加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第10部分

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〃You　remember　my　speaking　to　you　about　a　snapshot　of　my　nephew；　one　that　I　showed　to　Major　Palgrave；　and　that　he　didn't　give　back　to　me？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　of　course　I　remember。　Sorry　we　couldn't　find　it　for　you。〃

〃There　wasn't　any　such　thing；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　in　a　small；　frightened　voice。

〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃

〃There　wasn't　any　such　thing。　I　made　up　that　story；　I'm　afraid。〃

〃You　made　it　up？〃　Dr。　Graham　looked　slightly　annoyed。　〃Why？〃

Miss　Marple　told　him。　She　told　him　quite　clearly；　without　twittering。　She　told　him　about　Major　Palgrave's　murder　story　and　how　he'd　been　about　to　show　her　this　particular　snapshot　and　his　sudden　confusion　and　then　she　went　on　to　her　own　anxiety　and　to　her　final　decision　to　try　somehow　to　obtain　a　view　of　it。

〃And　really；　I　couldn't　see　any　way　of　doing　so　without　telling　you　something　that　was　quite　untrue；〃　she　said；　〃I　do　hope　you　will　five　me。〃

〃You　thought　that　what　he　had　been　about　to　show　you　was　a　picture　of　a　murderer？〃

〃That's　what　he　said　it　was；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃At　least　he　said　it　was　given　him　by　this　acquaintance　who　had　told　him　the　story　about　a　man　who　was　a　murderer。〃

〃Yes；　yes。　Andexcuse　meyou　believed　him？〃

〃I　don't　know　if　I　really　believed　him　or　not　at　the　time；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃But　then；　you　see；　the　next　day　he　died。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　Graham；　struck　suddenly　by　the　clarity　of　that　one　sentence。　The　next　day　he　died。。。

〃And　the　snapshot　had　disappeared。〃

Dr。　Graham　looked　at　her。　He　didn't　quite　know　what　to　say。

〃Excuse；　Miss　Marple；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃but　is　what　you're　telling　me　nowis　it　really　true　this　time？〃

〃I　don't　wonder　your　doubting　me；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　should；　in　your　place。　Yes；　it　is　true　what　I　am　telling　you　now；　but　I　quite　realise　that　you　have　only　my　word　for　it。　Still；　even　if　you　don't　believe　me；　I　thought　I　ought　to　tell　you。〃

〃Why？〃

〃I　realised　that　you　ought　to　have　the　fullest　information　possible。　In　case〃

〃In　case　what？〃

〃In　case　you　decided　to　take　any　steps　about　it。〃



Chapter　10

A　DECISION　IN　JAMESTOWN



Dr。　Graham　was　in　Jamestown；　in　the　Administrator's　office；　sitting　at　a　table　opposite　his　friend　Daventry；　a　grave　young　man　of　thirtyfive。

〃You　sounded　rather　mysterious　on　the　phone；　Graham；〃　said　Daventry。　〃Anything　special　the　matter？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Dr。　Graham；　〃but　I'm　worried。〃

Daventry　looked　at　the　other's　face；　then　he　nodded　as　drinks　were　brought　in。　He　spoke　lightly　of　a　fishing　expedition　he　had　made　lately。　Then　when　the　servant　had　gone　away；　he　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　looked　at　the　other　man。

〃Now　then〃　he　said；　〃let's　have　it。〃

Dr。　Graham　recounted　the　facts　that　had　worried　him。　Daventry　gave　a　slow　long　whistle。

〃I　see。　You　think　maybe　there's　something　funny　about　old　Palgrave's　death？　You're　no　longer　sure　that　it　was　just　natural　causes？　Who　certified　the　death？　Robertson；　I　suppose。　He　didn't　have　any　doubts；　did　he？〃

〃No；　but　I　think　he　may　have　been　influenced　in　giving　the　certificate　by　the　fact　of　the　Serenite　tablets　in　the　bathroom。　He　asked　me　if　Palgrave　had　mentioned　that　he　suffered　from　hypertension；　and　I　said　no；　I'd　never　had　any　medical　conversation　with　him　myself；　but　apparently　he　had　talked　about　it　to　other　people　in　the　hotel。　The　whole　thingthe　bottle　of　tablets；　and　what　Palgrave　had　said　to　peopleit　all　fitted　inno　earthly　reason　to　suspect　anything　else。　It　was　a　perfectly　natural　inference　to　makebut　I　think　now　it　may　not　have　been　correct。　If　it　had　been　my　business　to　give　the　certificate；　I'd　have　given　it　without　a　second　thought。　The　appearances　are　quite　consistent　with　his　having　died　from　that　cause。　I'd　never　have　thought　about　it　since　if　it　hadn't　been　for　the　odd　disappearance　of　that　snapshot。。。〃

