加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第20部分

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〃Yes。　Yes；　exactly。　That's　what　I　mean。　And　the　same　thing　perhaps　with　the　Hillingdons。　I　mean　when　you　say　that　they　live　in　Hampshire；　you're　really　repeating　what　they　told　you　aren't　you？〃

Miss　Prescott　looked　slightly　alarmed。　〃Do　you　mean　that　they　don't　live　in　Hampshire？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　no；　not　for　one　moment；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　quickly　apologetic。　〃I　was　only　using　them　as　an　instance　as　to　what　one　knows　or　doesn't　know　about　people。〃　She　added；　〃I　have　told　you　that　I　live　at　St。　Mary　Mead；　which　is　a　place；　no　doubt；　of　which　you　have　never　heard。　But　you　don't；　if　I　may　say　so；　know　it　of　your　own　knowledge；　do　you？〃

Miss　Prescott　forbore　from　saying　that　she　really　couldn't　care　less　where　Miss　Marple　lived。　It　was　somewhere　in　the　country　and　in　the　south　of　England　and　that　is　all　she　knew。　〃Oh；　I　do　see　what　you　mean；〃　she　agreed　hastily；　〃and　I　know　that　one　can't　possibly　be　too　careful　when　one　is　abroad。〃

〃I　didn't　exactly　mean　that。〃　said　Miss　Marple。

There　were　some　odd　thoughts　going　through　Miss　Marple's　mind。　Did　she　really　know；　she　was　asking　herself；　that　Canon　Prescott　and　Miss　Prescott　were　really　Canon　Prescott　and　Miss　Prescott？

They　said　so。　There　was　no　evidence　to　contradict　them。　It　would　really　be　easy；　would　it　not；　to　put　on　a　dogcollar；　to　wear　the　appropriate　clothes；　to　make　the　appropriate　conversation。　If　there　was　a　motive。。。

Miss　Marple　was　fairly　knowledgeable　about　the　clergy　in　her　part　of　the　world；　but　the　Prescotts　came　from　the　north。　Durham；　wasn't　it？　She　had　no　doubt　they　were　the　Prescotts；　but　still；　it　came　back　to　the　same　thingone　believed　what　people　said　to　one。　Perhaps　one　ought　to　be　on　one's　guard　against　that。　Perhaps。。。　She　shook　her　head　thoughtfully。



Chapter　19

USES　OF　A　SHOE



Canon　Prescott　came　back　from　the　water's　edge　slightly　short　of　breath　（playing　with　children　is　always　exhausting）。

Presently　he　and　his　sister　went　back　to　the　hotel；　finding　the　beach　a　little　too　hot。

〃But；〃　said　Seсora　de　Caspearo　scornfully　as　they　walked　away；　〃How　can　a　beach　be　too　hot？　It　is　nonsense　that。　And　look　what　she　wearsher　arms　and　her　neck　are　all　covered　up。　Perhaps　it　is　as　well；　that。　Her　skin　it　is　hideous；　like　a　plucked　chicken。〃

Miss　Marple　drew　a　deep　breath。　Now　or　never　was　the　time　for　conversation　with　Seсora　de　Caspearo。　Unfortunately　she　did　not　know　what　to　say。　There　seemed　to　be　no　mon　ground　on　which　they　could　meet。

〃You　have　children；　Seсora？〃　she　inquired。

〃I　have　three　angels；〃　said　Seсora　de　Caspearo；　kissing　her　fingertips。　Miss　Marple　was　rather　uncertain　as　to　whether　this　meant　that　Seсora　de　Caspearo's　offspring　were　in　Heaven　or　whether　it　merely　referred　to　their　characters。　One　of　the　gentlemen　in　attendance　made　a　remark　in　Spanish　and　Seсora　de　Caspearo　flung　back　her　head　appreciatively　and　laughed　loudly　and　melodiously。

〃You　understand　arple。

〃I'm　afraid　not；〃　said　Miss　Marple　apologetically。

〃It　is　just　as　well。　He　is　a　wicked　man。〃

A　rapid　and　spirited　interchange　of　Spanish　followed。

〃It　is　infamousinfamous；〃　said　Seсora　de　Caspearo；　reverting　to　English　with　sudden　gravity；　〃that　the　police　do　not　let　us　go　from　this　island。　I　storm；　I　scream；　I　stamp　my　foot；　but　all　they　say　is　No。　No。　You　know　how　it　will　end；　we　shall　all　be　killed。〃

Her　bodyguard　attempted　to　reassure　her。

〃But　yes。　I　tell　you　it　is　unlucky　here。　I　knew　it　from　the　first。　That　old　Major；　the　ugly　one；　he　had　the　Evil　Eye。　You　remember？　His　eyes　they　crossed。　It　is　bad；　that！　I　make　the　Sign　of　the　Horns　every　time　when　he　looks　my　way。〃　She　made　it　in　illustration。　〃Though　since　he　is　crosseyed　I　am　not　always　sure　when　he　does　look　my　way〃

