加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第14部分

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。〃

〃Had　there　been　any　altercation　between　them？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　I　think；　as　I　say；　she　just　laughed　it　off　as　usual。〃

〃You　can't　say　definitely　whether　she　had　a　knife　in　her　hand　or　not？〃

〃I　can't　remember。　I'm　almost　sure　she　didn't。　In　fact　quite　sure　she　didn't。〃

〃But　you　said　just　now。。。〃

〃Look　here；　what　I　meant　was　that　if　she　was　in　the　dining　room　or　in　the　kitchen　it's　quite　likely　she　might　have　picked　up　a　knife　or　had　one　in　her　hand。　Matter　of　fact　I　can　remember　quite　well；　she　came　in　from　the　dining　room　and　she　had　nothing　in　her　hand。　Nothing　at　all。　That's　definite。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Weston。

Tim　looked　at　him　uneasily。

〃What　on　earth　is　this　you're　getting　at？　What　did　that　damn。　fool　EnricoManuelwhichever　it　wassay？〃

〃He　said　your　wife　came　out　into　the　kitchen；　that　she　looked　upset；　that　she　had　a　knife　in　her　hand。〃

〃He's　just　dramatising。〃

〃Did　you　have　any　further　conversation　with　your　wife　during　dinner　or　after？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　I　did　really。　Matter　of　fact　I　was　rather　busy。〃

〃Was　your　wife　in　the　dining　room　during　the　meal？〃

〃Iohyes；　we　always　move　about　among　the　guests　and　things　like　that。　See　how　things　are　going　on。〃

〃Did　you　speak　to　her　at　all？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　I　did。。。　We're　usually　fairly　busy。　We　don't　always　notice　what　the　other　one's　doing　and　we　certainly　haven't　got　time　to　talk　to　each　other。〃

〃Actually　you　don't　remember　speaking　to　her　until　she　came　up　the　steps　three　hours　later；　after　finding　the　body？〃

〃It　was　an　awful　shock　for　her。　It　upset　her　terribly。〃

〃I　know。　A　very　unpleasant　experience。　How　did　she　e　to　be　walking　along　the　beach　path？〃

〃After　the　stress　of　dinner　being　served；　she　often　does　go　for　a　turn。　You　know；　get　away　from　the　guests　for　a　minute　or　two；　get　a　breather。〃

〃When　she　came　back；　I　understand　you　were　talking　to　Mrs。　Hillingdon。〃

〃Yes。　Practically　everyone　else　had　gone　to　bed。〃

〃What　was　the　subject　of　your　conversation　with　Mrs。　Hillingdon？〃

〃Nothing　particular。　Why？　What's　she　been　saying？〃

〃So　far　she　hasn't　said　anything。　We　haven't　asked　her。〃

〃We　were　just　talking　of　this　and　that。　Molly；　the　hotel　running；　and　one　thing　and　another。〃

〃And　then　your　wife　came　up　the　steps　of　the　terrace　and　told　you　what　had　happened？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃There　was　blood　on　her　hands？〃

〃Of　course　there　was！　She'd　bent　over　the　girl；　tried　to　lift　her；　couldn't　understand　what　had　happened；　what　was　the　matter　with　her。　Of　course　there　was　blood　on　her　hands！　Look　here；　what　the　hell　are　you　suggesting？　You　are　suggesting　something？〃

〃Please　calm　down；〃　said　Daventry。

〃It's　all　a　great　strain　on　you　I　know；　Tim；　but　we　have　to　get　the　facts　clear。　I　understand　your　wife　hasn't　been　feeling　very　well　lately？〃

〃Nonsenseshe's　all　right。　Major　Palgrave's　death　upset　her　a　bit。　Naturally。　She's　a　sensitive　girl。〃

〃We　shall　have　to　ask　her　a　few　questions　as　soon　as　she's　fit　enough；〃　said　Weston。

〃Well；　you　can't　now。　The　doctor　gave　her　a　sedative　and　said　she　wasn't　to　be　disturbed。　I　won't　have　her　upset　and　browbeaten；　d'you　hear？〃

〃We're　not　going　to　do　any　browbeating；〃　said　Weston。　〃We've　just　got　to　get　the　facts　clear。　We　won't　disturb　her　at　present；　but　as　soon　as　the　doctor　allows　us；　we'll　have　to　see　her。〃　His　voice　was　gentleinflexible。

Tim　looked　at　him；　opened　his　mouth；　but　said　nothing。



II



Evelyn　Hillingdon；　calm　and　posed　as　usual；　sat　down　in　the　chair　indicated。　She　considered　the　few　questions　asked　her；　taking　her　time　over　it。　Her　dark；　intelligent　eyes　looked　at　Weston　thoughtfully。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　was　talking　to　Mr。　Kendal　on　the　terrace　when　his　wife　came　up　the　steps　and　told　us　about　the　murder。〃

