"IntotheHarrowRoad,thatwas,anditdidn"tseemaswe"dcatchupwithhimthere,nottherate"ewasgoing,and,anyway,bythenitwasabitlate-itwasonlyalittlebook,notawalletoranythinglikethat-maybeitwasn"timportant."Funnybloke,"Isays."Hishatpulleddownoverhiseyes,andallb.u.t.tonedup-likeacrookonthepictures,"IsaystoBill,didn"tI,Bill?"
"That"swhatyousaid,"agreedBill.
"FunnyIshouldhavesaidthat,notthat.i.thoughtanythingatthetime.Justinahurrytogethome,that"swhat.i.thought,andIdidn"tblame"im.Not"arfcold,itwas!"
"Not"arf,"agreedBill.
"SoIsaystoBill,"Let"s"avealookatthislittlebookandseeifit"simportant."Well,sir,Itookalook."Onlyacoupleofaddresses,"IsaystoBill.Seventy-FourCulverStreetandsomeblinkingmanor"ouse."
"Ritzy,"saidBillwithasnortofdisapproval.
Joecontinuedhistalewithacertaingustonowthathehadgotwoundup.
""Seventy-FourCulverStreet,"IsaystoBill."That"sjustroundthecornerfrom"ere.Whenweknockoff,we"lltakeitround"-andthenIseessomethingwrittenacrossthetopofthepage."What"sthis?"IsaystoBill.Andhetakesitandreadsitout.""Threeblindmice"-mustbeoff"isKnocker,"hesays-andjustatthatverymoment-yes,itwasthatverymoment,sir,we"earssomewomanyelling,"Murder!"acoupleofstreetsaway!"
Joepausedatthisartisticclimax.
"Didn"thalfyell,didshe?"heresumed.""Here,"IsaystoBill,"younipalong."Andbyandbyhecomesbackandsaysthere"sabigcrowdandthepolicearethereandsomewoman"shadherthroatcutorbeenstrangledandthatwasthelandladywhofoundher,yellingforthepolice."Wherewasit?"Isaystohim."InCulverStreet,"hesays."Whatnumber?"Iasks,andhesayshedidn"trightlynotice."
Billcoughedandshuffledhisfeetwithth.e.s.h.eepishairofonewhohasnotdonehimselfjustice.
"SoIsays,"We"llniparoundandmakesure,"andwhenwefindsit"snumberseventy-fourwetalkeditover,and"Maybe,"Billsays,"theaddressinthenotebook"sgotnothingtodowithit,"andIsaysasmaybeithas,and,anyway,afterwe"vetalkeditoverandheardthepolicewanttointerviewamanwholeftthe"ouseaboutthattime,well,wecomealong"ereandaskifwecanseethegentlemanwho"shandlingthecase,andI"msureI"opeaswearen"twastingyourtime."
"Youactedveryproperly,"saidParminterapprovingly."You"vebroughtthenotebookwithyou?Thankyou.Now-"
Hisquestionsbecamebriskandprofessional.Hegotplaces,times,dates-theonlythinghedidnotgetwasadescriptionofthemanwhohaddroppedthenotebook.Insteadhegotthesamedescriptionashehadalreadygotfromahystericallandlady,thedescriptionofahatpulleddownovertheeyes,ab.u.t.toned-upcoat,am.u.f.flerswathedroundthelowerpartofaface,avoicethatwasonlyawhisper,glovedhands.
Whenthemenhadgoneheremainedstaringdownatthelittlebooklyingopenonhistable.Presentlyitwouldgototheappropriatedepartmenttoseewhatevidence,ifany,offingerprintsitmightreveal.Butnowhisattentionwasheldbythetwoaddressesandbythelineofsmallhandwritingalongthetopofthepage.
Heturnedhisheada.s.sergeantKanecameintotheroom.
"Comehere,Kane.Lookatthis."
Kanestoodbehindhimandletoutalowwhistleashereadout,""ThreeBlindMice!"Well,I"mdashed!"
"Yes."Parminteropenedadrawerandtookoutahalfsheetofnotepaperwhichhelaidbesidethenotebookonhisdesk.Ithadbeenfoundpinnedcarefullytothemurderedwoman.
Onitwaswritten,Thisisthefirst.Belowwasachildishdrawingofthreemiceandabarofmusic.
Kanewhistledthetunesoftly.ThreeBlindMice,Seehowtheyrun- "That"sit,allright.That"sthesignaturetune."
"Crazy,isn"t.i.t,sir?"
"Yes."Parminterfrowned."Theidentificationofthewomanisquitecertain?"
