He"senjoyinghimself,thoughtMolly.He"senjoyinghimself.

Inthebigroomthesoft,mutednoteshada.n.a.lmosteerieeffect.

"Thankyou,MrParavicini,"saidSergeantTrotter."That,Itakeit,is.e.xactlyhowyouplayedthetuneonthe-formeroccasion?"

"Yes,Sergeant,itis.Irepeateditthreetimes."

SergeantTrotterturnedtoMolly."Doyouplaythepiano,MrsDavis?"

"Yes,SergeantTrotter."

"Couldyoupickoutthetune,asMrParavicinihasdone,playingitinexactlythesamemanner?"

"CertainlyIcould."

"Thenw.i.l.l.yougoandsitatthepianoandbereadytodosowhenIgivethesignal?"

Mollylookedslightlybewildered.Thenshecrossedslowlytothepiano.

MrParavicinirosefromthepianostoolwithashrillprotest."But,Sergeant,Iunderstoodthatwewereeachtorepeatourformerroles.Iwasatthepianohere."

"Thesameactionswillbeperformedasontheformeroccasion-b.u.t.theywillnotnecessarilybeperformedbythesamepeople."

"I-don"tseethepointofthat,"saidGiles.

"Thereisapoint,MrDavis.Itisameansofcheckingupontheoriginalstatements-andImaysayofonestatementinparticular.Now,then,please.Iwilla.s.signyouyourvariousstations.MrsDaviswillbehere-atthepiano.MrWren,w.i.l.l.youkindlygotothekitchen?JustkeepaneyeonMrsDavis"sdinner.MrParavicini,w.i.l.l.yougotoMrWren"sbedroom?Thereyoucanexerciseyourmusicaltalentsbywhistling"ThreeBlindMice"justashedid.MajorMetcalf,w.i.l.l.yougouptoMrDavis"sbedroomandexaminethetelephonethere?Andyou,MrDavis,w.i.l.l.youlookintothecupboardinthehallandthenG.o.downtothecellar?"

Therewasamoment"ssilence.Thenfourpeoplemovedslowlytowardthedoor.Trotterfollowedthem.Helookedoverhisshoulder.

"Countuptofiftyandthenbegintoplay,MrsDavis,"hesaid.

Hefollowedtheothersout.BeforethedoorclosedMollyheardMrParavicini"svoicesayshrilly,"Ineverknewthepoliceweresofondofparlorgames."

"Forty-eight,forty-nine,fifty."

Obediently,thecountingfinished,Mollybegantoplay.Againthesoftcruellittletunecreptoutintothebig,echoingroom.

ThreeBlindMiceSeehowtheyrun...

Mollyfeltherheartbeatingfasterandfaster.AsParavicinihadsaid,itwasastrangelyhauntingandgruesomelittlerhyme.Ithadthatchildishincomprehensionofpitywhichissoterrifyingifmetwithinanadult.

Veryfaintly,fromupstairs.shecouldhearthesametunebeingwhistledinthebedroomabove-ParavicinienactingthepartofChristopherWren.

Suddenly,nextdoor,thewirelesswentoninthelibrary.SergeantTrottermusthavesetthatgoing.Hehimself,then,wasplayingthepartofMrsBoyle.

Butwhy?Whatwasthepointofitall?Wherewasthetrap?Fortherewasatrap,ofthatshewascertain.

Adraftofcoldairblewacrossthebackofherneck.Sheturnedherheadsharply.Surelythedoorhadopened.Someonehadcomeintotheroom-No,theroomwasempty.Butsuddenlyshefeltnervous-afraid.Ifsomeoneshouldcomein.SupposingMrParavicinishouldskiproundthedoor,shouldcomeskippingovertothepiano,hislongfingerstwitchingandtwisting- "Soyouareplayingyourownfuneralmarch,dearlady,ahappythought-"Nonsense-don"tbestupid-don"timaginethings.Besides,youcanhearhimwhistlingoveryourhead,justashecanhearyou.