〃He　had　a　glass　eye；〃　said　Miss　Marple　in　an　explanatory　voice。　〃An　accident；　I　understand；　when　he　was　quite　young。　It　was　not　his　fault。〃

〃I　tell　you　he　brought　bad　luck。　I　say　it　is　the　evil　eye　he　had。〃

Her　hand　shot　out　again　in　the　wellknown　Latin　gesture：　the　first　finger　and　the　little　finger　sticking　out；　the　two　middle　ones　doubled　in。　〃Anyway；〃　she　said　cheerfully；　〃he　is　dead。　I　do　not　have　to　look　at　him　anymore。　I　do　not　like　to　look　at　things　that　are　ugly。〃

It　was；　Miss　Marple　thought；　a　somewhat　cruel　epitaph　on　Major　Palgrave。　Farther　down　the　beach　Gregory　Dyson　had　e　out　of　the　sea。　Lucky　had　turned　herself　over　on　the　sand。　Evelyn　Hillingdon　was　looking　at　Lucky；　and　her　expression；　for　some　reason；　made　Miss　Marple　shiver。

〃Surely　I　can't　be　coldin　this　hot　sun；〃　she　thought。

What　was　the　old　phrase？　〃A　goose　walking　over　your　grave〃

She　got　up　and　went　slowly　back　to　her　bungalow。

On　the　way　she　passed　Mr。　Rafiel　and　Esther　Walters　ing　down　the　beach。　Mr。　Rafiel　winked　at　her。　Miss　Marple　did　not　wink　back。　She　looked　at　him　disapprovingly。　She　went　into　her　bungalow　and　lay　down　on　her　bed。　She　felt　old　and　tired　and　worried。

She　was　quite　certain　that　there　was　no　time　to　be　lostno　time　to　be　lost。。。　It　was　getting　late。。。　The　sun　was　going　to　set。　The　sun；　one　must　always　look　at　the　sun　through　smoked　glass。。。　Where　was　that　piece　of　smoked　glass　that　someone　had　given　her？。。。　No；　she　wouldn't　need　it　after　all。　A　shadow　had　e　over　the　sun　blotting　it　out。　A　shadow。　Evelyn　Hillingdon's　shadow。　No；　not　Evelyn　HillingdonThe　Shadow　（what　were　the　words）　the　Shadow　of　the　Valley　of　Death。　That　was　it。　She　mustwhat　was　it？　Make　the　Sign　of　the　Hornsto　avert　the　Evil　EyeMajor　Palgrave's　Evil　Eye。　Her　eyelids　flickered　openshe　had　been　asleep。　But　there　was　a　shadowsomeone　peering　in　at　her　window。

The　shadow　moved　away　and　Miss　Marple　saw　who　it　was。　It　was　Jackson。

〃Impertinencepeering　in　like　that；〃　she　thoughtand　added　parenthetically　〃Just　like　Jonas　Parry。〃

The　parison　reflected　no　credit　on　Jackson。

Then　she　wondered　why　Jackson　had　been　peering　into　her　bedroom。　To　see　if　she　was　there？　Or　to　note　that　she　was　there；　but　was　asleep。　She　got　up；　went　into　the　bathroom　and　peered　cautiously　through　the　window。　Arthur　Jackson　was　standing　by　the　door　of　the　bungalow　next　door。　Mr。　Rafiel's　bungalow。　She　saw　him　give　a　rapid　glance　round　and　then　slip　quickly　inside。

Interesting；　thought　Miss　Marple。　Why　did　he　have　to　look　round　in　that　furtive　manner。　Nothing　in　the　world　could　have　been　more　natural　than　his　going　into　Mr。　Rafiel's　bungalow　since　he　himself　had　a　room　at　the　back　of　it。　He　was　always　going　in　and　out　of　it　on　some　errand　or　other。

So　why　that　quick；　guilty　glance　round？　〃Only　one　reason；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃he　wanted　to　be　sure　that　nobody　was　observing　him　enter　at　this　particular　moment　because　of　something　he　was　going　to　do　in　there。〃

Everybody；　of　course；　was　on　the　beach　at　this　moment　except　those　who　had　gone　for　expeditions。　In　about　twenty　minutes　or　so；　Jackson　himself　would　arrive　on　the　beach　in　the　course　of　his　duties　to　aid　Mr。　Rafiel　to　take　his　sea　dip。　If　he　wanted　to　do　anything　in　the　bungalow　unobserved；　now　was　a　very　good　time。　He　had　satisfied　himself　that　Miss　Marple　was　asleep　on　her　bed；　he　had　satisfied　himself　that　there　was　nobody　near　at　hand　to　observe　his　movements。　Well；　she　must　do　her　best　to　do　exactly　that。

