加勒比海之谜(英文版)-第9部分

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〃I　asked　if　Major　Palgrave　told　you　his　favourite　murder　story？〃

〃I　believe　he　did；　now　I　e　to　think　of　it。　Something　about　someone　who　gassed　themselves；　wasn't　it？　Only　really　it　was　the　wife　who　gassed　him。　I　mean　she'd　given　him　a　sedative　of　some　kind　and　then　stuck　his　head　in　the　gas　oven。　Was　that　it？〃

〃I　don't　think　that　was　exactly　it；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　She　looked　at　Esther　Walters　thoughtfully。

〃He　told　such　a　lot　of　stories；〃　said　Esther　Walters；　apologetically；　〃and　as　I　said；　one　didn't　always　listen。〃

〃He　had　a　snapshot；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　〃that　he　used　to　show　people。〃

〃I　believe　he　did。。。　I　can't　remember　what　it　was　now。　Did　he　show　it　to　you？〃

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃He　didn't　show　it　to　me。　We　were　interrupted〃



Chapter　9

MISS　PRESCOTT　AND　OTHERS



〃The　story　I　heard；〃　began　Miss　Prescott；　lowering　her　voice；　and　looking　carefully　around。

Miss　Marple　drew　her　chair　a　little　closer。　It　had　been　some　time　before　she　had　been　able　to　get　together　with　Miss　Prescott　for　a　hearttoheart　chat。　This　was　owing　to　the　fact　that　clergymen　are　very　strong　family　men　so　that　Miss　Prescott　was　nearly　always　acpanied　by　her　brother；　and　there　was　no　doubt　that　Miss　Marple　and　Miss　Prescott　found　it　less　easy　to　take　their　back　hair　down　in　a　good　gossip　when　the　jovial　Canon　was　of　their　pany。

〃It　seems；〃　said　Miss　Prescott；　〃though　of　course　I　don't　want　to　talk　any　scandal　and　I　really　know　nothing　about　it〃

〃Oh；　I　quite　understand；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃It　seems　there　was　some　scandal　when　his　first　wife　was　still　alive！　Apparently　this　woman；　Luckysuch　a　name！who　I　think　was　a　cousin　of　his　first　wife；　came　out　here　and　joined　them　and　I　think　did　some　work　with　him　on　flowers　or　butterflies　or　whatever　it　was。　And　people　talked　a　lot　because　they　got　on　so　well　togetherif　you　know　what　I　mean。〃

〃People　do　notice　things　so　much；　don't　they；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃And　then　of　course；　when　his　wife　died　rather　suddenly〃

〃She　died　here；　on　this　island？〃

〃No。　No；　I　think　they　were　in　Martinique　or　Tobago　at　the　time。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃But　I　gathered　from　some　other　people　who　were　there　at　the　time；　and　who　came　on　here　and　talked　about　things；　that　the　doctor　wasn't　very　satisfied。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　Miss　Marple；　with　interest。

〃It　was　only　gossip；〃　of　course；　〃butwell；　Mr。　Dyson　certainly　married　again　very　quickly。〃　She　lowered　her　voice　again。　〃Only　a　month　I　believe。〃

〃Only　a　month；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

The　two　women　looked　at　each　other。

〃It　seemedunfeeling；〃　said　Miss　Prescott。

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃It　certainly　did。〃　She　added　delicately；　〃Was　thereany　money？〃

〃I　don't　really　know。　He　makes　his　little　jokeperhaps　you've　heard　himabout　this　wife　being　his　'lucky　piece'〃

〃Yes；　I've　heard　him；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

〃And　some　people　think　that　means　that　he　was　lucky　to　marry　a　rich　wife。　Though；　of　course；〃　said　Miss　Prescott　with　the　air　of　one　being　entirely　fair；　〃she's　very　goodlooking　too；　if　you　care　for　that　type。　And　I　think　myself　that　it　was　the　first　wife　who　had　the　money。〃

〃Are　the　Hillingdons　well　off？〃

〃Well；　I　think　they're　well　off；　I　don't　mean　fabulously　rich；　I　just　mean　well　off。　They　have　two　boys　at　Public　School　and　a　very　nice　place　in　England；　I　believe；　and　they　travel　most　of　the　winter。〃

The　Canon　appearing　at　this　moment　to　suggest　a　brisk　walk。　Miss　Prescott　rose　to　join　her　brother。　Miss　Marple　remained　sitting　there。

A　few　minutes　later　Gregory　Dyson　passed　her　striding　along　towards　the　hotel。　He　waved　a　cheerful　hand　as　he　passed。

〃Penny　for　your　thoughts；〃　he　called　out。

Miss　Marple　smiled　gently；　wondering　how　he　would　have　reacted　if　she　had　replied：　〃I　was　wondering　if　you　were　a　murderer。〃