"Yes,sir.Here"sthereportfromthefingerprintsdepartment.MrsLyon,a.s.shecalledherself,wasreallyMaureenGregg.ShewasreleasedfromHollowaytwomonthsagooncompletionofhersentence."
Parmintersaidthoughtfully,"ShewenttoSeventy-FourCulverStreetcallingherselfMaureenLyon.Sheoccasionallydrankabitandshehadbeenknowntobringamanhomewithheronceortwice.Shedisplayednofearofanythingoranyone.There"snoreasontobelieveshethoughtherselfinanydanger.Thismanringsthebell,asksforher,andistoldbythelandladytogouptothesecondfloor.Shecan"tdescribehim,saysonlythathewasofmediumheightandseemedtohaveabadcoldandlosthisvoice.Shewentbackagaintothebas.e.m.e.ntandheardnothingofasuspiciousnature.Shedidnothearthemangoout.Tenminutesorsolatershetookteatoherlodgeranddiscoveredherstrangled."
"Thiswasn"tacasualmurder,Kane.Itwascarefullyplanned."
Hepausedandthenaddedabruptly,"IwonderhowmanyhousesthereareinEnglandcalledMonkswellManor?"
"Theremightbeonlyone,sir."
"Thatwouldprobablybetoomuchluck.Butgetonwithit.There"snotimetolose."
Thesergeant"seyerestedappreciativelyontwoentriesinthenotebook-74CulverStreet;MonkswellManor.Hesaid,"Soyouthink-"
Parmintersaidswiftly,"Yes.Don"tyou?"
"Couldbe.MonkswellManor-nowwhere-Doyouknow,sir,IcouldswearI"veseenthatnamequitelately."
"Where?"
"That"swhatI"mtryingtoremember.Waitaminute-Newspaper-Times.Backpage.Waitaminute-Hotelsandboarding-houses-Halfasec,sir-it"sanoldone.Iwasdoingthecrossword."
Hehurriedoutoftheroomandreturnedintriumph,"Hereyouare,sir,look."
Theinspectorfollowedthepointingfinger.
"MonkswellManor,Harpleden,Berks."Hedrewthetelephonetowardhim."GetmetheBerkshireCountypolice."
WiththearrivalofMajorMetcalf,MonkswellManorsettledintoitsroutineasagoingconcern.MajorMetcalfwasneitherformidablelikeMrsBoyle,norerraticlikeChristopherWren.Hewasastolid,middle-agedmanofsprucemilitaryappearance,whohaddonemostofhisserviceinIndia.Heappearedsatisfiedwithhisroomanditsfurniture,andwhileheandMrsBoyledidnotactuallyfindmutualfriends,hehadknowncousinsoffriendsofhers-"theYorkshirebranch,"outinPoonah.Hisluggage,however,twoheavypigskincases,satisfiedevenGiles"ssuspiciousnature.
Truthtotell,MollyandGilesdidnothavemuchtimeforspeculatingabouttheirguests.Betweenthem,dinnerwascooked,served,eaten,andwashedupsatisfactorily.MajorMetcalfpraisedthecoffee,andGilesandMollyretiredtobed,tiredb.u.t.triumphant-toberousedabouttwointhemorningbythepersistentringingofabell.
"d.a.m.n,"saidGiles."It"sthefrontdoor.Whatonearth-"
"Hurryup,"saidMolly."Goandsee."
Castingareproachfulglanceather,Gileswrappedhisdressing-gownroundhimanddescendedthestairs.Mollyheardtheboltsbeingdrawnbackandamurmurofvoicesinthehall.Presently,drivenbycuriosity,shecreptoutofbedandwenttopeepfromthetopofthestairs.Inthehallbelow,Gileswasa.s.sistingabeardedstrangeroutofasnow-coveredovercoat.Fragmentsofconversationfloateduptoher.
"Brrr."Itwasanexplosiveforeignsound."MyfingersaresocoldIcannotfeelthem.Andmyfeet-"Astampingsoundwasheard.
"Comeinhere."Gilesthrewopenthelibrarydoor."It"swarm.You"dbetterwaitherewhileIgetaroomready."
"Iamindeedfortunate,"saidthestrangerpolitely.
Mollypeeredinquisitivelythroughthebanisters.ShesawanelderlymanwithasmallblackbeardandMephistopheleaneyebrows.Amanwh.o.m.ovedwithayoungandjauntystepinspiteofthegrayathistemples.
Gilesshutthelibrarydooronhimandcamequicklyupthestairs.Mollyrosefromhercrouchingposition.
"Whoisit?"shedemanded.
