"Youwouldn"tconsider,Isuppose,Inspector,lookingalittlenearerhome?"
"Whatdoyoumean,MissMarple?"
"It"sverydifficulttoexplain,butwhenyoucomeacrossapeculiarthingyounoticeit.Although,often,peculiarthingsmaybethemeresttrifles.I"vefeltthatallalong,youknow;ImeanaboutGladysandthebrooch.She"sanhonestgirl;shedidn"ttakethatbrooch.ThenwhydidMissSkinnerthinkshedid?MissSkinner"snotafool,farfromit!Whywa.s.shesoanxioustoletagirlgowhowasagoodservantwhenservantsarehardtoget?Itwaspeculiar,youknow.SoIwondered.Iwonderedagooddeal.AndInoticedanotherpeculiarthing!MissEmily"sahypochondriac,butshe"sthefirsthypochondriacwhohasn"tsentforsomedoctororotheratonce.Hypochondriacslovedoctors.MissEmilydidn"t!"
"Whatareyousuggesting,MissMarple?"
"Well,I"msuggesting,youknow,thatMissLaviniaandMissEmilyarepeculiarpeople.MissEmilyspendsnearlyallhertimeinadarkroom.Andifthathairofhersisn"tawig,I-I"lleatmyownbackswitch!AndwhatIsayisthis-it"sperfectlypossibleforathin,pale,grey-haired,whiningwomantobethesameasablack-haired,rosy-cheeked,plumpwoman.Andn.o.bodythatIcanfindeversawMissEmilyandMaryHigginsatoneandthesametime."
"Plentyoftimetogetimpressionsofallthekeys,plentyoftimetofindoutallabouttheothertenants,andthen-getridofthelocalgirl.MissEmilytakesabriskwalkacrosscountryonenightandarrivesatthestationasMaryHigginsnextday.Andthen,attherightmoment,MaryHigginsdisappears,andoffgoesthehueandcryafterher.I"lltellyouwhereyou"llfindher,Inspector.OnMissEmilySkinner"ssofa!Getherfingerprintsifyoudon"tbelieveme,butyou"llfindI"mright!Acoupleofcleverthieves,that"swhattheSkinnersare-andnodoubtinleaguewithacleverpostandrailsorfenceorwhateveryoucallit.b.u.t.theywon"tgetawaywithitthistime!I"mnotgoingtohaveoneofourvillagegirl"scharacterforhonestytakenawaylikethat!GladysHolmesisashonestastheday,andeverybody"sgoingtoknowit!Goodafternoon!"
MissMarplehadstalkedoutbeforeInspectorSlackhadrecovered.
"Whew!"hemuttered."Iwonderifshe"sright."
HesoonfoundoutthatMissMarplewasrightagain.
ColonelMelchettcongratulatedSlackonhisefficiency,andMissMarplehadGladyscometoteawithEdnaandspoketoherseriouslyonsettlingdowninagoodsituationwhenshegotone.
TheCaseoftheCaretaker
"Well,"demandedDrHaydockofhispatient,"andhowisitgoingtoday?"
MissMarplesmiledathimwanlyfrompillows.
"Isuppose,really,thatI"mbetter,"sheadmitted,"butIfeelsoterriblydepressed.Ican"thelpfeelinghowmuchbetteritwouldhavebeenifIhaddied.Afterall,I"manoldwoman.n.o.bodywantsmeorcaresaboutme."
DrHaydockinterruptedwithhisusualbrusqueness."Yes,yes,typicalafter-reactiontothistypeof"flu."Whatyouneedissomethingtotakeyououtofyourself.Amentaltonic."
MissMarplesighedandshookherhead.
"Andwhat"smore,"continuedDrHaydock,"I"vebroughtmymedicinewithme!"
Hetossedalongenvelopeontothebed.
"Justthethingforyou.Thekindofpuzzlethatisrightupyourstreet."
"Apuzzle?"MissMarplelookedinterested.
"Literaryeffortofmine,"saidthedoctor,blushingalittle."Triedtomakearegularstoryofit."Hesaid,shesaid,thegirlthought,etcetera."Factsofthestoryaretrue."
"Butwhyapuzzle?"askedMissMarple.