It　really　seemed　most　probable　that　he　was。　It　all　fitted　in　so　nicely；　this　story　about　the　death　of　the　first　Mrs。　Dyson。　Major　Palgrave　had　certainly　been　talking　about　a　wife　killerwith　special　reference　to　the　〃Brides　in　the　Bath　Case〃。　Yes。　It　fitted。　The　only　objection　was　that　it　fitted　almost　too　well。　But　Miss　Marple　reproved　herself　for　this　thought。　Who　was　she　to　demand　Murders　Made　to　Measure？

A　voice　made　her　jumpa　somewhat　raucous　one。

〃Seen　Greg　any　place。　Misser〃

Lucky；　Miss　Marple　thought；　was　not　in　a　good　temper。　〃He　passed　by　just　nowgoing　towards　the　hotel。〃

〃I'll　bet！〃　Lucky　uttered　an　irritated　ejaculation　and　hurried　on。

〃Forty；　if　she's　a　day；　and　looks　it　this　morning；〃　thought　Miss　Marple。　Pity　invaded　her。　Pity　for　the　Luckys　of　the　world；　who　were　so　vulnerable　to　Time。　At　the　sound　of　a　noise　behind　her；　she　turned　her　chair　round。

Mr。　Rafiel；　supported　by　Jackson；　was　making　his　morning　appearance　and　ing　out　of　his　bungalow。

Jackson　settled　his　employer　in　his　wheelchair　and　fussed　round　him。　Mr。　Rafiel　waved　his　attendant　away　impatiently　and　Jackson　went　off　in　the　direction　of　the　hotel。

Miss　Marple　lost　no　time。　Mr。　Rafiel　was　never　left　alone　for　long。　Probably　Esther　Walters　would　e　and　join　him。　Miss　Marple　wanted　a　word　alone　with　Mr。　Rafiel　and　now；　she　thought；　was　her　chance。　She　would　have　to　be　quick　about　what　she　wanted　to　say。　There　could　be　no　leading　up　to　things。　Mr。　Rafiel　was　not　a　man　who　cared　for　the　idle　twittering　conversation　of　old　ladies。　He　would　probably　retreat　again　into　his　bungalow；　definitely　regarding　himself　the　victim　of　persecution。　Miss　Marple　decided　to　plump　for　downrightness。

She　made　her　way　to　where　he　was　sitting；　drew　up　a　chair；　sat　down；　and　said：　〃I　want　to　ask　you　something；　Mr。　Rafiel。〃

〃All　right；　all　right；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃let's　have　it。　What　do　you　wanta　subscription；　I　suppose？　Missions　in　Africa　or　repairing　a　church；　something　of　that　kind？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　am　interested　in　several　objects　of　that　nature；　and　I　shall　be　delighted　if　you　will　give　me　a　subscription　for　them。　But　that　wasn't　actually　what　I　was　going　to　ask　you。　What　I　was　going　to　ask　you　was　if　Major　Palgrave　ever　told　you　a　story　about　a　murder。〃

〃Oho；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel。　〃So　he　told　it　to　you　too；　did　he？　And　I　suppose　you　fell　for　it；　hook　line　and　sinker。〃

〃I　didn't　really　know　what　to　think；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃What　exactly　did　he　tell　you？〃

〃He　prattled　on；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃about　a　lovely　creature；　Lucrezia　Bia　reincarnated。　Beautiful；　young；　goldenhaired；　everything。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Miss　Marple　slightly　taken　aback；　〃and　who　did　she　murder？〃

〃Her　husband；　of　course；〃　said　Mr。　Rafiel；　〃who　do　you　think？〃

〃Poison？〃

〃No；　I　think　she　gave　him　a　sleeping　draught　and　then　stuck　him　in　a　gas　oven。　Resourceful　female。　Then　she　said　it　was　suicide。　She　got　off　quite　lightly。　Diminished　responsibility　or　something。　That's　what　it's　called　nowadays　if　you're　a　goodlooking　woman；　or　some　miserable　young　hooligan　whose　mother's　been　too　fond　of　him。　Bah！〃

〃Did　the　Major　show　you　a　snapshot？〃

〃Whata　snapshot　of　the　woman？　No。　Why　should　he？〃

〃Oh〃　said　Miss　Marple。　She　sat　there；　rather　taken　aback。　Apparently　Major　Palgrave　spent　his　life　telling　people　not　only　about　tigers　he　had　shot　and　elephants　he　had　hunted　but　also　about　murderers　he　had　met。　Perhaps　he　had　a　whole　repertoire　of　murder　stories。　One　had　to　face　it。　She　was　startled　by　Mr。　Rafiel　suddenly　giving　a　roar　of　〃Jackson！〃　There　was　no　response。

〃Shall　I　find　him　for　you？〃　said　Miss　Marple　rising。

〃You　won't　find　him。　Tomcatting　somewhere；　that's　what　he　does。　No　good；　that　fellow。　Bad　character。　But　he　suits　me　all　right。〃

〃I'll　go　and　look　for　him；〃　said　Miss　Marple。

Miss　Marple　found　Jackson　sitting　on　the　far　side　of　the　hotel　terrace　having　a　drink　with　Tim　Kendal。