Gilesgrinned."Anotherguestfortheguesthouse.Caroverturnedinasnowdrift.Hegothimselfoutandwasmakinghiswayasbesthecould-it"sahowlingblizzardstill,listentoit-alongtheroadwhenhesawourboard.Hesaiditwaslikeananswertoprayer."
"Youthinkhe"s-allright?"
"Darling,thisisn"tthesortofnightforahousebreakertobedoinghisrounds."
"He"saforeigner,isn"the?"
"Yes.Hisname"sParavicini.Isawhiswallet-Iratherthinkheshoweditonpurpose-simplycrammedwithnotes.Whichroomshallwegivehim?"
"Thegreenroom.It"salltidyandready.We"lljusthavetomakeupthebed."
"IsupposeI"llhavetolendhimpajamas.Allhisthingsareinthecar.Hesaidhehadtoclimboutthroughthewindow."
Mollyfetchedsheets,pillowcases,andtowels.
Astheyhurriedlymadethebedup,Gilessaid,"It"scomingdownthick.We"regoingtobesnowedup,Molly,completelycutoff.Ratherexcitinginaway,isn"t.i.t?"
"Idon"tknow,"saidMollydoubtfully."DoyouthinkIcanmakesodabread,Giles?"
"Ofcourseyoucan.Youcanmakeanything,"saidherloyalhusband.
"I"venevertriedtomakebread.It"sthesortofthingonetakesforgranted.Itmaybeneworitmaybestalebut.i.t"sjustsomethingthebakerbrings.Butifwe"resnoweduptherewon"tbeabaker."
"Norabutcher,norapostman.Nonewspapers.Andprobablynotelephone."
"Justthewirelesstellinguswhattodo?"
"Atanyratewemakeourownelectriclight."
"Youmustruntheengineagaintomorrow.Andwemustkeepthecentralheatingwellstoked."
"Isupposeournextlotofc.o.kewon"tcomeinnow.We"reverylow."
"Oh,bother.Giles,Ifeelweareinforasimplyfrightfultime.HurryupandgetPara-whateverhisnameis.I"llgobacktobed."
MorningbroughtconfirmationofGiles"sforebodings.Snowwaspiledfivefeethigh,driftingupagainstthedoorsandwindows.Outsideitwa.s.stillsnowing.Theworldwaswhite,silent,and-insomesubtleway-menacing.
MrsBoylesatatbreakfast.Therewasnooneelseinthedining-room.Attheadjoiningtable,MajorMetcalf"splacehadbeenclearedaway.MrWren"stablewa.s.stilllaidforbreakfast.Oneearlyriser,presumably,andonelateone.MrsBoyleherselfknewdefinitelythattherewasonlyonepropertimeforbreakfast,nineo"clock.
MrsBoylehadfinishedherexcellentomeletteandwaschampingtoastbetweenherstrongwhiteteeth.Shewasinagrudgingandundecidedmood.MonkswellManorwasnotatallwhatshehadimagineditwouldbe.Shehadhopedforbridge,forfadedspinsterswhomshecouldimpresswithhersocialpositionandconnections,andtowhomshecouldhintattheimportanceandsecrecyofherwa.r.s.ervice.
TheendofthewarhadleftMrsBoylemarooned,asitwere,onadesertsh.o.r.e.Shehadalwaysbeenabusywoman,talkingfluentlyofefficiencyandorganization.Hervigoranddrivehadpreventedpeopleaskingwhethershewas,indeed,agoodorefficientorganizer.
Waractivitieshadsuitedherdowntotheground.Shehadbossedpeopleandbulliedpeopleandworriedheadsofdepartmentsand,togiveherherdue,hadatnotimesparedherself.Subservientwomenhadruntoandfro,terrifiedofherslightestfrown.Andnowallthatexcitinghustlinglifewasover.Shewasbackinprivatelife,andherformerprivatelifehadvanished.
Herhouse,whichhadbeenrequisitionedbythearmy,neededthoroughrepairingandredecoratingbeforeshecouldreturntoit,andthedifficultiesofdomestichelpmadeareturntoitimpracticableinanycase.Herfriendswerelargelyscatteredanddispersed.
Presently,nodoubt,shewouldfindherniche,butatthemoment.i.twasacaseofmarkingtime.Ahoteloraboarding-houseseemedtheanswer.AndshehadchosentocometoMonkswellManor.
Shelookedroundherdisparagingly.
Mostdishonest,shesaidtoherself,nottohavetoldmetheywereonlyjuststarting.
