MISS MARPLE MAKES A VISIT
IA s they walked back from the inquest to the Golden Boar hardly anyone spoke1. Professor Wanstead walked besideMiss Marple, and since she was not a very fast walker, they fell slightly behind the others.
“What will happen next?” Miss Marple asked at last.
“Do you mean legally or to us?”
“I suppose both,” said Miss Marple, “because one will surely affect the other.”
“It will be presumably a case of the police making further enquiries, arising out of the evidence given by those twoyoung people.”
“Yes.”
“Further enquiry will be necessary. The inquest was bound to be adjourned2. One can hardly expect the Coroner togive a verdict of accidental death.”
“No, I understand that.” She said, “What did you think of their evidence?”
Professor Wanstead directed a sharp glance from under his beetling3 eyebrows4.
“Have you any ideas on the subject, Miss Marple?” His voice was suggestive. “Of course,” said ProfessorWanstead, “we knew beforehand what they were going to say.”
“Yes.”
“What you mean is that you are asking what I thought about them themselves, their feelings about it.”
“It was interesting,” said Miss Marple. “Very interesting. The red and black check pullover. Rather important, Ithink, don’t you? Rather striking?”
“Yes, exactly that.”
He shot again that look at her under his eyebrows. “What does it suggest to you exactly?”
“I think,” said Miss Marple, “I think the description of that might give us a valuable clue.”
They came to the Golden Boar. It was only about half past twelve and Mrs. Sandbourne suggested a littlerefreshment before going in to luncheon5. As sherry and tomato juice and other liquors were being consumed, Mrs.
Sandbourne proceeded to make certain announcements.
“I have taken advice,” she said, “both from the Coroner and Inspector6 Douglas. Since the medical evidence hasbeen taken fully7, there will be at the church a funeral memorial service tomorrow at eleven o’clock. I’m going to makearrangements with Mr. Courtney, the local vicar, about it. On the following day it will be best, I think, to resume ourtour. The programme will be slightly altered, since we have lost three days, but I think it can be reorganized on rathersimpler lines. I have heard from one or two members of our party that they would prefer to return to London,presumably by rail. I can quite understand the feelings lying behind this, and would not like to try and influence you inany way. This death has been a very sad occurrence. I still cannot help but believe that Miss Temple’s death was theresult of an accident. Such a thing has happened before on that particular pathway, though there do not appear in thiscase to have been any geological or atmospherical8 conditions causing it. I think a good deal more investigation9 willhave to be made. Of course, some hiker on a walking tour—that kind of thing—may have been pushing aboutboulders quite innocently, not realizing that there was a danger for someone walking below in what he or she wasdoing. If so, if that person comes forward, the whole thing may be cleared up quite quickly, but I agree one cannottake that for granted at present. It seems unlikely that the late Miss Temple could have had an enemy, or anyone whowished her harm of any kind. What I should suggest is, that we do not discuss the accident any further. Investigationswill be made by the local authorities whose business it is. I think we will probably all like to attend the memorialservice in the church tomorrow. And after that, on continuing the tour, I hope that it may distract our minds from theshock we have had. There are still some very interesting and famous houses to see and some very beautiful sceneryalso.”
Luncheon being announced shortly after that, the subject was not discussed any further. That is to say, not openly.
After lunch, as they took coffee in the lounge, people were prone10 to get together in little groups, discussing theirfurther arrangements.
“Are you continuing on the tour?” asked Professor Wanstead of Miss Marple.
“No,” said Miss Marple. She spoke thoughtfully. “No. I think—I think that what has happened inclines me toremain here a little longer.”
“At the Golden Boar or at The Old Manor11 House?”
“That rather depends as to whether I receive any further invitation to go back to The Old Manor House. I would notlike to suggest it myself because my original invitation was for the two nights that the tour was to have stayed hereoriginally. I think possibly it would be better for me to remain at the Golden Boar.”
“You don’t feel like returning to St. Mary Mead12?”
“Not yet,” said Miss Marple. “There are one or two things I could do here, I think. One thing I have done already.”
She met his enquiring13 gaze. “If you are going on,” she said, “with the rest of the party, I will tell you what I have putin hand, and suggest a small sideline of enquiry that might be helpful. The other reason that I wish to stay here I willtell you later. There are certain enquiries—local enquiries—that I want to make. They may not lead anywhere so Ithink it as well not to mention them now. And you?”
