"Iknow.LikeTreasureIsland.Butourproblemlackstheusualromantictouches.Nopointonachartindicatedbyaskullandcrossbones,nodirectionslike"fourpacestotheleft,westbynorth."It"shorriblyprosaic-justwhereweoughttodig."
"Haveyoutriedatall?"
"Ishouldsaywe"ddugabouttwosolidacres!Thewholeplaceisreadytobeturnedintoamarketgarden.We"rejustdiscussingwhethertogrowvegetablemarrowsorpotatoes."
Charmiansaid,ratherabruptly,"Maywereallytellyouallabout.i.t?"
"But,ofcourse,mydear."
"Thenlet"sfindapeacefulspot.Comeon,Edward."Sheledthewayoutoftheovercrowdedandsmoke-ladenroom,andtheywentupthestairs,toasmallsitting-roomonthesecondfloor.
Whentheywereseated,Charmianbeganabruptly."Well,heregoes!ThestorystartswithUncleMathew,uncle-orrather,great-great-uncle-tobothofus.Hewasincrediblyancient.EdwardandIwerehisonlyrelations.Hewasfondofusandalwaysdeclaredthatwhenhediedhewouldleavehismoneybetweenus.Well,hediedlastMarchandlefteverythinghehadtobedividedequallybetweenEdwardandmyself.WhatI"vejustsaidsoundsrathercallous-Idon"tmeanthat.i.twasrightthathedied-actuallywewereveryfondofhim.Buthe"dbeenillforsometime.
"Thepointisthatthe"everything"heleftturnedouttobepracticallynothingatall.Andthat,frankly,wasabitofablowtousboth,wasn"t.i.t,Edward?"
TheamiableEdwardagreed."Yousee,"hesaid,"we"dcountedonitabit.Imean,whenyouknowagoodbitofmoneyiscomingtoyou,youdon"t-well-buckledownandtrytomakeityourself.I"mintheArmy-notgotanythingtospeakofoutsidemypay-andCharmianherselfhasn"tgotabean.Sheworksasastagemanagerinarepertorytheater-quiteinterestingandsheenjoysit-butnomoneyinit.We"dcountedongettingmarriedbutweren"tworriedaboutthemoneysideofitbecausewebothknewwe"dbejollywelloffsomeday."
"Andnow,yousee,we"renot!"saidCharmian."What"smore,Ansteys-that"sthefamilyplace,andEdwardandIbothloveit-willprobablyhavetobesold.AndEdwardandIfeelwejustcan"tbearthat!Butifwedon"tfindUncleMathew"smoney,weshallhavetosell."
Edwardsaid,"Youknow,Charmian,westillhaven"tcometothevitalpoint."
"Well,youtalkthen."
EdwardturnedtoMissMarple."It"slikethis,yousee.AsUncleMathewgrewolder,hegotmoreandmoresuspicious.Hedidn"ttrustanybody."
"Verywiseofhim,"saidMissMarple."Thedepravityofhumannatureisunbelievable."
"Well,youmayberight.Anyway,UncleMathewthoughtso.Hehadafriendwholosthismoneyinabankandanotherfriendwhowasruinedbyanabscondingsolicitor,andhelostsomemoneyhimselfinafraudulentcompany.Hegotsothatheusedtoholdforthatgreatlengththattheonlysafeandsanethingtodowastoconvertyourmoneyintosolidbullionandburyit."
"Ah,"saidMissMarple."Ibegintosee."
"Yes.Friendsarguedwithhim,pointedoutthathe"dgetnointerestthatway,butheheldthatthatdidn"treallymatter.Thebulkofyourmoney,hesaid,shouldbe"keptinaboxunderthebedorburiedinthegarden."Thosewerehiswords."
Charmianwenton:"Andwhenhedied,helefthardlyanythingatallinsecurities,thoughhewasveryrich.Sowethinkthatthat"swhathemusthavedone."
Edwardexplained:"Wefoundthathehadsoldsecuritiesanddrawnoutlargesumsofmoneyfromtimetotime,andn.o.bodyknowswhathedidwiththem.But.i.tseemsprobablethatheliveduptohisprinciplesandthathedidbuygoldandburyit."
"Hedidn"tsayanythingbeforehedied?Leaveanypaper?Noletter?"
"That"sthemaddeningpartofit.Hedidn"t.He"dbeenunconsciousforsomedays,butheralliedbeforehedied.Helookedatusbothandchuckled-afaint,weaklittlechuckle.Hesaid,"You"llbeallright,myprettypairofdoves."Andthenhetappedhiseye-hisrighteye-andwinkedatus.Andthen-hedied.PooroldUncleMathew."
"Hetappedhiseye,"saidMissMarplethoughtfully.