〃Your　husband　wasn't　there？〃

〃No；　he　had　gone　to　bed。〃

〃Had　you　any　special　reason　for　your　conversation　with　Mr。　Kendal？〃

Evelyn　raised　her　finely　pencilled　eyebrows。　It　was　a　definite　rebuke。

She　said　coldly：　''What　a　very　odd　question。　No；　there　was　nothing　special　about　our　conversation。〃

〃Did　you　discuss　the　matter　of　his　wife's　health？〃

Again　Evelyn　took　her　time。

〃I　really　can't　remember；〃　she　said　at　last。

〃Are　you　sure　of　that？〃

〃Sure　that　I　can't　remember？　What　a　curious　way　of　putting　it。　One　talks　about　so　many　things　at　different　times。〃

〃Mrs。　Kendal　has　not　been　in　good　health　lately；　I　understand。〃

〃She　looked　quite　all　righta　little　tired　perhaps。　Of　course　running　a　place　like　this　means　a　lot　of　worries；　and　she　is　quite　inexperienced。　Naturally；　she　gets　flustered　now　and　then。〃

〃Flustered。〃　Weston　repeated　the　word。　〃That　was　the　way　you　would　describe　it？〃

〃It's　an　oldfashioned　word；　perhaps；　but　just　as　good　as　the　modern　jargon　we　use　for　everything。　A　'virus　infection'　for　a　bilious　attackan　'anxiety　neurosis'　for　the　minor　bothers　of　daily　life。〃　Her　smile　made　Weston　feel　slightly　ridiculous。　He　thought　to　himself　that　Evelyn　Hillingdon　was　a　clever　woman。　He　looked　at　Daventry　whose　face　remained　unmoved　and　wondered　what　he　thought。

〃Thank　you；　Mrs。　Hillingdon；〃　said　Weston。



III



〃We　don't　want　to　worry　you；　Mrs。　Kendal；　but　we　have　to　have　your　account　of　just　how　you　came　to　find　this　girl。　Dr。　Graham　says　you　are　sufficiently　recovered　to　talk　about　it　now。〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Molly；　〃I'm　really　quite　all　right　again。〃　She　gave　them　a　small　nervous　smile。　〃It　was　just　the　shock。　It　was　rather　awful；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　indeed　it　must　have　been。　I　understand　you　went　for　a　walk　after　dinner。〃

〃Yes。　I　often　do。〃

Her　eyes　shifted；　Daventry　noticed；　and　the　fingers　of　her　hands　twined　and　untwined　about　each　other。

〃What　time　would　that　have　been；　Mrs。　Kendal？〃　asked　Weston。

〃Well；　I　don't　really　knowwe　don't　go　much　by　the　time。〃

〃The　steel　band　was　still　playing？〃

〃Yes。　At　least　I　think　so。　I　can't　really　remember。〃

〃And　you　walked；　which　way？〃

〃Oh；　along　the　beach　path。〃

〃To　the　left　or　the　right？〃

〃Oh！　First　one　wayand　then　the　other。　II　really　didn't　notice。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　notice；　Mrs。　Kendal？〃

She　frowned。

〃I　suppose　I　waswellthinking　of　things。〃

〃Thinking　of　anything　particular？〃

〃No。　No。　Nothing　particular。　Just　things　that　had　to　be　doneseen　toin　the　hotel。〃

Again　that　nervous　twining　and　untwining　of　fingers。

〃And　then　I　noticed　something　white　in　a　clump　of　hibiscus　bushes　and　I　wondered　what　it　was。　I　stopped　andand　pulled〃　She　swallowed　convulsively。　〃And　it　was　herVictoriaall　huddled　upand　I　tried　to　raise　her　head　up　and　I　gotbloodon　my　hands。〃　She　looked　at　them　and　repeated　wonderingly　as　though　recalling　something　impossible：　〃Bloodon　my　hands。〃

〃Yes。　Yes。　A　very　dreadful　experience。　There　is　no　need　for　you　to　tell　us　more　about　that　part　of　it。　How　long　had　you　been　walking；　do　you　think；　when　you　found　her？〃

〃I　don't　know。　I　have　no　idea。〃

〃An　hour？　Half　an　hour？　Or　more　than　an　hour？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　Molly　repeated。

Daventry　asked　in　a　quiet　everyday　voice：　〃Did　you　take　a　knife　with　you　on　your　walk？〃

〃A　knife？〃　Molly　sounded　surprised。　〃Why　should　I　take　a　knife？〃

〃I　only　ask　because　one　of　the　kitchen　staff　mentioned　that　you　had　a　knife　in　your　hand　when　you　went　out　of　the　kitchen　into　the　garden。〃

Molly　frowned。

〃But　I　didn't　go　out　of　the　kitchenoh　you　mean　earlierbefore　dinner。　II　don't　think　so。〃

〃You　had　been　rearranging　the　cutlery　on　the　tables；　perhaps。〃

〃I　have　to；　sometimes。　They　lay　things　wrong；　not　enough　knives；　or　too　many。　The　wrong　number　of　forks　and　spoons；　that　sort　of　thing。〃