“I should like to return to London. I have work there waiting to be done. Unless, that is, I can be helpful to youhere?”
“No,” said Miss Marple, “I do not think so at present. I expect you have various enquiries of your own that youwish to put in hand.”
“I came on the tour to meet you, Miss Marple.”
“And now you have met me and know what I know, or practically all that I know, you have other enquiries to putin hand. I understand that. But before you leave here, I think there are one or two things—well, that might be helpful,might give a result.”
“I see. You have ideas.”
“I am remembering what you said.”
“You have perhaps pinned down the smell of evil?”
“It is difficult,” said Miss Marple, “to know exactly what something wrong in the atmosphere really means.”
“But you do feel that there is something wrong in the atmosphere?”
“Oh yes. Very clearly.”
“And especially since Miss Temple’s death which, of course, was not an accident, no matter what Mrs. Sandbournehopes.”
“No,” said Miss Marple, “it was not an accident. What I don’t think I have told you is that Miss Temple said to meonce that she was on a pilgrimage.”
“Interesting,” said the Professor. “Yes, interesting. She didn’t tell you what the pilgrimage was, to where or towhom?”
“No,” said Miss Marple, “if she’d lived just a little longer and not been so weak, she might have told me. Butunfortunately, death came a little too soon.”
“So that you have not any further ideas on that subject.”
“No. Only a feeling of assurance that her pilgrimage was put an end to by malign15 design. Someone wanted to stopher going wherever she was going, or stop her going to whomever she was going to. One can only hope that chance orProvidence may throw light on that.”
“That’s why you’re staying here?”
“Not only that,” said Miss Marple. “I want to find out something more about a girl called Nora Broad.”
“Nora Broad.” He looked faintly puzzled.
“The other girl who disappeared about the same time as Verity16 Hunt did. You remember you mentioned her to me.
A girl who had boyfriends and was, I understand, very ready to have boyfriends. A foolish girl, but attractiveapparently to the male sex. I think,” said Miss Marple, “that to learn a little more about her might help me in myenquiries.”
“Have it your own way, Detective-Inspector Marple,” said Professor Wanstead.
II
The service took place on the following morning. All the members of the tour were there. Miss Marple looked roundthe church. Several of the locals were there also. Mrs. Glynne was there and her sister Clotilde. The youngest one,Anthea, did not attend. There were one or two people from the village also, she thought. Probably not acquainted withMiss Temple but there out of a rather morbid17 curiosity in regard to what was now spoken of by the term “foul play.”
There was, too, an elderly clergyman; in gaiters, well over seventy, Miss Marple thought, a broad-shouldered old manwith a noble mane of white hair. He was slightly crippled and found it difficult both to kneel and to stand. It was a fineface, Miss Marple thought, and she wondered who he was. Some old friend of Elizabeth Temple, she presumed, whomight perhaps have come from quite a long distance to attend the service?
As they came out of the church Miss Marple exchanged a few words with her fellow travellers. She knew nowpretty well who was doing what. The Butlers were returning to London.
“I told Henry I just couldn’t go on with it,” said Mrs. Butler. “You know—I feel all the time that any minute just aswe might be walking round a corner, someone, you know, might shoot us or throw a stone at us. Someone who has gota down on the Famous Houses of England.”
“Now then, Mamie, now then,” said Mr. Butler, “don’t you let your imagination go as far as that!”
“Well, you just don’t know nowadays. What with hijackers about and kidnapping and all the rest of it, I don’t feelreally protected anywhere.”
Old Miss Lumley and Miss Bentham were continuing with the tour, their anxieties allayed18.
“We’ve paid very highly for this tour and it seems a pity to miss anything just because this very sad accident hashappened. We rang up a very good neighbour of ours last night, and they are going to see to the cats, so we don’t needto worry.”
It was going to remain an accident for Miss Lumley and Miss Bentham. They had decided19 it was more comfortablethat way.
Mrs. Riseley-Porter was also continuing on the tour. Colonel and Mrs. Walker were resolved that nothing wouldmake them miss seeing a particularly rare collection of fuchsias in the garden due to be visited the day after tomorrow.