Edwardsaideagerly,"Doesthatconveyanythingtoyou?Itmademethinkofana.r.s.eneLupinstorywheretherewa.s.somethinghiddeninaman"sgla.s.seye.ButUncleMathewdidn"thaveagla.s.seye."
MissMarpleshookherhead."No,Ican"tthinkofanythingatthemoment."
Charmiansaid,disappointedly,"Janetoldusyou"dsayatoncewheretodig!"
MissMarplesmiled."I"mnotquiteaconjurer,youknow.Ididn"tknowyouruncle,orwhatsortofmanhewas,andIdon"tknowthehouseorthegrounds."
Charmiansaid,"Ifyoudidknowthem?"
"Well,itmustbequitesimplereally,mustn"t.i.t?"saidMissMarple.
"Simple!"saidCharmian."YoucomedowntoAnsteysandseeifit"ssimple!"
Itispossiblethatshedidnotmeantheinvitationtobetakenseriously,butMissMarplesaidbriskly,"Well,really,mydear,that"sverykindofyou.I"vealwayswantedtohavethechanceoflookingforburiedtreasure.And,"sheadded,lookingatthemwithabeaming,late-Victoriansmile,"withaloveinteresttoo!"
"Yousee!"saidCharmian,gesturingdramatically.
TheyhadjustcompletedagrandtourofAnsteys.Theyhadbeenroundthekitchengarden-heavilytrenched.Theyhadbeenthroughthelittlewoods,whereeveryimportanttreehadbeenduground,andhadgazedsadlyonthepittedsurfaceoftheoncesmoothlawn.Theyhadbeenuptotheattic,whereoldtrunksandchestshadbeenrifledoftheircontents.Theyhadbeendowntothecellars,whereflagstoneshadbeenheavedunwillinglyfromtheirsockets.Theyhadmeasuredandtappedwalls,andMissMarplehadbeenshowneveryantiquepieceoffurniturethatcontainedorcouldbesuspectedofcontainingasecretdrawer.
Onatableinthemorningroomtherewasaheapofpapers-allthepapersthatthelateMathewStroudhadleft.Notonehadbeendestroyed,andCharmianandEdwardwerewonttoreturntothemagainandagain,earnestlyperusingbills,invitations,andbusinesscorrespondenceinthehopeofspottingahithertounnoticedclue.
"Canyouthinkofanywherewehaven"tlooked?"demandedCharmianhopefully.
MissMarpleshookherhead."Youseemtohavebeenverythorough,mydear.Perhaps,ifImaysayso,justalittletoothorough.Ialwaysthink,youknow,thatoneshouldhaveaplan.It"slikemyfriend,MrsEldritch;shehadsuchanicelittlemaid,polishedlinoleumbeautifully,butshewa.s.sothoroughthatshepolishedthebathroomfloorstoomuch,andasMrsEldritchwa.s.steppingoutofthebaththecorkmatslippedfromunderherandshehadaverynastyfallandactuallybrokeherleg!Mostawkward,becausethebathroomdoorwaslocked,ofcourse,andthegardenerhadtogetaladderandcomeinthroughthewindow-terriblydistressingtoMrsEldritch,whohadalwaysbeenaverymodestwoman."
Edwardmovedrestlessly.
MissMarplesaidquickly,"Pleaseforgiveme.Soapt,Iknow,toflyoffatatangent.Butonethingdoesremindoneofanother.Andsometimesthatishelpful.AllIwastryingtosaywasthatperhapsifwetriedtosharpenourwitsandthinkofalikelyplace-"
Edwardsaidcrossly,"Youthinkofone,MissMarple.Charmian"sbrainsandminearenowonlybeautifulblanks!"
"Dear,dear.Ofcourse-mosttiringforyou.Ifyoudon"tmindI"lljustlookthroughallthis."Sheindicatedthepapersonthetable."Thatis,ifthere"snothingprivate-Idon"twanttoappeartopry."
"Oh,that"sallright.ButI"mafraidyouwon"tfindanything."
Shesatdownbythetableandmethodicallyworkedthroughth.e.s.h.eafofdoc.u.ments.a.s.shereplacedeachone,shesortedthemautomaticallyintotidylittleheaps.Whenshehadfinishedshesatstaringinfrontofherforsomeminutes.
Edwardasked,notwithoutatouchofmalice,"Well,MissMarple?"
Shecametoherselfwithalittlestart."Ibegyourpardon.Mosthelpful."
"You"vefoundsomethingrelevant?"
"Ohno,nothinglikethat,butIdobelieveIknowwhatsortofmanyourUncleMathewwas.RatherlikemyownUncleHenry,Ithink.Fondofratherobviousjokes.Abachelor,evidently-Iwonderwhy-perhapsanearlydisappointment?Methodicaluptoapoint,butnotveryfondofbeingtiedup-sofewbachelorsare!"
