Chapter Twenty-three

Twenty-three
“W hat made you guess, Jane?”
Miss Marple took her time about replying. She looked thoughtfully at the other two—Carrie Louise thinner andfrailer and yet curiously¹ untouched—and the old man with the sweet smile and the thick white hair. Dr. Galbraith,Bishop² of Cromer.
The Bishop took Carrie Louise’s hand in his.
“This has been a great sorrow to you, my poor child, and a great shock.”
“A sorrow, yes, but not really a shock.”
“No,” said Miss Marple. “That’s what I discovered, you know. Everyone kept saying how Carrie Louise lived inanother world from this and was out of touch with reality. But actually, Carrie Louise, it was reality you were in touchwith, and not the illusion. You are never deceived by illusion like most of us are. When I suddenly realised that, I sawthat I must go by what you thought and felt. You were quite sure that no one would try to poison you, you couldn’tbelieve it—and you were quite right not to believe it, because it wasn’t so! You never believed that Edgar would harmLewis—and again you were right. He never would have harmed Lewis. You were sure that Gina did not love anyonebut her husband—and that, again, was quite true.
“So therefore, if I was to go by you, all the things that seemed to be true were only illusions. Illusions created for adefinite purpose—in the same ways that conjurers create illusions, to deceive an audience. We were the audience.
“Alex Restarick got an inkling of the truth first because he had the chance of seeing things from a different angle—from the outside angle. He was with the Inspector³ in the drive, and he looked at the house and realised the possibilitiesof the windows—and he remembered the sound of running feet he had heard that night, and then, the timing⁴ of theconstable showed him what a very short time things take to what we should imagine they would take. The constablepanted a lot, and later, thinking of a puffing⁶ constable⁵, I remembered that Lewis Serrocold was out of breath that nightwhen he opened the study door. He’d just been running hard, you see….
“But it was Edgar Lawson that was the pivot⁷ of it all to me. There was always something wrong to me about EdgarLawson. All the things he said and did were exactly right for what he was supposed to be, but he himself wasn’t right.
Because he was actually a normal young man playing the part of a schizophrenic—and he was always, as it were, alittle larger than life. He was always theatrical⁸.
“It must have all been very carefully planned and thought out. Lewis must have realised on the occasion ofChristian’s last visit that something had aroused his suspicions. And he knew Christian⁹ well enough to know that if hesuspected he would not rest until he had satisfied himself that his suspicions were either justified¹⁰ or unfounded.”
Carrie Louise stirred.
“Yes,” she said. “Christian was like that. Slow and painstaking¹¹, but actually very shrewd. I don’t know what it wasaroused his suspicions but he started investigating—and he found out the truth.”
The Bishop said: “I blame myself for not having been a more conscientious¹² trustee.”
“It was never expected of you to understand finance,” said Carrie Louise. “That was originally Mr. Gilroy’sprovince. Then, when he died, Lewis’ great experience put him in what amounted to complete control. And that, ofcourse, was what went to his head.”
The pink colour came up in her cheeks.
“Lewis was a great man,” she said. “A man of great vision, and a passionate¹³ believer in what could beaccomplished—with money. He didn’t want it for himself—or, at least, not in the greedy vulgar sense—he did wantthe power of it—he wanted the power to do great good with it—”
“He wanted,” said the Bishop, “to be God.” His voice was suddenly stern. “He forgot that man is only the humbleinstrument of God’s will.”
“And so he embezzled¹⁵ the Trust funds?” said Miss Marple.
Dr. Galbraith hesitated.
“It wasn’t only that….”
“Tell her,” said Carrie Louise. “She is my oldest friend.”
The Bishop said:
“Lewis Serrocold was what one might call a financial wizard. In his years of highly technical accountancy, he hadamused himself by working out various methods of swindling which were practically foolproof. This had been merelyan academic study, but when he once began to envisage¹⁶ the possibilities that a vast sum of money could encompass,he put these methods into practice. You see, he had at his disposal some first class material. Amongst the boys whopassed through here, he chose out a small select band. They were boys whose bent¹⁷ was naturally criminal, who lovedexcitement, and who had a very high order of intelligence. We’ve not got nearly to the bottom of it all, but it seemsclear that this esoteric circle was secret and specially¹⁸ trained and by and by were placed in key positions, where, bycarrying out Lewis’ directions, books were falsified in such a way that large sums of money were converted withoutany suspicion being aroused. I gather that the operations and the ramifications¹⁹ are so complicated that it will bemonths before the auditors²⁰ can unravel²¹ it all. But the net result seems to be that under various names and bankingaccounts and companies, Lewis Serrocold would have been able to dispose of a colossal²² sum with which he intendedto establish an overseas colony for a cooperative experiment in which juvenile²³ delinquents²⁴ should eventually own thisterritory and administer it. It may have been a fantastic dream—”
