加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第16部分

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〃Don't　say　things　to　irritate　me；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　tell　you　the　first　thing　that　strikes　me；　and　which　you　don't　seem　to　have　thought　of。　If　it's　one　of　those　three；　why　the　devil　didn't　old　Palgrave　recognise　him　before？　Dash　it　all；　they've　all　been　sitting　round　looking　at　each　other　for　the　last　two　weeks。　That　doesn't　seem　to　make　sense。〃

〃I　think　it　could；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Well；　tell　me　how。〃

〃You　see；　in　Major　Palgrave's　story　he　hadn't　seen　this　man　himself　at　any　time。　It　was　a　story　told　to　him　by　a　doctor。　The　doctor　gave　him　the　snapshot　as　a　curiosity。　Major　Palgrave　may　have　looked　at　the　snapshot　fairly　closely　at　the　time　but　after　that　he'd　just　stuck　it　away　in　his　wallet　and　kept　it　as　a　souvenir。　Occasionally；　perhaps；　he'd　take　it　out　and　show　it　to　someone　he　was　telling　the　story　to。　And　another　thing；　Mr。　Rafiel；　we　don't　know　how　long　ago　this　happened。　He　didn't　give　me　any　indication　of　that　when　he　was　telling　the　story。　I　mean　this　may　have　been　a　story　he's　been　telling　to　people　for　years。　Five　years。　Ten　years。　Longer　still　perhaps。　Some　of　his　tiger　stories　go　back　about　twenty　years。〃

〃They　would！〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃So　I　don't　suppose　for　a　moment　that　Major　Palgrave　would　recognise　the　face　in　the　snapshot　if　he　came　across　the　man　casually。　What　I　think　happened；　what　I'm　almost　sure　must　have　happened；　is　that　as　he　told　his　story　he　fumbled　for　the　snapshot；　took　it　out；　looked　down　at　it　studying　the　face　and　then　looked　up　to　see　the　same　face；　or　one　with　a　strong　resemblance　ing　towards　him　from　a　distance　of　about　ten　or　twelve　feet　away。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel　consideringly；　〃Yes；　that's　possible。〃

〃He　was　taken　aback；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃and　he　shoved　it　back　in　his　wallet　and　began　to　talk　loudly　about　something　else。〃

〃He　couldn't　have　been　sure；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　shrewdly。

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃he　couldn't　have　been　sure。　But　of　course　afterwards　he　would　have　studied　the　snapshot　very　carefully　and　would　have　looked　at　the　man　and　tried　to　make　up　his　mind　whether　it　was　just　a　likeness　or　whether　it　could　actually　be　the　same　person。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　reflected　a　moment　or　two；　then　he　shook　his　head。　〃There's　something　wrong　here。　The　motive's　inadequate。　Absolutely　inadequate。　He　was　speaking　to　you　loudly；　was　he？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃quite　loudly。　He　always　did。〃

〃True　enough。　Yes；　he　did　shout。　So　whoever　was　approaching　would　hear　what　he　said？〃

〃I　should　imagine　you　could　hear　it　for　quite　a　good　radius　round。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　shook　his　head　again。　He　said；　〃It's　fantastic；　too　fantastic。　Anybody　would　laugh　at　such　a　story。　Here's　an　old　booby　telling　a　story　about　another　story　somebody　told　him；　and　showing　a　snapshot；　and　all　of　it　centring　round　a　murder　which　had　taken　place　years　ago！　Or　at　any　rate；　a　year　or　two。　How　on　earth　can　that　worry　the　man　in　question。　No　evidence；　just　a　bit　of　hearsay；　a　story　at　third　hand。　He　could　even　admit　a　likeness；　he　could　say：　'Yes；　I　do　look　rather　like　that　fellow；　don't　I！　Ha；　ha！'　Nobody's　going　to　take　old　Palgrave's　identification　seriously。　Don't　tell　me　so；　because　I　won't　believe　it。　No；　the　chap；　if　it　was　the　chap；　had　nothing　to　fearnothing　whatever。　It's　the　kind　of　accusation　he　can　just　laugh　off。　Why　on　earth　should　he　proceed　to　murder　old　Palgrave？　It's　absolutely　unnecessary。　You　must　see　that。〃

〃Oh　I　do　see　that；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　couldn't　agree　with　you　more。　That's　what　makes　me　uneasy。　So　very　uneasy　that　I　really　couldn't　sleep　last　night。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　stared　at　her。　〃Let's　hear　what's　on　your　mind；〃　he　said　quietly。

〃I　may　be　entirely　wrong；〃　said　Miss　Marple　hesitantly。

〃Probably　you　are；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel　with　his　usual　lack　of　courtesy；　〃but　at　any　rate　let's　hear　what　you've　thought　up　in　the　small　hours。〃

