"Mydear,dearchildren-there"sreallynoneedtomakeitallsodifficult.Yourunclewasreallyaverysimpleman.Hehadtohavehislittlejoke,thatwasall."
Forthefirsttimetheygavehertheirfullattention."Justexactlywhatdoyoumean,MissMarple?"askedCharmian.
"Imean,dear,thatyou"reactuallyholdingthemoneyinyourhandthisminute."
Charmianstareddown.
"Thesignature,dear.Thatgivesthewholethingaway.Therecipeisjustanindication.Shornofalltheclovesandbrownsugarandtherestofit,whatisitactually?Why,gammonandspinachtobesure!Gammonandspinach!Meaning-nonsense!Soit"sclearthat.i.t"sthelettersthatareimportant.Andthen,ifyoutakeintoconsiderationwhatyouruncledidjustbeforehedied.Hetappedhiseye,yousaid.Well,thereyouare-thatgivesyoutheclue,yousee."
Charmiansaid,"Arewemad,orareyou?"
"Surely,mydear,youmusthaveheardtheexpressionmeaningthatsomethingisnotatruepicture,orhasitquitediedoutnowadays?"AllmyeyeandBettyMartin.""
Edwardgasped,hiseyesfallingtotheletterinhishand."BettyMartin-"
"Ofcourse,MrRossiter.Asyouhavejustsaid,thereisn"t-therewasn"tanysuchperson.Theletterswerewrittenbyyouruncle,andIdaresayhegotalotoffunoutofwritingthem!Asyousay,thewritingontheenvelopesismucholder-infact,theenvelopescouldn"tbelongtothelettersanyway,becausethepostmarkoftheoneyouareholdingiseighteenfifty-one."
Shepaused.Shemadeitveryemphatic:"Eighteenfifty-one.Andthatexplainseverything,doesn"t.i.t?"
"Nottome,"saidEdward.
"Well,ofcourse,"saidMissMarple."Idaresayitwouldn"ttomeifitweren"tformygreat-nephewLionel.Suchadearlittleboyandapa.s.sionatestampcollector.Knowsallaboutstamps.Itwashewhotoldmeaboutrareandexpensivestampsandthatawonderfulnewfindhadcomeupforauction.AndIactuallyrememberhismentioningonestamp-an1851blue2cent.Itrealizedsomethinglike$25,000,Ibelieve.Fancy!Ishouldimaginethattheotherstampsaresomethingalsorareandexpensive.Nodoubtyouruncleboughtthroughdealersandwascarefulto"coverhistracks,"astheysayindetectivestories."
Edwardgroaned.Hesatdownandburiedhisfaceinhishands.
"What"sthematter?"demandedCharmian.
"Nothing.It"sonlytheawfulthoughtthat,butforMissMarple,wemighthaveburnedtheselettersinadecent,gentlemanlyway!"
"Ah,"saidMissMarple,"that"sjustwhattheseoldgentlemenwh.o.a.refondoftheirjokeneverrealize.MyUncleHenry,Iremember,sentafavouritenieceafive-poundnoteforaChristmaspresent.Heput.i.tinsideaChristmascard,gummedthecardtogether,andwroteonit:"Loveandbestwishes.AfraidthisisallIcanmanagethisyear.""
"She,poorgirl,wasannoyedatwhatshethoughtwashismeannessandthrewitallstraightintothefire.Sothen,ofcourse,hehadtogiveheranother."
Edward"sfeelingstowardUncleHenryhadsufferedanabruptandcompletechange.
"MissMarple,"hesaid,"I"mgoingtogetabottleofchampagne.We"llalldrinkthehealthofyourUncleHenry."
Tape-MeasureMurder
MissPolitttookholdoftheknockerandrappedpolitelyonthecottagedoor.Afteradiscreetintervalsheknockedagain.Theparcelunderherleftarmshiftedalittlea.s.shedidso,andshereadjustedit.InsidetheparcelwasMrsSpenlow"snewgreenwinterdress,readyforfitting.FromMissPolitt"slefthanddangledabagofblacksilk,containingatapemeasure,apincushion,andalarge,practicalpairofscissors.
MissPolittwastallandgaunt,withasharpnose,pursedlips,andmeageriron-greyhair.Shehesitatedbeforeusingtheknockerforthethirdtime.Glancingdownthestreet,shesawafigurerapidlyapproaching.MissHartnell,jolly,weather-beaten,fifty-five,shoutedoutinherusualloudba.s.svoice,"Goodafternoon,MissPolitt!"