BehindMissMarple"sbackCharmianmadeasigntoEdward.Itsaid,"She"sga-ga."
MissMarplewascontinuinghappilytotalkofherdeceasedUncleHenry."Veryfondofpuns,hewas.Andtosomepeoplepunsaremostannoying.Amereplayuponwordsmaybeveryirritating.Hewasasuspiciousmantoo.Alwayswasconvincedtheservantswererobbinghim.Andsometimes,ofcourse,theywere,butnotalways.Itgrewuponhim,poorman.Towardtheendhesuspectedthemoftamperingwithhisfoodandfinallyrefusedtoeatanythingbutboiledeggs!DearUncleHenry,heusedtobesuchamerrysoulatonetime-veryfondofhiscoffeeafterdinner.Healwaysusedtosay,"ThiscoffeeisveryMoorish,"meaning,youknow,thathe"dlikealittlemore."
EdwardfeltthatifheheardanymoreaboutUncleHenryhe"dgomad.
"Fondofyoungpeople,too,"wentonMissMarple,"butinclinedtoteasethemalittle,ifyouknowwhatImean.Usedtoputbagsofsweetswhereachildjustcouldn"treachthem."
Castingpolitenessaside,Charmiansaid,"Ithinkhesoundshorrible!"
"Ohno,dear,justanoldbachelor,youknow,andnotusedtochildren.Andhewasn"tatallstupid,really.Heusedtokeepagooddealofmoneyinthehouse,andhehadasafeputin.Madeagreatfussabout.i.t-andhowverysecureitwas.Asaresultofhistalkingsomuch,burglarsbrokeinonenightandactuallycutaholeinthesafewithachemicaldevice."
"Servedhimright,"saidEdward.
"Oh,b.u.t.therewasnothinginthesafe,"saidMissMarple."Yousee,hereallykeptthemoneysomewhereelse-behindsomevolumesofsermonsinthelibrary,asamatteroffact.Hesaidpeoplenevertookabookofthatkindoutofth.e.s.h.elf"
Edwardinterruptedexcitedly,"Isay,that"sanidea.Whataboutthelibrary?"
ButCharmianshookascornfulhead.
"DoyouthinkIhadn"tthoughtofthat?IwentthroughallthebooksTuesdayoflastweekwhenyouwentofftoPortsmouth.Tookthemallout,shookthem.Nothingthere."
Edwardsighed.Then,rousinghimself,heendeavouredtoridhimselftactfullyoftheirdisappointingguest."It"sbeenawfullygoodofyoutocomedownasyouhaveandtrytohelpus.Sorryit"sbeenallawashout.Feelwetrespa.s.sedalotonyourtime.However-I"llgetthecaroutandyou"llbeabletocatchthethree-thirty-"
"Oh,"saidMissMarple,"butwe"vegottofindthemoney,haven"twe?Youmustn"tgiveup,MrRossiter."Ifatfirstyoudon"tsucceed,try,try,tryagain.""
"Youmeanyou"regoingtogoontrying?"
"Strictlyspeaking,"saidMissMarple,"Ihaven"tbegunyet."Firstcatchyourhare,"asMrsBeetonsaysinhercookerybook-awonderfulbookb.u.t.terriblyexpensive;mostoftherecipesbegin,"Takeaquartofcreamandadozeneggs."Letmesee,wherewasI?Ohyes.Well,wehave,sotospeak,caughtourhare-theharebeing,ofcourse,yourUncleMathew,andwe"veonlygottodecidenowwherehewouldhavehiddenthemoney.Itoughttobequitesimple."
"Simple?"demandedCharmian.
"Ohyes,dear.I"msurehewouldhavedonetheobviousthing.Asecretdrawer-that"smysolution."
Edwardsaiddryly,"Youcouldn"tputbarsofgoldinasecretdrawer."
"No,no,ofcoursenot.b.u.t.there"snoreasontobelievethemoneyisingold."
"Healwaysusedtosay-"
"SodidmyUncleHenryabouthissafe!SoIshouldstronglysuspectthatthatwasjustasimpleblind.Diamonds,nowtheycouldbeinasecretdrawerquiteeasily."
"Butwe"velookedinallthesecretdrawers.Wehadacabinetmakerovertoexaminethefurniture."
"Didyou,dear?Thatwascleverofyou.Ishouldsuggestyouruncle"sowndeskwouldbethemostlikely.Wasitthetallescritoireagainstthewallthere?"
"Yes.AndI"llshowyou."Charmianwentovertoit.Shetookdowntheflap.Insidewerepigeonholesandlittledrawers.Sheopenedasmalldoorinthecenterandtouchedaspringinsidetheleft-handdrawer.Thebottomofthecenterrecessclickedandslidforward.Charmiandrewitout,revealingashallowwellbeneath.Itwasempty.
