M ISS P RESCOTT AND O THERS
“T he 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 MissPrescott for a heart-to-heart chat. This was owing to the fact that clergymen are very strong family men so that MissPrescott was nearly always accompanied by her brother, and there was no doubt that Miss Marple and Miss Prescottfound it less easy to take their back hair down in a good gossip when the jovial1 Canon was of their company.
“It seems,” said Miss Prescott, “though of course I don’t want to talk any scandal and I really know nothing aboutit—”
“Oh, I quite understand,” said Miss Marple.
“It seems there was some scandal when his first wife was still alive! Apparently2 this woman, Lucky—such 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 onflowers or butterflies or whatever it was. And people talked a lot because they got on so well together—if you knowwhat 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, “but—well, Mr. Dyson certainly married again very quickly.” She lowered hervoice again. “Only a month I believe.”
“Only a month,” said Miss Marple.
The two women looked at each other. “It seemed—unfeeling,” said Miss Prescott.
“Yes,” said Miss Marple. “It certainly did.” She added delicately, “Was there—any money?”
“I don’t really know. He makes his little joke—perhaps you’ve heard him—about his wife being his ‘luckypiece’—”
“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 Prescottwith the air of one being entirely3 fair, “she’s very good-looking too, if you care for that type. And I think myself that itwas the first wife who had the money.”
“Are the Hillingdons well off?”
“Well, I think they’re well off. I don’t mean fabulously4 rich, I just mean well off. They have two boys at publicschool 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 Marpleremained sitting there.
A few minutes later Gregory Dyson passed her striding along towards the hotel. He waved a cheerful hand as hepassed.
“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 killer—with special reference to the “Brides in theBath Case.”
Yes—it fitted—the only objection was that it fitted almost too well. But Miss Marple reproved herself for thisthought—who was she to demand Murders Made to Measure?
A voice made her jump—a somewhat raucous5 one.
“Seen Greg any place, Miss—er—”
Lucky, Miss Marple thought, was not in a good temper.
“He passed by just now—going 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 coming out of his bungalow6—Jackson settled his employer in his wheelchair and fussed round him. Mr. Rafiel waved his attendant awayimpatiently 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 come andjoin him. Miss Marple wanted a word alone with Mr. Rafiel and now, she thought, was her chance. She would have tobe quick about what she wanted to say. There could be no leading up to things. Mr. Rafiel was not a man who caredfor the idle twittering conversation of old ladies. He would probably retreat again into his bungalow, definitelyregarding himself the victim of persecution7. Miss Marple decided8 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 want—a subscription9, I suppose? Missions inAfrica 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 giveme a subscription for them. But that wasn’t actually what I was going to ask you. What I was going to ask you was ifMajor 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 prattled10 on,” said Mr. Rafiel, “about a lovely creature, Lucrezia Borgia reincarnated11. Beautiful, young, golden-haired, 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 draught12 and then stuck him in a gas oven. Resourceful female. Then she saidit was suicide. She got off quite lightly. Diminished responsibility or something. That’s what it’s called nowadays ifyou’re a good-looking woman, or some miserable13 young hooligan whose mother’s been too fond of him. Bah!”
“Did the Major show you a snapshot?”
“What—a 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 hehad shot and elephants he had hunted but also about murderers he had met. Perhaps he had a whole repertoire14 ofmurder stories. One had to face it—She was startled by Mr. Rafiel suddenly giving a roar of “Jackson!” There was noresponse.
“Shall I find him for you?” said Miss Marple rising.
“You won’t find him. Tom-catting somewhere, that’s what he does. No good, that fellow. Bad character. But hesuits 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 expressive15 grimace16, 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 thoughtthat 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 offeryou 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 exacting17.
Invalids18 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 crotchetiness—oldRafiel’s not really a bad sort. I mean more that—” he hesitated.
Miss Marple looked inquiring.
“Well—how shall I put it—it’s difficult for him socially. People are so damned snobbish—there’s no one here ofhis class. He’s better than a servant—and below the average visitor—or they think he is. Rather like the Victoriangoverness. Even the secretary woman, Mrs. Walters—feels she’s a cut above him. Makes things difficult.” Timpaused, 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 forgotten it—taken it in their stride. No—it’s my wife—Molly—Do you know anything about dreams?”
“Dreams?” Miss Marple was surprised.
“Yes—bad dreams—nightmares, I suppose. Oh, we all get that sort of thing sometimes. But Molly—she seems tohave them nearly all the time. They frighten her. Is there anything one can do about them? Take for them? She’s gotsome sleeping pills, but she says they make it worse—she 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 evenwhen she’s awake.”
“Surely a doctor—”
“She’s got a thing against doctors. Won’t hear of it—Oh well—I dare say it will all pass off—But we were sohappy. It was all such fun—And now, just lately—Perhaps old Palgrave’s death upset her. She seems like a differentperson since….”
He got up.
“Must get on with the daily chores—are 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 apologize to you, Dr. Graham,” she said.
“Indeed?” The doctor looked at her in kindly19 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 apprehensively20.
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 shehadn’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 showed to Major Palgrave, and thathe didn’t give back to me?”
“Yes, yes, of course I remember. Sorry we couldn’t find it for you.”
“There wasn’t any such thing,” said Miss Marple, in a small frightened voice.
“I beg your pardon?”
“There wasn’t any such thing. I made up that story, I’m afraid.”
“You made it up?” Dr. Graham looked slightly annoyed. “Why?”
Miss Marple told him. She told him quite clearly, without twittering. She told him about Major Palgrave’s murderstory and how he’d been about to show her this particular snapshot and his sudden confusion and then she went on toher own anxiety and to her final decision to try somehow to obtain a view of it.
“And really, I couldn’t see any way of doing so without telling you something that was quite untrue,” she said, “Ido hope you will forgive me.”
“You thought that what he had been about to show you was a picture of a murderer?”
“That’s what he said it was,” said Miss Marple. “At least he said it was given him by this acquaintance who hadtold him the story about a man who was a murderer.”
“Yes, yes. And—excuse me—you believed him?”
“I don’t know if I really believed him or not at the time,” said Miss Marple. “But then, you see, the next day hedied.”
“Yes,” said Dr. Graham, struck suddenly by the clarity of that one sentence. The next day he died….
“And the snapshot had disappeared.”
Dr. Graham looked at her. He didn’t know quite what to say.
“Excuse me, Miss Marple,” he said at last, “but is what you’re telling me now—is it really true this time?”
“I don’t wonder your doubting me,” said Miss Marple. “I should, in your place. Yes, it is true what I am telling younow, but I quite realize that you have only my word for it. Still, even if you don’t believe me, I thought I ought to tellyou.”
“Why?”
“I realized that you ought to have the fullest information possible—in case—”
“In case what?”
“In case you decided to take any steps about it.”
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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fabulously
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| 难以置信地，惊人地 | |
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raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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bungalow
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| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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8
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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9
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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10
prattled
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的过去式和过去分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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reincarnated
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| v.赋予新形体，使转世化身( reincarnate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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14
repertoire
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| n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表 | |
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15
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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apprehensively
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| adv.担心地 | |
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