Shealmosttookherfingersoffthepianoastheideacametoher!n.o.bodyhadheardMrParaviciniplaying.Wasthatthetrap?Wasit,perhaps,possiblethatMrParavicinihadn"tbeenplayingatall?Thathehadbeen,notinthedrawing-room,butinthelibrary.Inthelibrary,stranglingMrsBoyle?Hehadbeenannoyed,veryannoyed,whenTrotterhadarrangedforhertoplay.Hehadlaidstressonthesoftnesswithwhichhehadpickedoutthetune.Ofcourse,hehademphasizedthesoftnessinthehopesthat.i.twouldbetoosofttobeheardoutsidetheroom.Becauseifanyonehearditthistimewhohadn"thearditlasttime-whythen,Trotterwouldhavegotwhathewanted-thepersonwhohadlied.

Thedoorofthedrawing-roomopened.Molly,strunguptoexpectParavicini,nearlyscreamed.But.i.twasonlySergeantTrotterwhoentered,justa.s.shefinishedthethirdrepet.i.tionofthetune.

"Thankyou,MrsDavis,"hesaid.

Hewaslookingextremelypleasedwithhimself,andhismannerwasbriskandconfident.

Mollytookherhandsfromthekeys."Haveyougotwhatyouwanted?"sheasked.

"Yes,indeed."Hisvoicewas.e.xultant."I"vegotexactlywhatIwanted."

"Which?Who?"

"Don"tyouknow,MrsDavis?Come,now-it"snotsodifficult.Bytheway,you"vebeen,ifImaysayso,extraordinarilyfoolish.You"veleftmehuntingaboutforthethirdvictim.Asaresult,you"vebeeninseriousdanger."

"Me?Idon"tknowwhatyoumean."

"Imeanthatyouhaven"tbeenhonestwithme,MrsDavis.Youheldoutonme-justasMrsBoyleheldoutonme."

"Idon"tunderstand."

"Oh,yes,youdo.Why,whenIfirstmentionedtheLongridgeFarmcase,youknewallabout.i.t.Oh,yes,youdid.Youwereupset.AnditwasyouwhoconfirmedthatMrsBoylewasthebilletingofficerforthispartofthecountry.Bothyouandshecamefromtheseparts.SowhenIbegantospeculatewhothethirdvictimwaslikelytobe,Iplumpedatonceforyou.You"dshownfirsthandknowledgeoftheLongridgeFarmbusiness.Wepolicemenaren"tsodumbaswelook,youknow."

Mollysaidinalowvoice,"Youdon"tunderstand.Ididn"twanttoremember."

"Icanunderstandthat."Hisvoicechangedalittle."YourmaidennamewasWainwright,wasn"t.i.t?"

"Yes."

"Andyou"rejustalittleolderthanyoupretendtobe.In1940,whenthisthinghappened,youweretheschoolteacheratAbbeyvaleschool."

"No!"

"Oh,yes,youwere,MrsDavis."

"Iwasn"t,Itellyou."

"Thechildwhodiedmanagedtogetaletterpostedtoyou.Hestoleastamp.Theletterbeggedforhelp-helpfromhiskindteacher.It"sateacher"sbusinesstofindoutwhyachilddoesn"tcometoschool.Youdidn"tfindout.Youignoredthepoorlittledevil"sletter."

"Stop."Molly"scheekswereflaming."It"smysisteryouaretalkingabout.Shewastheschoolmistress.Andshedidn"tignorehisletter.Shewasill-withpneumonia.Sheneversawtheletteruntilafterthechildwasdead.Itupsetherdreadfully-dreadfully-shewasaterriblysensitiveperson.But.i.twasn"therfault.It"sbecauseshetookittoheartsodreadfullythatI"veneverbeenabletobearbeingremindedofit.It"sbeenanightmaretome,always."

Molly"shandswenttohereyes,coveringthem.Whenshetookthemaway,Trotterwa.s.staringather.

