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!"