“It was a dream that might have come true,” said Carrie Louise.
“Yes, it might have come true. But the means Lewis Serrocold adopted were dishonest means, and ChristianGulbrandsen discovered that. He was very upset, particularly by the realisation of what the discovery and the probableprosecution of Lewis would mean to you, Carrie Louise.”
“That’s why he asked me if my heart was strong, and seemed so worried about my health,” said Carrie Louise. “Icouldn’t understand it.”
“Then Lewis Serrocold arrived back from the North, and Christian met him outside the house and told him that heknew what was going on. Lewis took it calmly, I think. Both men agreed they must do all they could to spare you.
Christian said he would write to me and ask me to come here, as a co-trustee, to discuss the position.”
“But of course,” said Miss Marple. “Lewis Serrocold had already prepared for this emergency. It was all planned.
He had brought the young man who was to play the part of Edgar Lawson to the house. There was a real EdgarLawson—of course—in case the police looked up his record. This false Edgar knew exactly what he had to do—actthe part of a schizophrenic victim of persecution—and give Lewis Serrocold an alibi²⁵ for a few vital minutes.
“The next step had been thought out too. Lewis’ story that you, Carrie Louise, were being slowly poisoned—whenone actually came to think of it there was only Lewis’ story of what Christian had told him—that, and a few linesadded on the typewriter whilst he was waiting for the police. It was easy to add arsenic²⁶ to the tonic²⁷. No danger for youthere—since he was on the spot to prevent you drinking it. The chocolates were just an added touch—and of coursethe original chocolates weren’t poisoned—only those he substituted before turning them over to Inspector Curry²⁸.”
“And Alex guessed,” said Carrie Louise.
“Yes—that’s why he collected your nail parings. They would show if arsenic actually had been administered over along period.”
“Poor Alex—poor Ernie.”
There was a moment’s silence as the other two thought of Christian Gulbrandsen, of Alexis Restarick, and of theboy Ernie—and of how quickly the act of murder could distort and deform²⁹.
“But surely,” said the Bishop, “Lewis was taking a big risk in persuading Edgar to be his accomplice—even if hehad some hold over him—”
Carrie shook her head.
“It wasn’t exactly a hold over him. Edgar was devoted³⁰ to Lewis.”
“Yes,” said Miss Marple. “Like Leonard Wylie and his father. I wonder perhaps if—”
She paused delicately.
“You saw the likeness³¹, I suppose?” said Carrie Louise.
“So you knew that all along?”
“I guessed. I knew Lewis had once had a short infatuation for an actress, before he met me. He told me about it. Itwasn’t serious, she was a golddigging type of woman and she didn’t care for him, but I’ve no doubt at all that Edgarwas actually Lewis’ son….”
“Yes,” said Miss Marple. “That explains everything….”
“And he gave his life for him in the end,” said Carrie Louise. She looked pleadingly at the Bishop. “He did, youknow.”
There was a silence, and then Carrie Louise said:
“I’m glad it ended that way … with his life given in the hope of saving the boy … people who can be very goodcan be very bad, too. I always knew that was true about Lewis … But—he loved me very much—and I loved him.”
“Did you—ever suspect him?” asked Miss Marple.
“No,” said Carrie Louise. “Because I was puzzled by the poisoning. I knew Lewis would never poison me, and yetthat letter of Christian’s said definitely that someone was poisoning me—so I thought that everything I thought I knewabout people must be wrong….”
Miss Marple said, “But when Alex and Ernie were found killed. You suspected then?”
“Yes,” said Carrie Louise. “Because I didn’t think anyone else but Lewis would have dared. And I began to beafraid of what he might do next….”
She shivered slightly.
“I admired Lewis. I admired his—what shall I call it—his goodness? But I do see that if you’re—good, you have tobe humble¹⁴ as well.”
Dr. Galbraith said gently:
“That, Carrie Louise, is what I have always admired in you—your humility³².”
The lovely blue eyes opened wide in surprise.
“But I’m not clever—and not particularly good. I can only admire goodness in other people.”
“Dear Carrie Louise,” said Miss Marple.