Hesaidsoftly,"Soitwasyoursister.Well,afterall-"Hegaveasuddenqueersmile."Itdoesn"tmuchmatter,doesit?Yoursister-mybrother-"

Hetooksomethingoutofhispocket.Hewa.s.smilingnow,happily.

Mollystaredattheobjectheheld."Ialwaysthoughtthepolicedidn"tcarryrevolvers,"shesaid.

"Thepolicedon"t,"saidtheyoungman.Hewenton,"Butyousee,MrsDavis,I"mnotapoliceman.I"mJim.I"mGeorgie"sbrother.YouthoughtIwasapolicemanbecauseIrangupfromthecallboxinthevillageandsaidthatSergeantTrotterwasonhisway.ThenIcutthetelephonewiresoutsidethehousewhenIgothere,sothatyoushouldn"tbeabletoringbacktothepolicestation."

Mollystaredathim.Therevolverwaspointingathernow.

"Don"tmove,MrsDavis-anddon"tscream-orIpullthetriggeratonce."

Hewa.s.stillsmiling.Itwas,Mollyrealizedwithhorror,achild"ssmile.Andhisvoice,whenhespoke,wasbecomingachild"svoice.

"Yes,"hesaid,"I"mGeorgie"sbrother.GeorgiediedatLongridgeFarm.Thatnastywomansentusthere,andthefarmer"swifewascrueltous,andyouwouldn"thelpus-threelittleblindmice.IsaidthenI"dkillyouallwhenIgrewup.Imeant.i.t.I"vethoughtofiteversince."Hefrownedsuddenly."Theybotheredmealotinthearmy-thatdoctorkeptaskingmequestions-Ihadtogetaway.Iwasafraidthey"dstopmedoingwhatIwantedtodo.ButI"mgrownupnow.Grown-upscandowhattheylike."

Mollypulledherselftogether.Talktohim,shesaidtoherself.Distracthismind.

"But,Jim,listen."shesaid."You"llnevergetsafelyaway."

Hisfacecloudedover."Somebody"shiddenmyskis.Ican"tfindthem."Helaughed."ButIdaresayitwillbeallright.It"syourhusband"srevolver.Itookitoutofhisdrawer.Idaresaythey"llthinkheshotyou.Anyway-Idon"tmuchcare.It"sbeensuchfun-allofitPretending!ThatwomaninLondon,herfacewhensherecognizedme.Thatstupidwomanthismorning!"

Henoddedhishead.

Clearly,witheerieeffect,cameawhistle.Someonewhistlingthetuneof"ThreeBlindMice."

Trotterstarted,therevolverwavered-avoiceshouted,"Down,MrsDavis."

MollydroppedtothefloorasMajorMetcalf,risingfrombehindtheconcealmentofthesofabythedoorflunghimselfuponTrotter.Therevolverwentoff-andthebulletlodgedinoneofthesomewhatmediocreoilpaintingsdeartotheheartofthelateMissEmory.

Amomentlater,allwaspandemonium-Gilesrushedin,followedbyChristopherandMrParavicini.

MajorMetcalf,retaininghisgraspofTrotter,spokeinshortexplosivesentences.

"Cameinwhileyouwereplaying-slippedbehindthesofa-I"vebeenontohimfromthebeginning-that"stosay,Iknewhewasn"tapoliceofficer.I"mapoliceofficer-InspectorTanner.WearrangedwithMetcalfIshouldtakehisplace.ScotlandYardthought.i.tadvisabletohavesomeoneonthespot.Now,mylad-"HespokequitegentlytothenowdocileTrotter."Youcomewithme.Noonewillhurtyou.You"llbeallright.We"lllookafteryou."

Inapiteouschild"svoicethebronzedyoungmanasked,"Georgiewon"tbeangrywithme?"

Metcalfsaid,"No.Georgiewon"tbeangry."

HemurmuredtoGilesashepa.s.sedhim,"Madasahatter,poordevil."

Theywentouttogether.MrParavicinitouchedChristopherWrenonthearm.

"You,also,myfriend,"hesaid,"comewithme."

