"Don"tthinkthere"sanythinginthat.Shedidn"tevenknowSpenlowatthetime.Irememberthecase.Opinioninpolicecircleswasthatasonofthehousewasmixedupinit-JimAbercrombie-awfulyoungwaster.Hadapileofdebts,andjustaftertherobberytheywereallpaidoffsomerichwoman,sotheysaid,butIdon"tknow-oldAbercrombiehedgedabitaboutthecase-triedtocallthepoliceoff."
"Itwasjustanidea,sir,"saidSlack.
MissMarplereceivedInspectorSlackwithgratification,especiallywhensheheardthathehadbeensentbyColonelMelchett.
"Now,really,thatisverykindofColonelMelchett.Ididn"tknowherememberedme."
"Heremembersyou,allright.Toldmethatwhatyoudidn"tknowofwhatgoesoninStMaryMeadisn"tworthknowing."
"Tookindofhim,butreallyIdon"tknowanythingatall.Aboutthismurder,Imean."
"Youknowwhatthetalkabout.i.tis."
"Ofcourse-but.i.twouldn"tdo,wouldit,torepeatjustidletalk?"
Slacksaid,withanattemptatgeniality,"Thisisn"tanofficialconversation,youknow.It"sinconfidence,sotospeak."
"Youmeanyoureallywanttoknowwhatpeoplearesaying?Whetherthere"sanytruthinitornot?"
"That"stheidea."
"Well,ofcourse,there"sbeenagreatdealoftalkandspeculation.Andtherearereallytwodistinctcamps,ifyouunderstandme.Tobeginwith,therearethepeoplewhothinkthatthehusbanddidit.Ahusbandorawifeis,inaway,thenaturalpersontosuspect,don"tyouthinkso?"
"Maybe,"saidtheinspectorcautiously.
"Suchclosequarters,youknow.Then,sooften,themoneyangle.Iheardthat.i.twasMrsSpenlowwhohadthemoneyandthereforeMrSpenlowdoesbenefitbyherdeath.InthiswickedworldI"mafraidthemostuncharitablea.s.sumptionsareoftenjustified."
"Hecomesintoatidysum,allright."
"Justso.Itwouldseemquiteplausible,wouldn"t.i.t,forhimtostrangleher,leavethehousebytheback,comeacrossthefieldstomyhouse,askformeandpretendhe"dhadatelephonecallfromme,thengobackandfindhiswifemurderedinhisabsence-hoping,ofcourse,thatthecrimewouldbeputdowntosometramporburglar."
Theinspectornodded."Whatwiththemoneyangle-andifthey"dbeenonbadtermslately?"
ButMissMarpleinterruptedhim:"Oh,b.u.t.theyhadn"t."
"Youknowthatforafact?"
"Everyonewouldhaveknownifthey"dquarrelled!Themaid,Gladys-she"dhavesoonspreaditroundthevillage."
Theinspectorsaidfeebly,"Shemightn"thaveknown,"andreceivedapityingsmileinreply.
MissMarplewenton:"Andthenthere"stheotherschoolofthought.TedGerard.Agood-lookingyoungman.I"mafraid,youknow,thatgoodlooksareinclinedtoinfluenceonemorethantheyshould.Ourlastcuratebutone-quiteamagicaleffect!Allthegirlscametochurch-eveningserviceaswellasmorning.Andmanyolderwomenbecameunusuallyactiveinparishwork-andtheslippersandscarvesthatweremadeforhim!Quiteembarra.s.singforthepooryoungman."
"Butletmesee,wherewasI?Ohyes,thisyoungman,TedGerard.Ofcourse,therehasbeentalkabouthim.He"scomedowntoseehersooften.ThoughMrsSpenlowtoldmeherselfthathewasamemberofwhat.i.thinktheycalltheOxfordGroup.Areligiousmovement.Theyarequitesincereandveryearnest,Ibelieve,andMrsSpenlowwasimpressedbyitall."