Thedressmakeranswered,"Goodafternoon,MissHartnell."Hervoicewas.e.xcessivelythinandgenteelinitsaccents.Shehadstartedlifeasalady"smaid."Excuseme,"shewenton,"butdoyouhappentoknowifbyanychanceMrsSpenlowisn"tathome?"
"Nottheleastidea,"saidMissHartnell.
"It"sratherawkward,yousee.IwastofitonMrsSpenlow"snewdressthisafternoon.Three-thirty,shesaid."
MissHartnellconsultedherwrist.w.a.tch."It"salittlepastthehalf-hournow."
"Yes.Ihaveknockedthreetimes,b.u.t.theredoesn"tseemtobeanyanswer,soIwaswonderingifperhapsMrsSpenlowmighthavegoneoutandforgotten.Shedoesn"tforgetappointmentsasarule,andshewantsthedresstowearthedayaftertomorrow."
MissHartnellenteredthegateandwalkedupthepathtojoinMissPolittoutsidethedoorofLaburnamCottage.
"Whydoesn"tGladysanswerthedoor?"shedemanded."Oh,no,ofcourse,it"sThursday-Gladys"sdayout.IexpectMrsSpenlowhasfallenasleep.Idon"texpectyou"vemadeenoughnoisewiththisthing."
Seizingtheknocker,sheexecutedadeafeningrat-a-tat-tatand,inaddition,thumpeduponthepanelsofthedoor.Shealsocalledoutinastentorianvoice:"Whatho,withinthere!"
Therewasnoresponse.
MissPolittmurmured,"Oh,IthinkMrsSpenlowmusthaveforgottenandgoneout.I"llcallaroundsomeothertime."Shebeganedgingawayanddownthepath.
"Nonsense,"saidMissHartnellfirmly."Shecan"thavegoneout.I"dhavemether.I"lljusttakealookthroughthewindowandseeifIcanfindanysignsoflife."
Shelaughedinherusualheartymanner,toindicatethat.i.twasajoke,andappliedaperfunctoryglancetothenearestwindowpane-perfunctorybecausesheknewquitewellthatthefrontroomwa.s.seldomused.MrandMrsSpenlowpreferredthesmallbacksitting-room.
Perfunctoryasitwas,though,itsucceededinitsobject.MissHartnell,itistrue,sawnosignsoflife.Onthecontrary,shesaw,throughthewindow,MrsSpenlowlyingonthehearthrug-dead.
"Ofcourse,"saidMissHartnell,tellingthestoryafterward,"Imanagedtokeepmyhead.ThatPolittcreaturewouldn"thavehadtheleastideaofwhattodo."Gottokeepourheads,"Isaidtoher."YoustayhereandI"llgoforConstablePalk."Shesaidsomethingaboutnotwantingtobeleft,butIpaidnoattentionatall.Onehastobefirmwiththatsortofperson.I"vealwaysfoundtheyenjoymakingafuss.SoIwasjustgoingoffwhen,atthatverymoment,MrSpenlowcameroundthecornerofthehouse."
HereMissHartnellmadeasignificantpause.Itenabledheraudiencetoaskbreathlessly,"Tellme,howdidhelook?"
MissHartnellwouldthengoon:"Frankly,Isuspectedsomethingatonce!Hewasfartoocalm.Hedidn"tseemsurprisedintheleast.Andyoumaysaywhatyoulike,itisn"tnaturalforamantohearthathiswifeisdeadanddisplaynoemotionwhatever."
Everybodyagreedwiththisstatement.
Thepoliceagreedwithittoo.SosuspiciousdidtheyconsiderMrSpenlow"sdetachmentthattheylostnotimeinascertaininghowthatgentlemanwa.s.situatedasaresultofhiswife"sdeath.WhentheydiscoveredthatMrsSpenlowhadbeenthemoneyedpartner,andthathermoneywenttoherhusbandunderawillmadesoonaftertheirmarriage,theyweremoresuspiciousthanever.
MissMarple,thatsweet-faced(andsomesaidvinegar-tongued)elderlyspinsterwholivedinthehousenexttotherectory,wasinterviewedveryearly-withinhalfanhourofthediscoveryofthecrime.ShewasapproachedbyPoliceConstablePalk,importantlythumbinganotebook.
"Ifyoudon"tmind,ma"am,I"veafewquestionstoaskyou."
MissMarplesaid,"InconnectionwiththemurderofMrsSpenlow?"