〃There　could　be　a　very　powerful　motive　if〃

〃If　what？〃

〃If　there　urder。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　stared　at　her。　He　tried　to　pull　himself　up　a　little　in　his　chair。

〃Let's　get　this　clear；〃　he　said。

〃I　am　so　bad　at　explaining。〃　Miss　Marple　spoke　rapidly　and　rather　incoherently。　A　pink　flush　rose　to　her　cheeks。　〃Supposing　there　was　a　murder　planned。　If　you　remember；　the　story　Major　Palgrave　told　me　concerned　a　man　whose　wife　died　under　suspicious　circumstances。　Then；　after　a　certain　lapse　of　time；　there　was　another　murder　under　exactly　the　same　circumstances。　A　man　of　a　different　name　had　a　wife　who　died　in　much　the　same　way　and　the　doctor　who　was　telling　it　recognised　him　as　the　same　man；　although　he'd　changed　his　name。　Well；　it　does　look；　doesn't　it；　as　though　this　murderer　might　be　the　kind　of　murderer　who　made　a　habit　of　the　thing？〃

〃You　mean　like　Smith；　Brides　in　the　Bath；　that　kind　of　thing。　Yes？〃

〃As　far　as　I　can　make　out；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃and　from　what　I　have　heard　and　read；　a　man　who　does　a　wicked　thing　like　this　and　gets　away　with　it　the　first　time；　is；　alas；　encouraged。　He　thinks　it's　easy；　he　thinks　he's　clever。　And　so　he　repeats　it。　And　in　the　end；　as　you　say；　like　Smith　and　the　Brides　in　the　Bath；　it　bees　a　habit。　Each　time　in　a　different　place　and　each　time　the　man　changes　his　name。　But　the　crimes　themselves　are　all　very　much　alike。　So　it　seems　to　me；　although　I　may　be　quite　wrong〃

〃But　you　don't　think　you　are　wrong；　do　you？〃　Mr。　Rafiel　put　it　shrewdly。

Miss　Marple　went　on　without　answering。　〃that　if　that　were　so　and　if　thisthis　person　had　got　things　all　lined　up　for　a　murder　out　here；　for　getting　rid　of　another　wife；　say；　and　if　this　is　crime　three　or　four；　well　then；　the　Major's　story　would　matter　because　the　murderer　couldn't　afford　to　have　any　similarity　pointed　out。　If　you　remember；　that　was　exactly　the　way　Smith　got　caught。　The　circumstances　of　a　crime　attracted　the　attention　of　somebody　who　pared　it　with　a　newspaper　clipping　of　some　other　case。　So　you　do　see；　don't　you；　that　if　this　wicked　person　has　got　a　crime　planned；　arranged；　and　shortly　about　to　take　place；　he　couldn't　afford　to　let　Major　Palgrave　go　about　telling　this　story　and　showing　that　snapshot。〃

She　stopped　and　looked　appealingly　at　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃So　you　see　he　had　to　do　something　very　quickly；　as　quickly　as　possible。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　spoke；　〃In　fact；　that　very　same　night；　eh？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃Quick　work；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃but　it　could　be　done。　Put　the　tablets　in　old　Palgrave's　room；　spread　the　blood　pressure　rumour　about　and　add　a　little　of　our　fourteen　syllable　drug　to　a　Planters　Punch。　Is　that　it？〃

〃Yes。　But　that's　all　over。　We　needn't　worry　about　it。　It's　the　future。　It's　now。　With　Major　Palgrave　out　of　the　way　and　the　snapshot　destroyed；　this　man　will　go　on　with　his　murder　as　planned。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　whistled。

〃You've　got　it　all　worked　out；　haven't　you？〃

Miss　Marple　nodded。　She　said　in　a　most　unaccustomed　voice；　firm　and　almost　dictatorial；　〃And　we've　got　to　stop　it。　You've　got　to　stop　it；　Mr。　Rafiel。〃

〃Me？〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　astonished；　〃why　me？〃

〃Because　you're　rich　and　important；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　simply。　〃People　will　take　notice　of　what　you　say　or　suggest。　They　wouldn't　listen　to　me　for　a　moment。　They　would　say　that　I　was　an　old　lady　imagining　things。〃

〃They　might　at　that；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃More　fools　if　they　did。　I　must　say；　though；　that　nobody　would　think　you　had　any　brains　in　your　head　to　hear　your　usual　line　of　talk。　Actually；　you've　got　a　logical　mind。　Very　few　women　have。〃　He　shifted　himself　unfortably　in　his　chair。　〃Where　the　hell's　Esther　or　Jackson？〃　he　said。　〃I　need　resettling。　No；　it's　no　good　your　doing　it。　You're　not　strong　enough。　I　don't　know　what　they　mean；　leaving　me　alone　like　this。〃