DrHaydockgrinned."Becausetheinterpretationisuptoyou.Iwanttoseeifyou"reascleverasyoualwaysmakeout."
WiththatParthianshothedeparted.
MissMarplepickedupthema.n.u.scriptandbegantoread.
"Andwhereisthebride?"askedMissHarmongenially.
ThevillagewasallagogtoseetherichandbeautifulyoungwifethatHarryLaxtonhadbroughtbackfromabroad.TherewasageneralindulgentfeelingthatHarry-wickedyoungscapegrace-hadhadalltheluck.EveryonehadalwaysfeltindulgenttowardHarry.EventheownersofwindowsthathadsufferedfromhisindiscriminateuseofacatapulthadfoundtheirindignationdissipatedbyyoungHarry"sabjectexpressionofregret.Hehadbrokenwindows,robbedorchards,poachedrabbits,andlaterhadrunintodebtbeendisentangledandsentofftoAfrica-andthevillage,asrepresentedbyvariousagingspinsters,hadmurmuredindulgently,"Ahwell!Wildoats!He"llsettledown!"
Andnow,sureenough,theprodigalhadreturned-notinaction,butintriumph.HarryLaxtonhad"madegood,"asthesayinggoes.Hehadpulledhimselftogether,workedhard,andhadfinallymetandsuccessfullywooedayoungAnglo-Frenchgirlwhowasthepossessorofaconsiderablefortune.
HarrymighthavelivedinLondon,orpurchasedanestateinsomefashionablehuntingcounty,buthepreferredtocomebacktothepartoftheworldthatwashometohim.Andthere,inthemostromanticway,hepurchasedthederelictestateintheDowerHouseofwhichhehadpa.s.sedhischildhood.
KingsdeanHousehadbeenunoccupiedfornearlyseventyyears.Ithadgraduallyfallenintodecayandabandon.Anelderlycaretakerandhiswifelivedintheonehabitablecornerofit.Itwasavast,unprepossessing,grandiosemansion,thegardensovergrownwithrankvegetationandthetreeshemmingitinlikesomegloomyenchanter"sden.
TheDowerHousewasapleasant,unpretentioushouseandhadbeenletforalongtermofyearstoMajorLaxton,Harry"sfather.Asaboy,HarryhadroamedovertheKingsdeanestateandkneweveryinchofthetangledwoods,andtheoldhouseitselfhadalwaysfascinatedhim.
MajorLaxtonhaddiedsomeyearsago,soitmighthavebeenthoughtthatHarrywouldhavehadnotiestobringhimback;nevertheless,itwastothehomeofhisboyhoodthatHarrybroughthisbride.TheruinedoldKingsdeanHousewaspulleddown.Anarmyofbuildersandcontractorsswoopeddownupontheplaceandinalmostamiraculouslyshorts.p.a.ceoftime-somarvellouslydoeswealthtell-thenewhouserose,whiteandgleamingamongthetrees.
Nextcametheposseofgardenersandafterthemaprocessionoffurniturevans.
Thehousewasready.Servantsarrived.LastlyacostlylimousinedepositedHarryandMrsHarryatthefrontdoor.
Thevillagerushedtocall,andMrsPrice,whoownedthelargesthouse,andwhoconsideredherselftoleadsocietyintheplace,sentoutcardsofinvitationforaparty"tomeetthebride."
Itwasagreatevent.Severalladieshadnewfrocksfortheoccasion.Everyonewas.e.xcited,curious,anxioustoseethisfabulouscreature.Theysaiditwasallsolikeafairystory!
MissHarmon,weather-beaten,heartyspinster,threwoutherquestiona.s.shesqueezedherwaythroughthecrowdeddrawing-roomdoor.LittleMissBrent,athin,acidulatedspinster,flutteredoutinformation.
"Oh,mydear,quitecharming.Suchprettymanners.Andquiteyoung.Really,youknow,itmakesonefeelquiteenvioustoseesomeonewhohaseverythinglikethat.Goodlooksandmoneyandbreeding-mostdistinguished,nothingintheleastcommonabouther-anddearHarrysodevoted!"
"Ah,"saidMissHarmon,"it"searlydaysyet!"
