加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第1部分

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Chapter　1

MAJOR　PALGRAVE　TELLS　A　STORY



〃Take　all　this　business　about　Kenya；〃　said　Major　Palgrave。　〃Lots　of　chaps　gabbing　away　who　know　nothing　about　the　place！　Now　I　spent　fourteen　years　of　my　life　there。　Some　of　the　best　years　of　my　life；　too。〃

Old　Miss　Marple　inclined　her　head。　It　was　a　gentle　gesture　of　courtesy。　Whilst　Major　Palgrave　proceeded　with　the　somewhat　uninteresting　recollections　of　a　lifetime；　Miss　Marple　peacefully　pursued　her　own　thoughts。　It　was　a　routine　with　which　she　was　well　acquainted。　The　locale　varied。　In　the　past；　it　had　been　predominantly　India。　Majors；　Colonels；　LieutenantGeneralsand　a　familiar　series　of　words：　Simla；　Bearers；　Tigers；　Chota；　HazriTiffin；　Khitmagars；　and　so　on。　With　Major　Palgrave　the　terms　were　slightly　different。　Safari。　Kikuyu。　Elephants。　Swahili。　But　the　pattern　was　essentially　the　same。　An　elderly　man　who　needed　a　listener　so　that　he　could；　in　memory；　relive　days　in　which　he　had　been　happy。　Days　when　his　back　had　been　straight；　his　eyesight　keen；　his　hearing　acute。　Some　of　these　talkers　had　been　handsome　soldierly　old　boys；　some　again　had　been　regrettably　unattractive；　and　Major　Palgrave；　purple　of　face；　with　a　glass　eye；　and　the　general　appearance　of　a　stuffed　frog；　belonged　in　the　latter　category。

Miss　Marple　had　bestowed　on　all　of　them　the　same　gentle　charity。　She　had　sat　attentively；　inclining　her　head　from　time　to　time　in　gentle　agreement；　thinking　her　own　thoughts　and　enjoying　what　there　was　to　enjoy：　in　this　case　the　deep　blue　of　a　Caribbean　Sea。

So　kind　of　dear　Raymondshe　was　thinking　gratefullyso　really　and　truly　kind。。。　Why　he　should　take　so　much　trouble　about　his　old　aunt；　she　really　did　not　know。　Conscience；　perhaps；　family　feelings？　Or　possibly　he　was　truly　fond　of　her。。。　She　thought；　on　the　whole；　that　he　was　fond　of　herhe　always　had　beenin　a　slightly　exasperated　and　contemptuous　way！　Always　trying　to　bring　her　up　to　date。　Sending　her　books　to　read。　Modern　novels。　So　difficultall　about　such　unpleasant　people；　doing　such　very　odd　things　and　not；　apparently；　even　enjoying　them。　〃Sex〃　as　a　word　had　not　been　much　mentioned　in　Miss　Marple's　young　days；　but　there　had　been　plenty　of　itnot　talked　about　so　muchbut　enjoyed　far　more　than　nowadays；　or　so　it　seemed　to　her。　Though　usually　labelled　Sin；　she　couldn't　help　feeling　that　that　was　preferable　to　what　it　seemed　to　be　nowadaysa　kind　of　Duty。

Her　glance　strayed　for　a　moment　to　the　book　on　her　lap　lying　open　at　page　twentythree　which　was　as　far　as　she　had　got　（and　indeed　as　far　as　she　felt　like　getting！）。　〃Do　you　mean　that　you've　had　no　sexual　experience　at　all？〃　demanded　the　young　man　incredulously。　〃At　nieen？　But　you　must。　It's　vital。〃

The　girl　hung　her　head　unhappily；　her　straight　greasy　hair　fell　forward　over　her　face。　〃I　know；〃　she　muttered；　〃I　know。〃

He　looked　at　her；　stained　old　jersey；　the　bare　feet；　the　dirty　toenails；　the　smell　of　rancid　fat。。。　He　wondered　why　he　found　her　so　maddeningly　attractive。

Miss　Marple　wondered　too！　And　really！　To　have　sex　experience　urged　on　you　exactly　as　though　it　was　an　iron　tonic！　Poor　young　things。。。

〃My　dear　Aunt　Jane；　why　must　you　bury　your　head　in　the　sand　like　a　very　delightful　ostrich？　All　bound　up　in　this　idyllic　rural　life　of　yours。　Real　lifethat's　what　matters。〃　Thus　Raymondand　his　Aunt　Jane　had　looked　properly　abashedand　said　〃Yes；〃　she　was　afraid　she　was　rather　oldfashioned。　Though　really　rural　life　was　far　from　idyllic。　People　like　Raymond　were　so　ignorant。　In　the　course　of　her　duties　in　a　country　parish；　Jane　Marple　had　acquired　quite　a　prehensive　knowledge　of　the　facts　of　rural　life。　She　had　no　urge　to　talk　about　them；　far　less　to　write　about　thembut　she　knew　them。　Plenty　of　sex；　natural　and　unnatural。　Rape；　incest；　perversions　of　all　kinds。　（Some　kinds；　indeed；　that　even　the　clever　young　men　from　Oxford　who　wrote　books　didn't　seem　to　have　heard　about。）