〃And　did　that　happen　on　this　particular　evening？〃

〃It　may　have　done　something　like　that。　It's　really　automatic。　One　doesn't　think；　or　remember〃

〃So　you　may　have　gone　out　of　the　kitchen　that　evening　carrying　a　knife　in　your　hand？〃

〃I　don't　think　I　didI'm　sure　I　didn't。〃　She　added：　〃Tim　was　therehe　would　know。　Ask　him。〃

〃Did　you　like　this　girlVictoriawas　she　good　at　her　work？〃　asked　Weston。

〃Yesshe　was　a　very　nice　girl。〃

〃You　had　had　no　dispute　with　her？〃

〃Dispute？　No。〃

〃She　had　never　threatened　youin　any　way？〃

〃Threatened　me？　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃It　doesn't　matter。　You　have　no　idea　of　who　could　have　killed　her？　No　idea　at　all？〃

〃None。〃　She　spoke　positively。

〃Well；　thank　you；　Mrs。　Kendal。〃　He　smiled。　〃It　wasn't　so　terrible；　was　it？〃

〃That's　all？〃

〃That's　all　for　now。〃

Daventry　got　up；　opened　the　door　for　her；　and　watched　her　go　out。

〃Tim　would　know；〃　he　quoted　as　he　returned　to　his　chair。　〃And　Tim　says　definitely　that　she　didn't　have　a　knife。〃

Weston　said　gravely：　〃I　think　that　that　is　what　any　husband　would　feel　called　upon　to　say。〃

〃A　table　knife　seems　a　very　poor　type　of　knife　to　use　for　murder。〃

〃But　it　was　a　steak　knife；　Mr。　Daventry。　Steaks　were　on　the　menu　that　evening。　Steak　knives　are　kept　sharp。〃

〃I　really　can't　bring　myself　to　believe　that　the　girl　we've　just　been　talking　to　is　a　redhanded　murderess；　Weston。〃

〃It　is　not　necessary　to　believe　it　yet。　It　could　be　that　Mrs。　Kendal　went　out　into　the　garden　before　dinner；　clasping　a　knife　she　had　taken　off　one　of　the　tables　because　it　was　superfluousshe　might　not　even　have　noticed　she　was　holding　it；　and　she　could　have　put　it　down　somewhereor　dropped　it。　It　could　have　been　found　and　used　by　someone　else。　I；　too；　think　her　an　unlikely　murderess。〃

〃All　the　same；〃　said　Daventry　thoughtfully；　〃I'm　pretty　sure　she　is　not　telling　all　she　knows。　Her　vagueness　over　time　is　odd；　Where　was　she？　What　was　she　doing　out　there？　Nobody；　so　far；　seems　to　have　noticed　her　in　the　dining　room　that　evening。〃

〃The　husband　was　about　as　usual；　but　not　the　wife。。。〃

〃You　think　she　went　to　meet　someone？　Victoria　Johnson？〃

〃Perhapsor　perhaps　she　saw　whoever　it　was　who　did　go　to　meet　Victoria。〃

〃You're　thinking　of　Gregory　Dyson？〃

〃We　know　he　was　talking　to　Victoria　earlier。　He　may　have　arranged　to　meet　her　again　later。　Everyone　moved　around　freely　on　the　terrace；　rememberdancing；　drinkingin　and　out　of　the　bar。〃

〃No　alibi　like　a　steel　band；〃　said　Daventry　wryly。



Chapter　16

MISS　MARPLE　SEEKS　ASSISTANCE



If　anybody　had　been　there　to　observe　the　gentlelooking　elderly　lady　who　stood　meditatively　on　the　loggia　outside　her　bungalow；　they　would　have　thought　she　had　nothing　more　on　her　mind　than　deliberation　on　how　to　arrange　her　time　that　day。　An　expedition；　perhaps；　to　Castle　Cliff；　a　visit　to　Jamestown；　a　nice　drive　and　lunch　at　Pelican　Pointor　just　a　quiet　morning　on　the　beach。

But　the　gentle　old　lady　atters。　She　was　in　a　militant　mood。

〃Something　has　got　to　be　done；〃　said　Miss　Marple　to　herself。

Moreover；　she　was　convinced　that　there　was　no　time　to　be　lost。　There　was　urgency。　But　who　was　there　that　she　could　convince　of　that　fact？　Given　time；　she　thought　she　could　find　out　the　truth　by　herself。

She　had　found　out　a　good　deal。　But　not　enoughnot　nearly　enough。　And　time　was　short。

She　realised；　bitterly；　that　here　on　this　Paradise　of　an　island；　she　had　none　of　her　usual　allies。　She　thought　regretfully　of　her　friends　in　England：　Sir　Henry　Clithering；　always　willing　to　listen　indulgently；　his　godson　Dermot；　who　in　spite　of　his　increased　status　at　Scotland　Yard；　was　still　ready　to　believe　that　when　Miss　Marple　v