Shepushedherplatefartherawayfromher.Thefactthatherbreakfasthadbeenexcellentlycookedandserved,withgoodcoffeeandhomemademarmalade,inacuriouswayannoyedherstillmore.Ithaddeprivedherofalegitimatecauseofcomplaint.Herbed,too,hadbeencomfortable,withembroideredsheetsandasoftpillow.MrsBoylelikedcomfort,butshealsolikedtofindfault.Thelatterwas,perhaps,thestrongerpa.s.sionofthetwo.
Risingmajestically,MrsBoyleleftthedining-room,pa.s.singinthedoorwaythatveryextraordinaryyoungmanwiththeredhair.Hewaswearingthismorningacheckedtieofvirulentgreen-awoollentie.
Preposterous,saidMrsBoyletoherself.Quitepreposterous.
Thewayhelookedather,too,sidewaysoutofthosepaleeyesofhis-shedidn"tlikeit.Therewa.s.somethingupsetting-unusual-aboutthatfaintlymockingglance.
Unbalancedmentally,Ishouldn"twonder,saidMrsBoyletoherself.
Sheacknowledgedhisflamboyantbowwithaslightinclinationofherheadandmarchedintothebigdrawing-room.Comfortablechairshere,particularlythelargerose-coloredone.Shehadbettermakeitclearthatthatwastobeherchair.Shedepositedherknittingonitasaprecautionandwalkedoverandlaidahandontheradiators.a.s.shehadsuspected,theywereonlywarm,nothot.MrsBoyle"seyegleamedmilitantly.Shecouldhavesomethingtosayaboutthat.
Sheglancedoutofthewindow.Dreadfulweather-quitedreadful.Well,shewouldn"tstayherelong-notunlessmorepeoplecameandmadetheplaceamusing.
Somesnowslidofftheroofwithasoftwhooshingsound.MrsBoylejumped."No,"shesaidoutloud."Ishan"tstayherelong."
Somebodylaughed-afaint,highchuckle.Sheturnedherheadsharply.YoungWrenwa.s.standinginthedoorwaylookingatherwiththatcurious.e.xpressionofhis.
"No,"hesaid."Idon"tsupposeyouwill."
MajorMetcalfwashelpingGilestoshovelawaysnowfromthebackdoor.Hewasagoodworker,andGileswasquitevociferousinhis.e.xpressionsofgrat.i.tude.
"Goodexercise,"saidMajorMetcalf."Mustgetexerciseeveryday.Gottokeepfit,youknow."
Sothemajorwasanexercisefiend.Gileshadfearedasmuch.Itwentwithhisdemandforbreakfastathalfpastseven.
AsthoughreadingGiles"sthoughts,themajorsaid,"Verygoodofyourmissustocookmeanearlybreakfast.Nicetogetanew-laidegg,too."
Gileshadrisenhimselfbeforeseven,owingtotheexigenciesofhotel-keeping.HeandMollyhadhadboiledeggsandteaandhadsettoonthesitting-rooms.Everythingwa.s.spick-and-span.Gilescouldnothelpthinkingthatifhehadbeenaguestinhisownestablishment,nothingwouldhavedraggedhimoutofbedonamorningsuchasthisuntilthelastpossiblemoment.
Themajor,however,hadbeenupandbreakfasted,androamedaboutthehouse,apparentlyfullofenergyseekinganoutlet.
Well,thoughtGiles,there"splentyofsnowtoshovel.
Hethrewasidewaysglanceathiscompanion.Notaneasymantoplace,really.Hard-bitten,wellovermiddleage,somethingqueerlywatchfulabouttheeyes.Amanwhowasgivingnothingaway.GileswonderedwhyhehadcometoMonkswellManor.
Demobilized,probably,andnojobtogoto.
MrParavicinicamedownlate.Hehadcoffeeandapieceoftoast-afrugalContinentalbreakfast.
HesomewhatdisconcertedMollywhenshebrought.i.ttohimbyrisingtohisfeet,bowinginanexaggeratedmanner,andexclaiming,"Mycharminghostess?Iamright,amInot?"
Mollyadmittedrathershortlythathewasright.Shewasinnomoodforcomplimentsatthishour.
"Andwhy,"shesaid,a.s.shepiledcrockeryrecklesslyinthesink,"everybodyhastohavetheirbreakfastatadifferenttime-It"sabithard."
Sheslungtheplatesintotherackandhurriedupstairstodealwiththebeds.Shecouldexpectnoa.s.sistancefromGilesthismorning.Hehadtoclearawaytotheboilerhouseandtothehenhouse.
Mollydidthebedsattopspeedandadmittedlyinthemostslovenlymanner,smoothingsheetsandpullingthemupasfasta.s.shecould.