MissMarpletookabreathandwenton:"AndI"msuretherewasnoreasontobelievethattherewasanythingmoreinitthanthat,butyouknowwhatpeopleare.QuitealotofpeopleareconvincedthatMrsSpenlowwasinfatuatedwiththeyoungmanandthatshe"dlenthimquitealotofmoney.Andit"sperfectlytruethathewasactuallyseenatthestationthatday.Inthetrain-thetwotwenty-sevendowntrain.Butofcourseitwouldbequiteeasy,wouldn"t.i.t,toslipoutoftheothersideofthetrainandgothroughthecuttingandoverthefenceandroundbythehedgeandnevercomeoutofthestationentranceatall?Sothatheneednothavebeenseengoingtothecottage.AndofcoursepeopledothinkthatwhatMrsSpenlowwaswearingwasratherpeculiar."
"Peculiar."
"Akimono.Notadress."MissMarpleblushed."Thatsortofthing,youknow,is,perhaps,rathersuggestivetosomepeople."
"Youthinkitwa.s.suggestive?"
"Ohno,Idon"tthinkso.Ithinkitwasperfectlynatural."
"Youthinkitwasnatural?"
"Underthecirc.u.mstances,yes."MissMarple"sglancewascoolandreflective.
InspectorSlacksaid,"Itmightgiveusanothermotiveforthehusband.Jealousy."
"Oh,no,MrSpenlowwouldneverbejealous.He"snotthesortofmanwhonoticesthings.Ifhiswifehadgoneawayandleftanoteonthepincushion,itwouldbethefirsthe"dknowofanythingofthatkind."
InspectorSlackwaspuzzledbytheintentwayshewaslookingathim.Hehadanideathatallherconversationwasintendedtohintatsomethinghedidn"tunderstand.Shesaidnow,withsomeemphasis,"Didn"tyoufindanyclues,Inspector-onthespot?"
"Peopledon"tleavefingerprintsandcigaretteashnowadays,MissMarple."
"b.u.t.this,Ithink,"shesuggested,"wasanold-fashionedcrime-"
Slacksaidsharply."Nowwhatdoyoumeanbythat?"
MissMarpleremarkedslowly,"Ithink,youknow,thatConstablePalkcouldhelpyou.Hewasthefirstpersononthe-onthe"sceneofthecrime,"astheysay."
MrSpenlowwa.s.sittinginadeckchair.Helookedbewildered.Hesaid,inhisthin,precisevoice,"Imay,ofcourse,beimaginingwhatoccurred.Myhearingisnotasgoodasitwas.ButIdistinctlythinkIheardasmallboycallafterme,"Yah,who"saCrippen?"It-itconveyedtheimpressiontomethathewasoftheopinionthatIhad-hadkilledmydearwife."
MissMarple,gentlysnippingoffadeadrosehead,said,"Thatwastheimpressionhemeanttoconvey,nodoubt."
"Butwhatcouldpossiblyhaveputsuchanideaintoachild"shead?"
MissMarplecoughed.
"Listening,nodoubt,totheopinionsofhiselders."
"You-youreallymeanthatotherpeoplethinkthatalso?"
"QuitehalfthepeopleinStMaryMead."
"But,mydearlady,whatcanpossiblyhavegivenrisetosuchanidea?Iwa.s.sincerelyattachedtomywife.Shedidnot,alas,taketolivinginthecountryasmuchasIhadhopedshewoulddo,butperfectagreementoneverysubjectisanimpossibleideal.Ia.s.sureyouIfeelherlossverykeenly."
"Probably.Butifyouwillexcusemysayingso,youdon"tsoundasthoughyoudo."
MrSpenlowdrewhismeagerframeuptoitsfullheight.
"Mydearlady,manyyearsagoIreadofacertainChinesephilosopherwho,whenhisdearlylovedwifewastakenfromhim,continuedcalmlytobeatagonginthestreet-acustomaryChinesepastime,Ipresume-exactlyasusual.Thepeopleinthecityweremuchimpressedbyhisfort.i.tude."
"But,"saidMissMarple,"thepeopleofStMaryMeadreactratherdifferently.Chinesephilosophydoesnotappealtothem."
"Butyouunderstand?"
MissMarplenodded."MyUncleHenry,"sheexplained,"wasamanofunusualself-control.Hismottowas"Neverdisplayemotion."He,too,wasveryfondofflowers."