〃But　look　here；　Graham；〃　said　Daventry；　〃if　you　will　allow　me　to　say　so；　aren't　you　relying　a　little　too　much　on　a　rather　fanciful　story　told　by　an　elderly　lady。　You　know　what　these　elderly　ladies　are　like。　They　magnify　some　detail　and　work　the　whole　thing　up。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Dr。　Graham；　unhappily。　〃I　know　that。　I've　said　to　myself　that　it　may　be　so；　that　it　probably　is　so。　But　I　can't　quite　convince　myself。　She　was　so　very　clear　and　detailed　in　her　statement。〃

〃The　whole　thing　seems　wildly　improbable　to　me；〃　said　Daventry。　〃Some　old　lady　tells　a　story　about　a　snapshot　that　ought　not　to　be　thereno　I'm　getting　mixed　myselfI　mean　the　other　way　about　don't　I？but　the　only　thing　you've　really　got　to　go　on　is　that　a　chambermaid　says　that　a　bottle　of　pills　which　the　authorities　had　relied　on　for　evidence；　wasn't　in　the　Major's　room　the　day　before　his　death。　But　there　are　a　hundred　explanations　for　that。　He　might　always　have　carried　those　pills　about　in　his　pocket。〃

〃It's　possible；　I　suppose；　yes。〃

〃Or　the　chambermaid　may　have　made　a　mistake　and　she　simply　hadn't　noticed　them　before〃

〃That's　possible；　too。〃

〃Well；　then。〃

Graham　said　slowly：　〃The　girl　was　very　positive。〃

〃Well；　the　St。　Honorй　people　are　very　excitable；　you　know。　Emotional。　Work　themselves　up　easily。　Are　you　thinking　that　she　knows　a　little　more　than　she　has　said？〃

〃I　think　it　might　be　so；〃　said　Dr。　Graham　slowly。

〃You'd　better　try　and　get　it　out　of　her；　if　so。　We　don't　want　to　make　an　unnecessary　fussunless　we've　something　to　go　on。　If　he　didn't　die　of　blood　pressure；　what　do　you　think　it　was？〃

〃There　are　too　many　things　it　might　be　nowadays；〃　said　Dr。　Graham。

〃You　mean　things　that　don't　leave　recognisable　traces？〃

〃Not　everyone；〃　said　Dr。　Graham　dryly；　〃is　so　considerate　as　to　use　arsenic〃

〃Now　let's　get　things　quite　clearwhat's　the　suggestion？　That　a　bottle　of　pills　was　substituted　for　the　real　ones？　And　that　Major　Palgrave　was　poisoned　in　that　way？〃

〃Noit's　not　like　that。　That's　what　the　girlVictoria　Something　thinks。　But　she's　got　it　all　wrong。　If　it　was　decided　to　get　rid　of　the　Majorquicklyhe　would　have　been　given　somethingmost　likely　in　a　drink　of　some　kind。　Then　to　make　it　appear　a　natural　death；　a　bottle　of　the　tablets　prescribed　to　relieve　blood　pressure　was　put　in　his　room。　And　the　rumour　was　put　about　that　he　suffered　from　high　blood　pressure。〃

〃Who　put　the　rumour　about？〃

〃I've　tried　to　find　outwith　no　success。　It's　been　too　cleverly　done。　A　says　'I　think　B　told　me'B；　asked；　says　'No；　I　didn't　say　so　but　I　do　remember　C　mentioning　it　one　day。'　C　says　'Several　people　talked　about　itone　of　them；　I　think；　was　A。'　And　there　we　are；　back　again。〃

〃Someone　was　clever？〃

〃Yes。　As　soon　as　the　death　was　discovered；　everybody　seemed　to　be　talking　about　the　Major's　high　blood　pressure　and　repeating　round　what　other　people　had　said。〃

〃Wouldn't　it　have　been　simpler　just　to　poison　him　and　let　it　go　at　that？〃

〃No。　That　might　have　meant　an　inquirypossibly　an　autopsy。　This　way；　a　doctor　would　accept　the　death　and　give　a　certificateas　he　did。〃

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？　Go　to　the　C。I。D。？　Suggest　they　dig　the　chap　up？　It'd　make　a　lot　of　stink〃

〃It　could　be　kept　quite　quiet。〃

〃Could　it　？　In　St。　Honorй？　Think　again！　The　grapevine　would　be　on　to　it　before　it　had　happened。　All　the　same；〃　Daventry　sighed　〃I　suppose　we'll　have　to　do　something。　But　if　you　ask　me；　it's　all　a　mare's　nest！〃

〃I　devoutly　hope　it　is；〃　said　Dr。　Graham。



Chapter　11

EVENING　AT　THE　GOLDEN　PALM



Molly　rearranged　a　few　of　the　table　decorations　in　the　dining　room；　removed　an　extra　knife；　straightened　a　fork；　reset　a　glass　or　two；　stood　back　to　look　at　the　effect　and　then　walked　out　on　to　the　terrace　outside。