〃I'll　go　and　find　them。〃

''No；　you　won't。　You'll　stay　hereand　thrash　this　out。　Which　of　them　is　it？　The　egregious　Greg？　The　quiet　Edward　Hillingdon　or　my　fellow　Jackson？　It's　got　to　be　one　of　the　three；　hasn't　it？〃



Chapter　17

MR。　Rafiel　TAKES　CHARGE



〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

''What　do　you　mean？　What　have　we　been　talking　about　for　the　last　twenty　minutes？〃

〃It　has　occurred　to　me　that　I　may　have　been　wrong。〃

Mr。　Rafiel　stared　at　her。

〃Scatty　after　all！〃　he　said　disgustedly。　〃And　you　sounded　so　sure　of　yourself。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　sureabout　the　murder。　It's　the　murderer　I'm　not　sure　about。　You　see　I've　found　out　that　Major　Palgrave　had　more　than　one　murder　storyyou　told　me　yourself　he'd　told　you　one　about　a　kind　of　Lucrezia　Bia。〃

〃So　he　did；　at　that。　But　that　was　quite　a　different　kind　of　story。〃

〃I　know。　And　Mrs。　Walters　said　he　had　one　about　someone　being　gassed　in　a　gas　oven〃

〃But　the　story　he　told　you〃

Miss　Marple　allowed　herself　to　interrupta　thing　that　did　not　often　happen　to　Mr。　Rafiel。

She　spoke　with　desperate　earnestness　and　only　moderate　incoherence。　〃Don't　you　seeit's　so　difficult　to　be　sure。　The　whole　point　is　thatso　oftenone　doesn't　listen。　Ask　Mrs。　Walters。　She　said　the　same　thing。　You　listen　to　begin　with；　and　then　your　attention　flags；　your　mind　wanders　and　suddenly　you　find　you've　missed　a　bit。　I　just　wonder　if　possibly　there　may　have　been　a　gapa　very　small　onebetween　the　story　he　was　telling　meabout　a　manand　the　moment　when　he　was　getting　out　his　wallet　and　saying：　'Like　to　see　a　picture　of　a　murderer'。〃

〃But　you　thought　it　was　a　picture　of　the　man　he　had　been　talking　about？〃

〃I　thought　soyes。　It　never　occurred　to　me　that　it　mightn't　have　been。　But　now；　how　can　I　be　sure？〃

Mr。　Rafiel　looked　at　her　very　thoughtfully。

〃The　trouble　with　you　is〃　he　said；　〃that　you're　too　conscientious。　Great　mistake。　Make　up　your　mind　and　don't　shilly　shally。　You　didn't　shilly　shally　to　begin　with。　If　you　ask　me；　in　all　this　chitchat　you've　been　having　with　the　parson's　sister　and　the　rest　of　them；　you've　got　hold　of　something　that's　unsettled　you。〃

〃Perhaps　you're　right。〃

〃Well；　cut　it　out　for　the　moment。　Let's　go　ahead　with　what　you　had　to　begin　with。　Because；　nine　times　out　of　ten；　one's　original　judgements　are　rightor　so　I've　found。　We've　got　three　suspects。　Let's　take　'em　out　and　have　a　good　look　at　them。　Any　preference？〃

〃I　really　haven't；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃all　three　of　them　seem　so　very　unlikely。〃

〃We'll　take　Greg　first；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃Can't　stand　the　fellow。　Doesn't　make　him　a　murderer；　though。　Still；　there　are　one　or　two　points　against　him。　Those　blood　pressure　tablets　belonged　to　him。　Nice　and　handy　to　make　use　of。〃

〃That　would　be　a　little　obvious；　wouldn't　it？〃　Miss　Marple　objected。

〃I　don't　know　that　it　would；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃After　all；　the　main　thing　was　to　do　something　quickly；　and　he'd　got　the　tablets。　Hadn't　much　time　to　go　looking　round　for　tablets　that　somebody　else　might　have。　Let's　say　it's　Greg。　All　right。　If　he　wanted　to　put　his　dear　wife　Lucky　out　of　the　way（Good　job；　too；　I'd　say。　In　fact　I'm　in　sympathy　with　him）I　can't　actually　see　his　motive。　From　all　accounts　he's　rich。　Inherited　money　from　his　first　wife　who　had　pots　of　it。　He　qualifies　on　that　as　a　possible　wife　murderer　all　right。　But　that's　over　and　done　with。　He　got　away　with　it。　But　Lucky　was　his　first　wife's　poor　relation。　No　money　there；　so　if　he　wants　to　put　her　out　of　the　way　it　must　be　in　order　to　marry　somebody　else。　Any　gossip　going　around　about　that？〃

Miss　Marple　shook　her　head。　〃Not　that　I　have　heard。　Heerhas　a　very　gallant　manner　with