Miss　Marple　came　back　to　the　Caribbean　and　took　up　the　thread　of　what　Major　Palgrave　was　saying。。。　〃A　very　unusual　experience；〃　she　said　encouragingly。　〃Most　interesting。〃

〃I　could　tell　you　a　lot　more。　Some　of　the　things；　of　course；　not　fit　for　a　lady's　ears〃

With　the　ease　of　long　practice　Miss　Marple　dropped　her　eyelids　in　a　fluttery　fashion；　and　Major　Palgrave　continued　his　bowdlerised　version　of　tribal　customs　whilst　Miss　Marple　resumed　her　thoughts　of　her　affectionate　nephew。　Raymond　West　was　a　very　successful　novelist　and　made　a　large　ine；　and　he　conscientiously　and　kindly　did　all　he　could　to　alleviate　the　life　of　his　elderly　aunt。　The　preceding　winter　she　had　had　a　bad　go　of　pneumonia；　and　medical　opinion　had　advised　sunshine。　In　lordly　fashion　Raymond　had　suggested　a　trip　to　the　West　Indies。　Miss　Marple　had　demurredat　the　expense；　the　distance；　the　difficulties　of　travel；　and　at　abandoning　her　house　in　St。　Mary　Mead。　Raymond　had　dealt　with　everything。　A　friend　who　was　writing　a　book　wanted　a　quiet　place　in　the　country。

〃He'll　look　after　the　house　all　right。　He's　very　house　proud。　He's　a　queer。　I　mean〃　He　had　paused；　slightly　embarrassedbut　surely　even　dear　old　Aunt　Jane　must　have　heard　of　queers。　He　went　on　to　deal　with　the　next　points。　Travel　was　nothing　nowadays。　She　would　go　by　airanother　friend；　Diana　Horrocks；　was　going　out　to　Trinidad　and　would　see　Aunt　Jane　was　all　right　as　far　as　there；　and　at　St。　Honorй　she　would　stay　at　the　Golden　Palm　Hotel　which　was　run　by　the　Sandersons。　Nicest　couple　in　the　world。　They'd　see　she　was　all　right。　He'd　write　to　them　straightaway。　As　it　happened　the　Sandersons　had　returned　to　England。　But　their　successors；　the　Kendals；　had　been　very　nice　and　friendly　and　had　assured　Raymond　that　he　need　have　no　qualms　about　his　aunt。　There　was　a　very　good　doctor　on　the　island　in　case　of　emergency　and　they　themselves　would　keep　an　eye　on　her　and　see　to　her　fort。

They　had　been　as　good　as　their　word；　too。　Molly　Kendal　was　an　ingenuous　blonde　of　twenty　odd；　always　apparently　in　good　spirits。　She　had　greeted　the　old　lady　warmly　and　did　everything　to　make　her　fortable。　Tim　Kendal；　her　husband；　lean；　dark　and　in　his　thirties；　had　also　been　kindness　itself。　So　there　she　was；　thought　Miss　Marple；　far　from　the　rigours　of　the　English　climate；　with　a　nice　little　bungalow　of　her　own；　with　friendly　smiling　West　Indian　girls　to　wait　on　her；　Tim　Kendal　to　meet　her　in　the　diningroom　and　crack　a　joke　as　he　advised　her　about　the　day's　menu；　and　an　easy　path　from　her　bungalow　to　the　seafront　and　the　bathing　beach　where　she　could　sit　in　a　fortable　basket　chair　and　watch　the　bathing。　There　were　even　a　few　elderly　guests　for　pany。　Old　Air　Rafiel；　Dr。　Graham；　Canon　Prescott　and　his　sister；　and　her　present　cavalier　Major　Palgrave。　What　more　could　an　elderly　lady　want？　It　is　deeply　to　be　regretted；　and　Miss　Marple　felt　guilty　even　admitting　it　to　herself；　but　she　was　not　as　satisfied　as　she　ought　to　be。