GilesandMolly,leftalone,lookedateachother.Inanothermomenttheywereineachother"sarms.

"Darling,"saidGiles,"you"resurehedidn"thurtyou?"

"No,no,I"mquiteallright.Giles,I"vebeensoterriblymixedup.Ialmostthoughtyou-whydidyougotoLondonthatday?"

"Darling,Iwantedtogetyouananniversarypresent,fortomorrow.Ididn"twantyoutoknow."

"Howextraordinary!IwenttoLondontogetyouapresentandIdidn"twantyoutoknow."

"Iwasinsanelyjealousofthatneurotica.s.s.Imusthavebeenmad.Forgiveme,darling."

Thedooropened,andMrParaviciniskippedininhisgoatlikeway.Hewasbeaming.

"Interruptingthereconciliation-Suchacharmingscene-But,alas,Imustbidyouadieu.Apolicejeephasmanagedtogetthrough.Ishallpersuadethemtotakemewiththem."HebentandwhisperedmysteriouslyinMolly"sear,"Imayhaveafewembarra.s.smentsinthenearfuture-butIamconfidentIcanarrangematters,andifyoushouldreceiveacase-withagoose,say,aturkey,sometinsoffoiegras,aham-somenylonstockings,yes?Well,youunderstand,itwillbewithmycomplimentstoaverycharminglady.MrDavis,mycheckisonthehalltable."

HekissedMolly"shandandskippedtothedoor.

"Nylons?"murmuredMolly,"Foiegras?WhoisMrParavicini?SantaClaus?"

"Black-marketstyle,Isuspect,"saidGiles.

ChristopherWrenpokedadiffidentheadin."Mydears,"hesaid,"IhopeI"mnotintruding,b.u.t.there"saterriblesmellofburningfromthekitchen.Ought.i.todosomethingabout.i.t?"

Withananguishedcryof"Mypie!"Mollyfledfromtheroom.

StrangeJest

"Andthis,"saidJaneHelier,completingherintroductions,"isMissMarple!"

Beinganactress,shewasabletomakeherpoint.Itwasclearlytheclimax,thetriumphantfinale!Hertonewasequallycompoundedofreverentaweandtriumph.

Theoddpartofitwasthattheobjectthusproudlyproclaimedwasmerelyagentleelderlyspinster.Intheeyesofthetwoyoungpeoplewhohadjust,byJane"sgoodoffices,madeheracquaintance,thereshowedincredulityandatingeofdismay.Theywerenice-lookingpeople-thegirl,Charmian-slimanddark;theman,EdwardRossiter,afair-haired,amiableyounggiant.

Charmiansaid,alittlebreathlessly,"Oh,we"reawfullypleasedtomeetyou."b.u.t.therewas...o...b..inhereyes.Sheflungaquick,questioningglanceatJaneHelier.

"Darling,"saidJane,answeringtheglance,"she"sabsolutelymarvellous.Leaveittoher.ItoldyouI"dgetherhereandIhave."SheaddedtoMissMarple:"You"llfixitforthem,Iknow.Itwillbeeasyforyou."

MissMarpleturnedherplacid,china-blueeyestowardMrRossiter."Won"tyoutellme,"shesaid,"whatallthisisabout?"

"Jane"safriendofours,"Charmianbrokeinimpatiently."EdwardandIareinratherafix.Janesaidifwewouldcometoherparty,she"dintroduceustosomeonewhowas-whowould-whocould-"

Edwardcametotherescue."Janetellsusyou"rethelastwordinsleuths,MissMarple!"

Theoldlady"seyestwinkled,butsheprotestedmodestly:"Ohno,no!Nothingofthekind.It"sjustthatlivinginavillageasIdo,onegetstoknowsomuchabouthumannature.Butreallyyouhavemademequitecurious.Dotellmeyourproblem."

"I"mafraidit"sterriblyhackneyed-justburiedtreasure,"saidEdward.

"Indeed?b.u.t.thatsoundsmostexciting!"

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