MissBrent"sthinnosequiveredappreciatively."Oh,mydear,doyoureallythink-"
"WeallknowwhatHarryis,"saidMissHarmon.
"Weknowwhathewas!ButIexpectnow-"
"Ah,"saidMissHarmon,"menarealwaysthesame.Iknowthem."
"Dear,dear.Pooryoungthing."MissBrentlookedmuchhappier."Yes,Iexpectshe"llhavetroublewithhim.Someoneoughtreallytowarnher."
"Beasts!"saidClariceVaneindignantlytoheruncle,DrHaydock."Absolutebeastssomepeopleare."
Helookedathercuriously.
Shewasatall,darkgirl,handsome,warmheartedandimpulsive.Herbigbrowneyeswerealightnowwithindignationa.s.shesaid,"Allthesecats-sayingthings-hintingthings."
"AboutHarryLaxton?"
"Yes.It"slikeghoulsfeastingondeadbodies."
"Idaresay,mydear,itdoesseemlikethattoyou.Butyousee,theyhaveverylittletotalkaboutdownhere,andsoI"mafraidtheydotendtodwelluponpastscandals.ButI"mcurioustoknowwhyitupsetsyousomuch."
ClariceVanebitherlipandflushed.Shesaid,inacuriouslym.u.f.fledvoice,"They-theylooksohappy.TheLaxtons,Imean.They"reyoungandinloveandit"sallsolovelyforthem.Ihatetothinkofitbeingspoiledbywhispersandhintsandinnuendoesandgeneralbeastliness."
"H-m.Isee."
Claricewenton:"Hewastalkingtomejustnow.He"ssohappyandeagerandexcitedand-yes,thrilled-athavinggothisheart"sdesireandrebuiltKingsdean.He"slikeachildabout.i.tall.Andshe-well,Idon"tsupposeanythinghasevergonewronginherwholelife.She"salwayshadeverything.You"veseenher.Whatdidyouthinkofher?"
Thedoctordidnotansweratonce.Forotherpeople,LouiseLaxtonmightbean.o.bjectofenvy.Aspoileddarlingoffortune.Tohimshehadbroughtonlytherefrainofapopularsongheardsomanyyearsago:"PoorLittleRichGirl..."
Asmall,delicatefigure,withflaxenhaircurledratherstifflyroundherfaceandbig,wistfulblueeyes.
Louisewasdroopingalittle.Thelongstreamofcongratulationshadtiredher.Shewashopingitmights...o...b..timetogo.Perhaps,evennow,Harrymightsayso.Shelookedathimsideways.Sotallandbroad-shoulderedwithhiseagerpleasureinthishorribledullparty.
"Poorlittlerichgirl..."
"Ooph!"Itwasasighofrelief.
Harryturnedtolookathiswifeamusedly.Theyweredrivingawayfromtheparty.Shesaid,"Darling,whatafrightfulparty!"
Harrylaughed.
"Yes,prettyterrible.Nevermind,mysweet.Ithadtobedone,youknow.Allthoseoldp.u.s.s.iesknewmewhenIlivedhereasaboy.They"dhavebeenterriblydisappointednottohavegotagoodlookatyoucloseup."
Louisemadeagrimace.Shesaid,"Shallwehavetoseealotofthem?"
"What?Onno.They"llcomeandmakeceremoniouscallswithcardcases,andyou"llreturnthecallsandthenyouneedn"tbotheranymore.Youcanhaveyourownfriendsdownorwhateveryoulike."
Louisesaid,afteraminuteortwo,"Isn"tthereanyoneamusinglivingdownhere?"
"Ohyes.There"stheCounty,youknow.Thoughyoumayfindthemabitdulltoo.Mostlyinterestedinbulbsanddogsandhorses.You"llride,ofcourse.You"llenjoythat.There"sahorseoveratEglintonI"dlikeyoutosee.Abeautifulanimal,perfectlytrained,noviceinhim,butplentyofspirit."
ThecarsloweddowntotaketheturnintothegatesofKingsdean.Harrywrenchedthewheelandsworeasagrotesquefiguresprangupinthemiddleoftheroadandheonlyjustmanagedtoavoidit.Itstoodthere,shakingafistandshoutingafterthem.