Sitting　down　on　her　bed。　Miss　Marple　removed　her　neat　sandal　shoes　and　replaced　them　with　a　pair　of　plimsolls。　Then　she　shook　her　head；　removed　the　plimsolls；　burrowed　in　her　suitcase　and　took　out　a　pair　of　shoes　the　heel　on　one　of　which　she　had　recently　caught　on　a　hook　by　the　door。　It　was　now　in　a　slightly　precarious　state　and　Miss　Marple　adroitly　rendered　it　even　more　precarious　by　attention　with　a　nail　file。　Then　she　emerged　with　due　precaution　from　her　door　walking　in　stockinged　feet。

With　all　the　care　of　a　Big　Game　Hunter　approaching　upwind　of　a　herd　of　antelope；　Miss　Marple　gently　circumnavigated　Mr。　Rafiel's　bungalow。

Cautiously　she　manoeuvred　her　way　around　the　corner　of　the　house。　She　put　on　one　of　the　shoes　she　was　carrying；　gave　a　final　wrench　to　the　heel　of　the　other；　sank　gently　to　her　knees　and　lay　prone　under　the　window。　If　Jackson　heard　anything；　if　he　came　to　the　window　to　look　out；　an　old　lady　would　have　had　a　fall　owing　to　the　heel　ing　off　her　shoe。　But　evidently　Jackson　had　heard　nothing。

Very；　very　gently　Miss　Marple　raised　her　head。　The　windows　of　the　bungalow　were　low。　Shielding　herself　slightly　with　a　festoon　of　creeper　she　peered　inside。。。

Jackson　was　on　his　knees　before　a　suitcase。

The　lid　of　the　suitcase　was　up　and　Miss　Marple　could　see　that　it　was　a　specially　fitted　affair　containing　partments　filled　with　various　kinds　of　papers。

Jackson　was　looking　through　the　papers；　occasionally　drawing　documents　out　of　long　envelopes。　Miss　Marple　did　not　remain　at　her　observation　post　for　long。　All　she　wanted　was　to　know　what　Jackson　was　doing。　She　knew　now。　Jackson　was　snooping。　Whether　he　was　looking　for　something　in　particular；　or　whether　he　was　just　indulging　his　natural　instincts；　she　had　no　means　of　judging。　But　it　confirmed　her　in　her　belief　that　Arthur　Jackson　and　Jonas　Parry　had　strong　affinities　in　other　things　than　facial　resemblance。

Her　problem　was　now　to　withdraw。　Very　carefully　she　dropped　down　again　and　crept　along　the　flowerbed　until　she　was　clear　of　the　window。　She　returned　to　her　bungalow　and　carefully　put　away　the　shoe　and　the　heel　that　she　had　detached　from　it。　She　looked　at　them　with　affection。　A　good　device　which　she　could　use　on　another　day　if　necessary。　She　resumed　her　own　sandal　shoes；　and　went　thoughtfully　down　to　the　beach　again。

Choosing　a　moment　when　Esther　Walters　was　in　the　water。　Miss　Marple　moved　into　the　chair　Esther　had　vacated。

Greg　and　Lucky　were　laughing　and　talking　with　Seсora　de　Caspearo　and　making　a　good　deal　of　noise。

Miss　Marple　spoke　very　quietly；　almost　under　her　breath；　without　looking　at　Mr。　Rafiel。

〃Do　you　know　that　Jackson　snoops？〃

〃Doesn't　surprise　me；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃Caught　him　at　it；　did　you？〃

〃I　managed　to　observe　him　through　a　window。　He　had　one　of　your　suitcases　open　and　was　looking　through　your　papers。〃

〃Must　have　managed　to　get　hold　of　a　key　to　it。　Resourceful　fellow。　He'll　be　disappointed　though。　Nothing　he　gets　hold　of　in　that　way　will　do　him　a　mite　of　good。〃

〃He's　ing　down　now；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　glancing　up　towards　the　hotel。

〃Time　for　that　idiotic　sea　dip　of　mine。〃　He　spoke　againvery　quietly。　〃As　for　youdon't　be　too　enterprising。　We　don't　want　to　be　attending　your　funeral　next。　Remember　your　age；　and　be　careful。　There's　somebody　about　who　isn't　too　scrupulous；　remember？〃



Chapter　20

NIGHT　ALARM



Evening　came。　The　lights　came　up　on　the　terrace。　People　dined　and　talked　and　laughed；　albeit　less　loudly　and　merrily　than　they　had　a　day　or　two　ago。　The　steel　band　played。　But　the　dancing　ended　early。　People　yawned；　went　off　to　bed。　The　lights　went　out。　There　was　darkness　and　stillness。　The　Golden　Palm　Tree　slept。。。

〃Evelyn。　Evelyn！〃　The　whisper　came　sharp　and　urgent。

Evelyn　Hillingdon　stirred　and　turned　on　her　pillow。

〃Evelyn。　Please　wake　up。〃

Evelyn　Hillingdon　sat　up　abruptly。　Tim　Kendal　was　standing　in　the　doorway。　She　stared　at　him　in　surprise。

''Evelyn；　please；　could　you　e？　It'sMolly。　She's　ill。　I　don't　know　what's　the　matter　with　her。　I　think　she　must　have　taken　s