1 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

2 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

3 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

4 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

5 constable   

n.(英国)警察，警官

参考例句：

• The constable conducted the suspect to the police station.警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
• The constable kept his temper,and would not be provoked.那警察压制着自己的怒气，不肯冒起火来。

6 puffing   

v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 pivot   

v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的

参考例句：

• She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴，表现出万物的女性面貌。
• If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧，手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。

8 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

9 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

10 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

11 painstaking   

adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的

参考例句：

• She is not very clever but she is painstaking.她并不很聪明，但肯下苦功夫。
• Through years of our painstaking efforts,we have at last achieved what we have today.大家经过多少年的努力，才取得今天的成绩。

12 conscientious   

adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的

参考例句：

• He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。
• He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。

13 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

14 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

15 embezzled   

v.贪污，盗用（公款）( embezzle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The clerk embezzled a thousand pounds from the bank where he worked. 那个职员在他工作的银行里贪污了一千英镑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cashier embezzled ＄ 50,000 from the bank. 出纳员盗用了银行5万美元。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16 envisage   

v.想象，设想，展望，正视

参考例句：

• Nobody can envisage the consequences of total nuclear war.没有人能够想像全面核战争的后果。
• When do you envisage being able to pay me back?你看你什么时候能还我钱？

17 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

18 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

19 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 auditors   

n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生

参考例句：

• The company has been in litigation with its previous auditors for a full year. 那家公司与前任审计员已打了整整一年的官司。
• a meeting to discuss the annual accounts and the auditors' report thereon 讨论年度报表及其审计报告的会议

21 unravel   

v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开

参考例句：

• He was good with his hands and could unravel a knot or untangle yarn that others wouldn't even attempt.他的手很灵巧，其他人甚至都不敢尝试的一些难解的绳结或缠在一起的纱线，他都能解开。
• This is the attitude that led him to unravel a mystery that long puzzled Chinese historians.正是这种态度使他解决了长期以来使中国历史学家们大惑不解的谜。

22 colossal   

adj.异常的，庞大的

参考例句：

• There has been a colossal waste of public money.一直存在巨大的公款浪费。
• Some of the tall buildings in that city are colossal.那座城市里的一些高层建筑很庞大。

23 juvenile   

n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的

参考例句：

• For a grown man he acted in a very juvenile manner.身为成年人，他的行为举止显得十分幼稚。
• Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.青少年犯罪正在以惊人的速度增长。

24 delinquents   

n.（尤指青少年）有过失的人，违法的人( delinquent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The robbery was committed by a group of delinquents. 那起抢劫案是一群青少年干的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There is today general agreement that juvenile delinquents are less responsible than older offenders. 目前人们普遍认为青少年罪犯比成人罪犯的责任小些。 来自辞典例句

25 alibi   

n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口

参考例句：

• Do you have any proof to substantiate your alibi? 你有证据表明你当时不在犯罪现场吗？
• The police are suspicious of his alibi because he already has a record.警方对他不在场的辩解表示怀疑，因为他已有前科。

26 arsenic   

n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的

参考例句：

• His wife poisoned him with arsenic.他的妻子用砒霜把他毒死了。
• Arsenic is a poison.砒霜是毒药。

27 tonic   

n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的

参考例句：

• It will be marketed as a tonic for the elderly.这将作为老年人滋补品在市场上销售。
• Sea air is Nature's best tonic for mind and body.海上的空气是大自然赋予的对人们身心的最佳补品。

28 curry   

n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革

参考例句：

• Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
• Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。

29 deform   

vt.损坏…的形状；使变形，使变丑；vi.变形

参考例句：

• Shoes that are too tight deform the feet.(穿)太紧的鞋子会使脚变形。
• Ice crystals begin to deform measurably.冰晶就产生某种程度的变形了。

30 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

31 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

32 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。