Palkwa.s.startled."MayIask,madam,howyougottoknowofit?"
"Thefish,"saidMissMarple.
ThereplywasperfectlyintelligibletoConstablePalk.Hea.s.sumedcorrectlythatthefishmonger"sboyhadbrought.i.t,togetherwithMissMarple"seveningmeal.
MissMarplecontinuedgently,"Lyingonthefloorinthesitting-room,strangled-possiblybyaverynarrowbelt.Butwhateveritwas,itwastakenaway."
Palk"sfacewaswrathful."HowthatyoungFredgetstoknoweverything-"
MissMarplecuthimshortadroitly.Shesaid,"There"sapininyourtunic."
ConstablePalklookeddown,startled.Hesaid,"Theydosay:"Seeapinandpickitup,allthedayyou"llhavegoodluck.""
"Ihopethatwillcometrue.Nowwhatisityouwantmetotellyou?"
ConstablePalkclearedhisthroat,lookedimportant,andconsultedhisnotebook."StatementwasmadetomebyMrArthurSpenlow,husbandofthedeceased.MrSpenlowsaysthatattwo-thirty,asfarashecansay,hewasrungupbyMissMarpleandaskedifhewouldcomeoverataquarterpastthree,a.s.shewasanxioustoconsulthimaboutsomething.Now,ma"am,isthattrue?"
"Certainlynot,"saidMissMarple.
"YoudidnotringupMrSpenlowattwo-thirty?"
"Neitherattwo-thirtynoranyothertime."
"Ah,"saidConstablePalk,andsuckedhismoustachewithagooddealofsatisfaction.
"WhatelsedidMrSpenlowsay?"
"MrSpenlow"sstatementwasthathecameoverhereasrequested,leavinghisownhouseattenminutespastthree;thatonarrivalherehewasinformedbythemaidservantthatMissMarplewasnotathome."
"Thatpartofitistrue,"saidMissMarple."Hedidcomehere,butIwasatameetingattheWomen"sInst.i.tute."
"Ah,"saidConstablePalkagain.
MissMarpleexclaimed,"Dotellme,Constable,doyoususpectMrSpenlow?"
"It"snotformetosayatthisstage,but.i.tlookstomeasthoughsomebody,namingnonames,hadbeentryingtobeartful."
MissMarplesaidthoughtfully,"MrSpenlow?"
ShelikedMrSpenlow.Hewasasmall,spareman,stiffandconventionalinspeech,theacmeofrespectability.Itseemedoddthatheshouldhavecometoliveinthecountry;hehadsoclearlylivedintownsallhislife.ToMissMarpleheconfidedthereason.
Hesaid,"Ihavealwaysintended,eversinceIwasasmallboy,toliveinthecountrysomedayandhaveagardenofmyown.Ihavealwaysbeenverymuchattachedtoflowers.Mywife,youknow,keptaflowershop.That"swhereIsawherfirst."
Adrystatement,but.i.topenedupavistaofromance.Ayounger,prettierMrsSpenlow,seenagainstabackgroundofflowers.
MrSpenlow,however,reallyknewnothingaboutflowers.Hehadnoideaofseeds,ofcuttings...o...b..ddingout,ofannualsorperennials.Hehadonlyavision-avisionofasmallcottagegardenthicklyplantedwithsweet-smelling,brightlycolouredblossoms.Hehadasked,almostpathetically,forinstructionandhadnoteddownMissMarple"srepliestoquestionsinalittlebook.
Hewasamanofquietmethod.Itwas,perhaps,becauseofthistraitthatthepolicewereinterestedinhimwhenhiswifewasfoundmurdered.WithpatienceandperseverancetheylearnedagooddealaboutthelateMrsSpenlow-andsoonallStMaryMeadknewittoo.
ThelateMrsSpenlowhadbegunlifeasabetween-maidinalargehouse.ShehadleftthatpositiontomarrythesecondgardenerandwithhimhadstartedaflowershopinLondon.Theshophadprospered.Notsothegardener,whobeforelonghadsickenedanddied.
Hiswidowcarriedontheshopandenlargeditinanambitiousway.Shehadcontinuedtoprosper.Thenshehadsoldthebusinessatahandsomepriceandembarkeduponmatrimonyforthesecondtime-withMrSpenlow,amiddle-agedjewellerwhohadinheritedasmallandstrugglingbusiness.NotlongafterwardtheyhadsoldthebusinessandcomedowntoStMaryMead.