Lovely　and　warm；　yesand　so　good　for　her　rheumatismand　beautiful　scenery；　though　perhapsa　trifle　monotonous？　So　many　palm　trees。　Everything　the　same　every　daynever　anything　happening。　Not　like　St。　Mary　Mead　where　something　was　always　happening。　Her　nephew　had　once　pared　life　in　St。　Mary　Mead　to　scum　on　a　pond；　and　she　had　indignantly　pointed　out　that　smeared　on　a　slide　under　the　microscope　there　would　be　plenty　of　life　to　be　observed。　Yes；　indeed；　in　St。　Mary　Mead；　there　was　always　something　going　on。　Incident　after　incident　flashed　through　Miss　Marple's　mind；　the　mistake　in　old　Mrs。　Lint's　cough　mixturethat　very　odd　behaviour　of　young　Polegatethe　time　when　Gey　Wood's　mother　had　e　down　to　see　him（but　was　she　his　mother？）the　real　cause　of　the　quarrel　between　Joe　Arden　and　his　wife。　So　many　interesting　human　problemsgiving　rise　to　endless　pleasurable　hours　of　speculation。　If　only　there　were　something　here　that　she　couldwellget　her　teeth　into。　With　a　start　she　realised　that　Major　Palgrave　had　abandoned　Kenya　for　the　North　West　Frontier　and　was　relating　his　experiences　as　a　subaltern。　Unfortunately　he　was　asking　her　with　great　earnestness：　〃Now　don't　you　agree？〃

Long　practice　had　made　Miss　Marple　quite　an　adept　at　dealing　with　that　one。　〃I　don't　really　feel　that　I've　got　sufficient　experience　to　judge。　I'm　afraid　I've　led　rather　a　sheltered　life。〃

〃And　so　you　should；　dear　lady；　so　you　should；〃　cried　Major　Palgrave　gallantly。　〃You've　had　such　a　very　varied　life；〃　went　on　Miss　Marple；　determined　to　make　amends　for　her　former　pleasurable　inattention。

〃Not　bad；〃　said　Major　Palgrave；　placently。　〃Not　bad　at　all。〃　He　looked　round　him　appreciatively。　〃Lovely　place；　this。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　Miss　Marple　and　was　then　unable　to　stop　herself　going　on：　〃Does　anything　ever　happen　here；　I　wonder　？〃

Major　Palgrave　stared。　〃Oh　rather。　Plenty　of　scandalseh　what？　Why；　I　could　tell　you〃　But　it　wasn't　really　scandals　Miss　Marple　wanted。　Nothing　to　get　your　teeth　into　in　scandals　nowadays。　Just　men　and　women　changing　partners；　and　calling　attention　to　it；　instead　of　trying　decently　to　hush　it　up　and　be　properly　ashamed　of　themselves。

〃There　was　even　a　murder　here　a　couple　of　years　ago。　Man　called　Harry　Western。　Made　a　big　splash　in　the　papers。　Daresay　you　remember　it。〃

Miss　Marple　nodded　without　enthusiasm。　It　had　not　been　her　kind　of　murder。　It　had　made　a　big　splash　because　everyone　concerned　had　been　very　rich。　It　had　seemed　likely　enough　that　Harry　Western　had　shot　the　Count　de　Ferrari；　his　wife's　lover；　and　equally　likely　that　his　wellarranged　alibi　had　been　bought　and　paid　for。　Everyone　seemed　to　have　been　drunk；　and　there　was　a　fine　scattering　of　dope　addicts。　Not　really　interesting　people；　thought　Miss　Marplealthough　no　doubt　very　spectacular　and　attractive　to　look　at。　But　definitely　not　her　cup　of　tea。　〃And　if　you　ask　me；　that　wasn't　the　only　murder　about　that　time。〃　He　nodded　and　winked。　〃I　had　my　suspicionswell〃　Miss　Marple　dropped　her　ball　of　wool；　and　the　Major　stooped　and　picked　it　up　for　her。

〃Talking　of　murder；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　once　came　across　a　very　curious　casenot　exactly　personally。〃

Miss　Marple　smiled　encouragingly。

〃Lots　of　chaps　talking　at　the　club　one　day；　you　know；　and　a　chap　began　telling　a　story。　Medical　man　he　was。　One　of　his　cases。　Young　fellow　came　and　knocked　him　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　His　wife　had　hanged　herself。　They　hadn't　got　a　telephone；　so　after　the　chap　had　cut　her　down　and　done　what　he　could；　he'd　got　out　his　car　and　harked　off　looking　for　a　doctor。　Well；　she　wasn't　dead　but　pretty　far　gone。　Anyway；　she　pulled　through。　Young　fellow　seemed　devoted　to　her。　Cried　like　a　child。　He'd　noticed　that　she'd　been　odd　for　some　time；　fits　of　depression　and　all　that。　Well；　that　was　that。　Everything　seemed　all　right。　But　actually；　about　a　month　later；　the　wife　took　an　overdose　of　sleeping　stuff　and　passed　out。　Sad　case。〃　Major　Palgrave　paused；　and　nodded　his　head　several　times。　Since　there　was　obviously　more　to　e　Miss　Marple　waited。　〃And　that's　that；　you　might　say。　Nothing　there。　Neurotic　woman；　nothing　out　of　the　usual。　But　about　a　year　later；　this　medical　chap　was　swapping　yarns　with　a　fellow　medico；　and　the　other　chap　told　him　about　a　woman　who'd　tried　to　drown　hers