There　was　no　one　about　just　at　present　and　she　strolled　to　the　far　corner　and　stood　by　the　balustrade。　Soon　another　evening　would　begin。　Chattering；　talking；　drinking；　all　so　gay　and　carefree；　the　sort　of　life　she　had　longed　for　and；　up　to　a　few　days　ago；　had　enjoyed　so　much。　Now　even　Tim　seemed　anxious　and　worried。　Natural；　perhaps；　that　he　should　worry　a　little。　It　was　important　that　this　venture　of　theirs　should　turn　out　all　right。　After　all；　he　had　sunk　all　he　had　in　it。

But　that；　thought　Molly；　is　not　really　what's　worrying　him。　It's　me。　But　I　don't　see；　said　Molly　to　herself；　why　he　should　worry　about　me。　Because　he　did　worry　about　her。　That　she　was　quite　sure　of。　The　questions　he　put；　the　quick　nervous　glance　he　shot　at　her　from　time　to　time。　But　why？　thought　Molly。　〃I've　been　very　careful；〃　she　summed　up　things　in　her　mind。　She　didn't　understand　it　really　herself。　She　couldn't　remember　when　it　had　begun。　She　wasn't　even　very　sure　what　it　was。　She'd　begun　to　be　frightened　of　people。　She　didn't　know　why。　What　could　they　do　to　her？　What　should　they　want　to　do　to　her？

She　nodded　her　head；　then　started　violently　as　a　hand　touched　her　arm。　She　spun　round　to　find　Gregory　Dyson；　slightly　taken　aback；　looking　apologetic。

〃Ever　so　sorry。　Did　I　startle　you；　little　girl？〃

Molly　hated　being　called　〃little　girl〃。

She　said　quickly　and　brightly：　〃I　didn't　hear　you　ing；　Mr。　Dyson；　so　it　made　me　jump。〃

〃Mr。　Dyson？　We're　very　formal　tonight。　Aren't　we　all　one　great　happy　family　here？　Ed　and　me　and　Lucky　and　Evelyn　and　you　and　Tim　and　Esther　Walters　and　old　Rafiel。　All　the　lot　of　us　one　happy　family。〃

〃He's　had　plenty　to　drink　already；〃　thought　Molly。　She　smiled　at　him　pleasantly。

〃Oh！　I　e　over　the　heavy　hostess　sometimes；〃　she　said　lightly。　〃Tim　and　I　think　it's　more　polite　not　to　be　too　handy　with　Christian　names。〃

〃Aw！　we　don't　want　any　of　that　stuffedshirt　business。　Now　then；　Molly　my　lovely；　have　a　drink　with　me。〃

〃Ask　me　later；〃　said　Molly。　〃I　have　a　few　things　to　get　on　with。〃

〃Now　don't　run　away。〃　His　arm　fastened　round　her　arm。　〃You're　a　lovely　girl；　Molly。　I　hope　Tim　appreciates　his　good　luck。〃

〃Oh；　I　see　to　it　that　he　does；〃　said　Molly　cheerfully。

〃I　could　go　for　you；　you　know；　in　a　big　way。〃　He　leered　at　her〃though　I　wouldn't　let　my　wife　hear　me　say　so。〃

〃Did　you　have　a　good　trip　this　afternoon？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　Between　you　and　me　I　get　a　bit　fed　up　sometimes。　You　can　get　tired　of　the　birds　and　butterflies。　What　say　you　and　I　go　for　a　little　picnic　on　our　own　one　day？〃

〃We'll　have　to　see　about　that；〃　said　Molly　gaily。　〃I'll　be　looking　forward　to　it。〃

With　a　light　laugh　she　escaped；　and　went　back　into　the　bar。

〃Hallo；　Molly；〃　said　Tim；　〃you　seem　in　a　hurry。　Who's　that　you've　been　with　out　there？〃

He　peered　out。

〃Gregory　Dyson。〃

〃What　does　he　want？〃

〃Wanted　to　make　a　pass　at　me；〃　said　Molly。

〃Blast　him；〃　said　Tim。

〃Don't　worry；〃　said　Molly；　〃I　can　do　all　the　blasting　necessary。〃

Tim　started　to　answer　her；　caught　sight　of　Fernando　and　went　over　to　him　shouting　out　some　directions。　Molly　slipped　away　through　the　kitchen；　out　through　the　kitchen　door　and　down　the　steps　to　the　beach。

Gregory　Dyson　swore　under　his　breath。

Then　he　walked　slowly　back　in　the　direction　of　his　bungalow。　He　had　nearly　got　there　when　a　voice　spoke　to　him　from　the　shadow　of　one　of　the　bushes。　He　turned　his　head；　startled。　In　the　gathering　dusk　he　thought　for　a　moment　that　it　was　a　ghostly　figure　that　stood　there。　Then　he　laughed。　It　had　looked　like　a　faceless　apparition　but　that　was　because；　though　the　dress　was　white；　the　face　was　black。

Victoria　stepped　out　of　the　bushes　on　to　the　path。

〃Mr。　Dyson；　please？〃

〃Yes。　What