MrsSpenlowwasawell-to-dowoman.Theprofitsfromherflorist"sestablishmentshehadinvested-"underspiritguidance,"a.s.sheexplainedtoallandsundry.Thespiritshadadvisedherwithunexpectedac.u.men.
Allherinvestmentshadprospered,someinquiteasensationalfashion.Instead,however,ofthisincreasingherbeliefinspiritualism,MrsSpenlowbaselydesertedmediumsandsittingsandmadeabriefbutwholeheartedplungeintoan.o.bscurereligionwithIndianaffinitieswhichwasbasedonvariousformsofdeepbreathing.When,however,shearrivedatStMaryMead,shehadrelapsedintoaperiodoforthodoxChurch-of-Englandbeliefs.ShewasagooddealattheVicarageandattendedchurchserviceswitha.s.siduity.Shepatronisedthevillageshops,tookaninterestinthelocalhappenings,andplayedvillagebridge.
Ahumdrum,everydaylife.And-suddenly-murder.
ColonelMelchett,thechiefconstable,hadsummonedInspectorSlack.
Slackwasapositivetypeofman.Whenhemadeuphismind,hewa.s.sure.Hewasquitesurenow."Husbanddidit,sir,"hesaid.
"Youthinkso?"
"Quitesureofit.You"veonlygottolookathim.Nevershowedasignofgrieforemotion.Hecamebacktothehouseknowingshewasdead."
"Wouldn"theatleasthavetriedtoactthepartofthedistractedhusband?"
"Nothim,sir.Toopleasedwithhimself.Somegentlemencan"tact.Toostiff.AsIseeit,hewasjustfedupwithhiswife.She"dgotthemoneyand,Ishouldsay,wasatryingwomantolivewith-alwaystakingupsome"ism"orother.Hecold-bloodedlydecidedtodoawaywithherandlivecomfortablyonhisown."
"Yes,thatcouldbethecase,Isuppose."
"Dependuponit,thatwasit.Madehisplanscareful.Pretendedtogetaphonecall-"
Melchettinterruptedhim:"Nocallertraced?"
"No,sir.Thatmeanseitherthatheliedorthatthecallwasputthroughfromapublictelephonebooth.Theonlytwopublicphonesinthevillageareatthestationandthepostoffice.Postofficeitcertainlywasn"t.MrsBladeseeseveryonewhocomesin.Stationitmightbe.Trainarrivesattwotwenty-sevenandthere"sabitofbustlethen.b.u.t.themainthingishesaysitwasMissMarplewhocalledhimup,andthatcertainlyisn"ttrue.Thecalldidn"tcomefromherhouse,andsheherselfwasawayattheInst.i.tute."
"You"renotoverlookingthepossibilitythatthehusbandwasdeliberatelygotoutoftheway-bysomeonewhowantedtomurderMrsSpenlow?"
"You"rethinkingofyoungTedGerard,aren"tyou,sir?I"vebeenworkingonhim-whatwe"reupagainstthereislackofmotive.Hedoesn"tstandtogainanything."
"He"sanundesirablecharacter,though.Quiteaprettylittlespotofembezzlementtohiscredit."
"I"mnotsayingheisn"tawrong"un.Still,hedidgotohisbossandownuptothatembezzlement.Andhisemployersarewisetoit."
"AnOxfordGrouper,"saidMelchett.
"Yes,sir.Becameaconvertandwentofftodothestraightthingandownuptohavingpinchedmoney.I"mnotsaying,mindyou,that.i.tmayn"thavebeenastuteness-hemayhavethoughthewa.s.suspectedanddecidedtogambleonhonestrepentance."
"Youhaveaskepticalmind,Slack,"saidColonelMelchett."Bytheway,haveyoutalkedtoMissMarpleatall?"
"What"sshegottodowithit,sir?"
"Oh,nothing.Butshehearsthings,youknow.Whydon"tyougoandhaveachatwithher?She"saverysharpoldlady."
Slackchangedthesubject.
"OnethingI"vebeenmeaningtoaskyou,sir:Thatdomesticservicejobwherethedeceasedstartedhercareer-SirRobertAbercrombie"splace.That"swherethejewelrobberywas-emeralds-worthapacket.Nevergotthem.I"vebeenlookingitup-musthavehappenedwhentheSpenlowwomanwasthere,thoughshe"dhavebeenquiteagirlatthetime.Don"tthinkshewasmixedupinit,doyou,sir?Spenlow,youknow,wasoneofthoselittletuppenny-ha"pennyjewellers-justthechapforafence."
Melchettshookhishead.