Louiseclutchedhisarm."Who"sthat-thathorribleoldwoman?"
Harry"sbrowwasblack.
"That"soldMurgatroyd.Sheandherhusbandwerecaretakersintheoldhouse.Theyweretherefornearlythirtyyears."
"Whydoessheshakeherfistatyou?"
Harry"sfacegotred.
"She-well,sheresentedthehousebeingpulleddown.Andshegotthesack,ofcourse.Herhusband"sbeendeadtwoyears.Theysayshegotabitqueerafterhedied."
"Isshe-sheisn"t-starving?"
Louise"sideaswerevagueandsomewhatmelodramatic.Richespreventedyoufromcomingintocontactwithreality.
Harrywasoutraged."GoodLord,Louise,whatanidea.Ipensionedheroff,ofcourse-andhandsomelytoo!Foundheranewcottageandeverything."
Louiseasked,bewildered,"Thenwhydoesshemind?"
Harrywasfrowning,hisbrowsdrawntogether."Oh,howshouldIknow?Craziness!Shelovedthehouse."
"But.i.twasaruin,wasn"t.i.t?"
"Ofcourseitwas-crumblingtopieces-roofleaking-moreorlessunsafe.Allthesame,Isupposeitmeantsomethingtoher.She"dbeentherealongtime.Oh,Idon"tknow!Theolddevil"scracked,Ithink."
Louisesaiduneasily,"She-Ithinkshecursedus.Oh,Harry,Iwishshehadn"t."
ItseemedtoLouisethathernewhomewastaintedandpoisonedbythemalevolentfigureofonecrazyoldwoman.Whenshewentoutinthecar,whensherode,whenshewalkedoutwiththedogs,therewasalwaysthesamefigurewaiting.Croucheddownonherself,abatteredhatoverwispsofiron-greyhair,andtheslowmutteringofimprecations.
LouisecametobelievethatHarrywasright-theoldwomanwasmad.Nevertheless,thatdidnotmakethingseasier.MrsMurgatroydneveractuallycametothehouse,nordidsheusedefinitethreats,norofferviolence.Hersquattingfigureremainedalwaysjustoutsidethegates.Toappealtothepolicewouldhavebeenuselessand,inanycase,HarryLaxtonwasaversetothatcourseofaction.Itwould,hesaid,arouselocalsympathyfortheoldbrute.HetookthemattermoreeasilythanLouisedid.
"Don"tworryabout.i.t,darling.She"llgettiredofthissillycursingbusiness.Probablyshe"sonlytryingiton."
"Sheisn"t,Harry.She-shehatesus!Icanfeelit.She-she"sill-wishingus!"
"She"snotawitch,darling,althoughshemaylooklikeone!Don"tbemorbidabout.i.tall."
Louisewa.s.silent.Nowthatthefirstexcitementofsettlinginwasover,shefeltcuriouslylonelyandatalooseend.ShehadbeenusedtolifeinLondonandtheRiviera.ShehadnoknowledgeofortasteforEnglishcountrylife.Shewasignorantofgardening,exceptforthefinalactof"doingtheflowers."Shedidnotreallycarefordogs.Shewasboredbysuchneighboursa.s.shemet.Sheenjoyedridingbest,sometimeswithHarry,sometimes,whenhewasbusyabouttheestate,byherself.Shehackedthroughthewoodsandlanes,enjoyingtheeasypacesofthebeautifulhorsethatHarryhadboughtforher.YetevenPrinceHal,mostsensitiveofchestnutsteeds,waswonttoshyandsnortashecarriedhismistresspastthathuddledfigureofamalevolentoldwoman.
OnedayLouisetookhercourageinbothhands.Shewasoutwalking.Shehadpa.s.sedMrsMurgatroyd,pretendingnottonoticeher,butsuddenlysheswervedbackandwentrightuptoher.Shesaid,alittlebreathlessly,"Whatisit?What"sthematter?Whatdoyouwant?"
Theoldwomanblinkedather.Shehadacunning,darkgypsyface,withwispsofiron-greyhair,andbleared,suspiciouseyes.Louisewonderedifshedrank.