"Nowisn"tthatacoincidence,"exclaimedMissMarple."UncleHenryhadadeskjustlikethisone,onlyhiswasburrwalnutandthisismahogany."
"Atanyrate,"saidCharmian,"there"snothingthere,asyoucansee."
"Iexpect,"saidMissMarple,"yourcabinetmakerwasayoungman.Hedidn"tknoweverything.Peoplewereveryartfulwhentheymadehidingplacesinthosedays.There"ssuchathingasasecretinsideasecret."
Sheextractedahairpinfromherneatbunofgreyhair.Straighteningitout,shestuckthepointintowhatappearedtobeatinywormholeinonesideofthesecretrecess.Withalittledifficultyshepulledoutasmalldrawer.Initwasabundleoffadedlettersandafoldedpaper.
EdwardandCharmianpouncedonthefindtogether.WithtremblingfingersEdwardunfoldedthepaper.Hedroppeditwithanexclamationofdisgust.
"Acookeryrecipe.Bakedham!"
Charmianwasuntyingaribbonthatheldtheletterstogether.Shedrewoneoutandglancedat.i.t."Loveletters!"
MissMarplereactedwithVictoriangusto."Howinteresting!Perhapsthereasonyourunclenevermarried."
Charmianreadaloud: "MyeverdearMathew, ImustconfessthatthetimeseemslongindeedsinceIreceivedyourlastletter.Itrytooccupymyselfwiththevarioustasksallottedtome,andoftensaytomyselfthatIamindeedfortunatetoseeasmuchoftheglobe,thoughlittledidIthinkwhenIwenttoAmericathatIshouldvoyageofftothesefarislands!"
Charmianbrokeoff."Whereisitfrom?Oh,Hawaii!"
Shewenton: "Alas,thesenativesarestillfarfromseeingthelight.Theyareinanunclothedandsavagestateandspendmostoftheirtimeswimminganddancing,adorningthemselveswithgarlandsofflowers.MrGrayhasmadesomecoversbut.i.tisup-hillworkandheandMrsGraygetsadlydiscouraged.ItrytodoallIcantocheerandencouragehim,butI,too,amoftensadforareasonyoucanguess,dearMathew.Alas,absenceisaseveretrialtoalovingheart.Yourrenewedvowsandprotestationsofaffectioncheeredmegreatly.Nowandalwaysyouhavemyfaithfulanddevotedheart,dearMathew,andIremain- Yourtruelove, BettyMartin"
P.S.-Iaddressmyletterundercovertoourmutualfriend,MatildaGraves,asusual.IhopeHeavenwillpardonthislittlesubterfuge."
Edwardwhistled."Afemalemissionary!SothatwasUncleMathew"sromance.Iwonderwhytheynevermarried?"
"Sheseemstohavegoneallovertheworld,"saidCharmian,lookingthroughtheletters."Mauritius-allsortsofplaces.Probablydiedofyellowfeverorsomething."
Agentlechucklemadethemstart.MissMarplewasapparentlymuchamused."Well,well,"shesaid."Fancythat,now!"
Shewasreadingtherecipeforbakedham.Seeingtheirinquiringglances,shereadout:""BakedHamwithSpinach.Takeanicepieceofgammon,stuffwithclovesandcoverwithbrownsugar.Bakeinaslowoven.Servewithaborderofpureedspinach.""
"Whatdoyouthinkofthatnow?"
"Ithinkitsoundsfilthy,"saidEdward.
"No,no,actuallyitwouldbeverygood-butwhatdoyouthinkofthewholething?"
AsuddenrayoflightilluminatedEdward"sface."Doyouthinkit"sacode-cryptogramofsomekind?"Heseizedit."Lookhere,Charmian,itmightbe,youknow!Noreasontoputacookingrecipeinasecretdrawerotherwise."
"Exactly,"saidMissMarple."Very,verysignificant."
Charmiansaid,"Iknowwhat.i.tmightbe-invisibleink!Let"sheat.i.t.Turnontheelectricfire."
Edwarddidso.Butnosignsofwritingappearedunderthetreatment.
MissMarplecoughed."Ireallythink,youknow,thatyou"remakingitrathertoodifficult.Therecipeisonlyanindication,sotospeak.Itis,Ithink,thelettersthataresignificant."
"Theletters?"
"Especially,"saidMissMaple,"thesignature."
ButEdwardhardlyheardher.Hecalledexcitedly,"Charmian!Comehere!She"sright.See-theenvelopesareoldrightenough,b.u.t.thelettersthemselveswerewrittenmuchlater."
"Exactly,"saidMissMarple.
"They"reonlyfakeold.IbetanythingoldUncleMatfakedthemhimself"
"Precisely,"saidMissMarple.
"Thewholething"sasell.Thereneverwasafemalemissionary.Itmustbeacode."