Epilogue

Epilogue
T he time had come and Miss Marple was waiting at the airport for her plane. Quite a lot of people had come to seeher off. The Hillingdons had left already. Gregory Dyson had flown to one of the other islands and the rumour¹ hadcome that he was devoting himself to an Argentinian widow. Se?ora de Caspearo had returned to South America.
Molly had come to see Miss Marple off. She was pale and thin but she had weathered the shock of her discoverybravely and with the help of one of Mr. Rafiel’s nominees² whom he had wired for to England, she was carrying onwith the running of the hotel.
“Do you good to be busy,” Mr. Rafiel observed. “Keep you from thinking. Got a good thing here.”
“You don’t think the murders—”
“People love murders when they’re all cleared up,” Mr. Rafiel had assured her. “You carry on, girl, and keep yourheart up. Don’t distrust all men because you’ve met one bad lot.”
“You sound like Miss Marple,” Molly had said, “she’s always telling me Mr. Right will come along one day.”
Mr. Rafiel grinned at this sentiment. So Molly was there and the two Prescotts and Mr. Rafiel, of course, and Esther—an Esther who looked older and sadder and to whom Mr. Rafiel was quite often unexpectedly kind. Jackson alsowas very much to the fore³, pretending to be looking after Miss Marple’s baggage. He was all smiles these days and letit be known that he had come into money.
There was a hum in the sky. The plane was arriving. Things were somewhat informal here. There was no “takingyour place by Channel 8” or Channel 9. You just walked out from the little flower-covered pavilion on to the tarmac.
“Goodbye, darling Miss Marple.” Molly kissed her.
“Goodbye. Do try and come and visit us.” Miss Prescott shook her warmly by the hand.
“It has been a great pleasure to know you,” said the Canon. “I second my sister’s invitation most warmly.”
“All the best, Madam,” said Jackson, “and remember any time you want any massage⁴ free, just you send me a lineand we’ll make an appointment.”
Only Esther Walters turned slightly away when the time came for goodbyes. Miss Marple did not force one uponher. Mr. Rafiel came last. He took her hand.
“Ave Caesar, nos morituri te salutamus,” he said.
“I’m afraid,” said Miss Marple, “I don’t know very much Latin.”
“But you understand that?”
“Yes.” She said no more. She knew quite well what he was telling her.
“It has been a great pleasure to know you,” she said.
Then she walked across the tarmac and got into the plane.

1 rumour   

n.谣言，谣传，传闻

参考例句：

• I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
• There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来，一直有谣言产生，对他进行中伤。

2 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

3 fore   

adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部

参考例句：

• Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
• I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。

4 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。