"Iwasthinking,"saidMrSpenlowwithsomethinglikeeagerness,"thatImight,perhaps,haveapergolaonthewestsideofthecottage.Pinkrosesand,perhaps,wisteria.Andthereisawhitestarryflower,whosenameforthemomentescapesme-"
Inthetoneinwhichshespoketohergrandnephew,agedthree,MissMarplesaid,"Ihaveaverynicecataloguehere,withpictures.Perhapsyouwouldliketolookthroughit-Ihavetogouptothevillage."
LeavingMrSpenlowsittinghappilyinthegardenwithhiscatalogue,MissMarplewentuptoherroom,hastilyrolledupadressinapieceofbrownpaper,and,leavingthehouse,walkedbrisklyuptothepostoffice.MissPolitt,thedressmaker,livedinroomsoverthepostoffice.
ButMissMarpledidnotatoncegothroughthedoorandupthestairs.Itwasjusttwo-thirty,and,aminutelater,theMuchBenhambusdrewupoutsidethepost-officedoor.ItwasoneoftheeventsofthedayinStMaryMead.Thepostmistresshurriedoutwithparcels,parcelsconnectedwiththeshopsideofherbusiness,forthepostofficealsodealtinsweets,cheapbooks,andchildren"stoys.
ForsomefourminutesMissMarplewasaloneinthepostoffice.
NottillthepostmistressreturnedtoherpostdidMissMarplegoupstairsandexplaintoMissPolittthatshewantedherowngreycrepealteredandmademorefashionableifthatwerepossible.MissPolittpromisedtoseewhatshecoulddo.
ThechiefconstablewasratherastonishedwhenMissMarple"snamewasbroughttohim.Shecameinwithmanyapologies.
"Sosorry-soverysorrytodisturbyou.Youaresobusy,Iknow,b.u.t.thenyouhavealwaysbeensoverykind,ColonelMelchett,andIfeltIwouldrathercometoyouinsteadoftoInspectorSlack.Foronething,youknow,IshouldhateConstablePalktogetintoanytrouble.Strictlyspeaking,Isupposeheshouldn"thavetouchedanythingatall."
ColonelMelchettwa.s.slightlybewildered.Hesaid,"Palk?That"stheStMaryMeadconstable,isn"t.i.t?Whathashebeendoing?"
"Hepickedupapin,youknow.Anditoccurredtomeatthetimethat.i.twasquiteprobablehehadactuallypickeditupinMrsSpenlow"shouse."
"Quite,quite.But,afterall,youknow,what"sapin?Matteroffact,hedidpickthepinupjustbyMrsSpenlow"sbody.CameandtoldSlackabout.i.tyesterday-youputhimuptothat,Igather?Oughtn"ttohavetouchedanything,ofcourse,but,asIsaid,what"sapin?Itwasonlyacommonpin.Sortofthinganywomanmightuse."
"Ohno,ColonelMelchett,that"swhereyou"rewrong.Toaman"seye,perhaps,itlookedlikeanordinarypin,but.i.twasn"t.Itwasaspecialpin,averythinpin,thekindyoubuybythebox,thekindusedmostlybydressmakers."
Melchettstaredather,afaintlightofcomprehens...o...b..eakinginonhim.MissMarplenoddedherheadseveraltimeseagerly.
"Yes,ofcourse.Itseemstomesoobvious.Shewasinherkimon.o.becauseshewasgoingtotryonhernewdress,andshewentintothefrontroom,andMissPolittjustsaidsomethingaboutmeasurementsandputthetapemeasureroundherneck-andthenallshe"dhavetodowastocrossitandpulliteasy,soI"veheard.Andthenofcourseshe"dgooutsideandpullthedoortoandstandthereknockingasthoughshe"djustarrived.b.u.t.thepinshowsshe"dalreadybeeninthehouse."
"AnditwasMissPolittwhotelephonedtoSpenlow?"
"Yes.Fromthepostofficeattwo-thirty-justwhenthebuscomesandthepostofficewouldbeempty."
ColonelMelchettsaid,"But,mydearMissMarple,why?Inheaven"sname,why?Youcan"thaveamurderwithoutamotive."
"Well,Ithink,youknow,ColonelMelchett,fromallI"veheard,thatthecrimedatesfromalongtimeback.Itremindsme,youknow,ofmytwocousins,AntonyandGordon.WhateverAntonydidalwayswentrightforhim,andwithpoorGordonitwasjusttheotherwayabout:racehorseswentlame,andstockswentdown,andpropertydepreciated.AsIseeit,thetwowomenwereinittogether."