〃Mr。　Rafiel　is　asking　for　you；〃　she　said。

Jackson　made　an　expressive　grimace；　drained　his　glass；　and　rose　to　his　feet。

〃Here　we　go　again；〃　he　said。　〃No　peace　for　the　wicked。　Two　telephone　calls　and　a　special　diet　order。　I　thought　that　might　give　me　a　quarter　of　an　hour's　alibi。　Apparently　not！　Thank　you　Miss　Marple。　Thanks　for　the　drink；　Mr。　Kendal。〃

He　strode　away。

〃I　feel　sorry　for　that　chap；〃　said　Tim。　〃I　have　to　stand　him　a　drink　now　and　then；　just　to　cheer　him　up。　Can　I　offer　you　something；　Miss　Marple？　How　about　fresh　lime？　I　know　you're　fond　of　that。〃

''Not　just　now；　thank　you。　I　suppose　looking　after　someone　like　Mr。　Rafiel　must　always　be　rather　exacting。　Invalids　are　frequently　difficult〃

〃I　didn't　mean　only　that。　It's　very　well　paid　and　you　expect　to　put　up　with　a　good　deal　of　crotchetinessold　Rafiel's　not　really　a　bad　sort。　I　meant　more　that〃　he　hesitated。

Miss　Marple　looked　inquiring。

〃Wellhow　shall　I　put　itit's　difficult　for　him　socially。　People　are　so　damned　snobbishthere's　no　one　here　of　his　class。　He's　better　than　a　servantand　below　the　average　visitoror　they　think　he　is。　Rather　like　the　Victorian　governess。　Even　the　secretary　woman；　Mrs。　Walters；　feels　she's　a　cut　above　him。　Makes　things　difficult。〃　Tim　paused；　then　said　with　feeling：　〃It's　really　awful　the　amount　of　social　problems　there　are　in　a　place　like　this。〃

Dr。　Graham　passed　them。　He　had　a　book　in　his　hand。　He　went　and　sat　at　a　table　overlooking　the　sea。

〃Dr。　Graham　looks　rather　worried；〃　remarked　Miss　Marple。

〃Oh！　We're　all　worried。〃

〃You　too？　Because　of　Major　Palgrave's　death？〃

〃I've　left　off　worrying　about　that。　People　seem　to　have　fotten　ittaken　it　in　their　stride。　Noit's　my　wifeMolly。　Do　you　know　anything　about　dreams？〃

〃Dreams？〃　Miss　Marple　was　surprised。

〃Yesbad　dreamsnightmares；　I　suppose。　Oh；　we　all　get　that　sort　of　thing　sometimes。　But　Mollyshe　seems　to　have　them　nearly　all　the　time。　They　frighten　her。　Is　there　anything　one　can　do　about　them？　Take　for　them？　She's　got　some　sleeping　pills；　but　she　says　they　make　it　worseshe　struggles　to　wake　up　and　can't。〃

〃What　are　the　dreams　about？〃

〃Oh；　something　or　someone　chasing　her。　Or　watching　her　and　spying　on　her。　She　can't　shake　off　the　feeling　even　when　she's　awake。〃

〃Surely　a　doctor〃

〃She's　got　a　thing　against　doctors。　Won't　hear　of　it。　Oh　well；　I　daresay　it　will　all　pass　off。　But　we　were　so　happy。　It　was　all　such　fun　And　now；　just　lately　Perhaps　old　Palgrave's　death　upset　her。　She　seems　like　a　different　person　since。。。〃

He　got　up。

〃Must　get　on　with　the　daily　choresare　you　sure　you　won't　have　that　fresh　lime？〃

Miss　Marple　shook　her　head。

She　sat　there；　thinking。　Her　face　was　grave　and　anxious。　She　glanced　over　at　Dr。　Graham。　Presently　she　came　to　a　decision。　She　rose　and　went　across　to　his　table。

〃I　have　got　to　apologise　to　you。　Dr。　Graham；〃　she　said。　

〃Indeed？〃　The　doctor　looked　at　her　in　kindly　surprise。　He　pulled　forward　a　chair　and　she　sat　down。

〃I　am　afraid　I　have　done　the　most　disgraceful　thing；〃　said　Miss　Marple。　〃I　told　you；　Dr。　Graham；　a　deliberate　lie。〃

She　looked　at　him　apprehensively。

Dr。　Graham　did　not　look　at　all　shattered；　but　he　did　look　a　little　surprised。　〃Really？〃　he　said。　〃Ah　well；　you　mustn't　let　that　worry　you　too　much。〃　What　had　the　dear　old　thing　been　telling　lies　about；　he　wondered；　her　age？　Though　as　far　as　he　could　remember　she　hadn't　mentioned　her　age。　〃Well；　let's　hear　about　it；〃　he　said；　since　she　clearly　wished　to　confess。

〃You　remember　my　speaking　to　you　about　a　snapshot　of　my　nephew；　one　that　I　showe