"Inwhat?"
"Therobbery.Longago.Veryvaluableemeralds,soI"veheard.Thelady"smaidandthetweeny.Becauseonethinghasn"tbeenexplained-how,whenthetweenymarriedthegardener,didtheyhaveenoughmoneytosetupaflowershop?
"Theansweris,itwashershareofthe-theswag,Ithinkistherightexpression.Everythingshedidturnedoutwell.Moneymademoney.b.u.t.theotherone,thelady"smaid,musthavebeenunlucky.Shecamedowntobeingjustavillagedressmaker.Thentheymetagain.Quiteallrightatfirst,Iexpect,untilMrTedGerardcameonthescene.
"MrsSpenlow,yousee,wasalreadysufferingfromconscienceandwasinclinedtobeemotionallyreligious.Thisyoungmannodoubturgedherto"faceup"andto"comeclean,"andIdaresayshewa.s.strunguptodoso.ButMissPolittdidn"tseeitthatway.Allshesawwasthatshemightgotoprisonforarobberyshehadcommittedyearsago.Soshemadeuphermindtoputastoptoitall.I"mafraid,youknow,thatshewasalwaysratherawickedwoman.Idon"tbelieveshe"dhaveturnedahairifthatnice,stupidMrSpenlowhadbeenhanged."
ColonelMelchettsaidslowly,"Wecan-er-verifyyourtheory-uptoapoint.Theident.i.tyofthePolittwomanwiththelady"smaidattheAbercrombies",but-"
MissMarplerea.s.suredhim.
"Itwillallbequiteeasy.She"sthekindofwomanwhowillbreakdownatoncewhenshe"staxedwiththetruth.Andthen,yousee,I"vegothertapemeasure.I-er-abstractedityesterdaywhenIwastryingon.Whenshemissesitandthinksthepolicehavegot.i.t-well,she"squiteanignorantwomanandshe"llthinkitwillprovethecaseagainstherinsomeway."
Shesmiledathimencouragingly."You"llhavenotrouble,Icana.s.sureyou."
Itwasthetoneinwhichhisfavouriteaunthadoncea.s.suredhimthathecouldnotfailtopa.s.shisentranceexaminationintoSandhurst.
Andhehadpa.s.sed.
TheCaseofthePerfectMaid
"Oh,ifyouplease,madam,couldIspeaktoyouamoment?"
Itmightbethoughtthattherequestwasinthenatureofanabsurdity,sinceEdna,MissMarple"slittlemaid,wasactuallyspeakingtohermistressatthemoment.
Recognisingtheidiom,however,MissMarplesaidpromptly,"Certainly,Edna.Comeinandshutthedoor.Whatisit?"
Obedientlyshuttingthedoor,Ednaadvancedintotheroom,pleatedthecornerofherap.r.o.nbetweenherfingers,andswallowedonceortwice.
"Yes,Edna?"saidMissMarpleencouragingly.
"Oh,please,ma"am,it"smycousinGladdie.Yousee,she"slostherplace."
"Dearme,Iamsorrytohearthat.ShewasatOldHall,wasn"tshe,withtheMiss-Misses-Skinner?"
"Yes,ma"am,that"sright,ma"am.AndGladdie"sveryupsetabout.i.t-veryupsetindeed."
"Gladyshaschangedplacesratheroftenbefore,though,hasn"tshe?"
"Ohyes,ma"am.She"salwaysoneforachange,Gladdieis.Sheneverseemstogetreallysettled,ifyouknowwhatImean.Butshe"salwaysbeentheonetogivethenotice,yousee!"
"Andthistimeit"stheotherwayround?"askedMissMarpledryly.
"Yes,ma"am,andit"supsetGladdiesomethingawful."
MissMarplelookedslightlysurprised.HerrecollectionofGladys,whohadoccasionallycometodrinkteainthekitchenonher"daysout,"wasastout,gigglinggirlofunshakablyequabletemperament.
Ednawenton:"Yousee,ma"am,it"sthewayithappened-thewayMissSkinnerlooked."
"How,"inquiredMissMarplepatiently,"didMissSkinnerlook?"