The architect, Jameson, was also guided by his wish to see various buildings of special interest for him. Mr. Caspar,however, was departing by rail, he said. Miss Cooke and Miss Barrow seemed undecided.
“Pretty good walks round here,” said Miss Cooke. “I think we’ll stay at the Golden Boar for a little. That’s whatyou’re going to do, isn’t it, Miss Marple?”
“I really think so,” said Miss Marple. “I don’t feel quite equal to going on travelling and all that. I think a day ortwo’s rest would be helpful to me after what’s happened.”
As the little crowd dispersed20, Miss Marple took an unostentatious route of her own. From her handbag she took outa leaf torn from her notebook on which she had entered two addresses. The first, a Mrs. Blackett, lived in a neat littlehouse and garden just by the end of the road where it sloped down towards the valley. A small neat woman opened thedoor.
“Mrs. Blackett?”
“Yes, yes, ma’am, that’s my name.”
“I wonder if I might just come in and speak to you for a minute or two. I have just been to the service and I amfeeling a little giddy. If I could just sit down for a minute or two?”
“Dear me, now, dear me. Oh, I’m sorry for that. Come right in, ma’am, come right in. That’s right. You sit downhere. Now I’ll get you a glass of water—or maybe you’d like a pot of tea?”
“No, thank you,” said Miss Marple, “a glass of water would put me right.”
Mrs. Blackett returned with a glass of water and a pleasurable prospect21 of talking about ailments22 and giddiness andother things.
“You know, I’ve got a nephew like that. He oughtn’t to be at his age, he’s not much over fifty but now and thenhe’ll come over giddy all of a sudden and unless he sits down at once—why you don’t know, sometimes he’ll pass outright23 on the floor. Terrible, it is. Terrible. And doctors, they don’t seem able to do anything about it. Here’s your glassof water.”
“Ah,” said Miss Marple, sipping24, “I feel much better.”
“Been to the service, have you, for the poor lady as got done in, as some say, or accident as others. I’d say it’saccident every time. But these inquests and coroners, they always want to make things look criminal, they do.”
“Oh yes,” said Miss Marple. “I’ve been so sorry to hear of a lot of things like that in the past. I was hearing a greatdeal about a girl called Nora. Nora Broad, I think.”
“Ah, Nora, yes. Well, she was my cousin’s daughter. Yes. A long while ago, that was. Went off and never comeback. These girls, there’s no holding them. I said often, I did, to Nancy Broad—that’s my cousin—I said to her,‘You’re out working all day’ and I said ‘What’s Nora doing? You know she’s the kind that likes the boys. Well,’ Isaid, ‘there’ll be trouble. You see if there isn’t.’ And sure enough, I was quite right.”
“You mean—?”
“Ah, the usual trouble. Yes, in the family way. Mind you, I don’t think as my cousin Nancy knew about it yet. Butof course, I’m sixty-five and I know what’s what and I know the way a girl looks and I think I know who it was, butI’m not sure. I might have been wrong because he went on living in the place and he was real cut up when Nora wasmissing.”
“She went off, did she?”
“Well, she accepted a lift from someone—a stranger. That’s the last time she was seen. I forget the make of the carnow. Some funny name it had. An Audit25 or something like that. Anyway, she’d been seen once or twice in that car.
And off she went in it. And it was said it was that same car that the poor girl what got herself murdered used to goriding in. But I don’t think as that happened to Nora. If Nora’d been murdered, the body would have come to light bynow. Don’t you think so?”
“It certainly seems likely,” said Miss Marple. “Was she a girl who did well at school and all that?”
“Ah no, she wasn’t. She was idle and she wasn’t too clever at her books either. No. She was all for the boys fromthe time she was twelve-years-old onwards. I think in the end she must have gone off with someone or other for good.
But she never let anyone know. She never sent as much as a postcard. Went off, I think, with someone as promised herthings. You know. Another girl I knew—but that was when I was young—went off with one of them Africans. He toldher as his father was a Shake. Funny sort of word, but a shake I think it was. Anyway it was somewhere in Africa or inAlgiers. Yes, in Algiers it was. Somewhere there. And she was going to have all sorts of wonderful things. He had sixcamels, the boy’s father, she said and a whole troop of horses and she was going to live in a wonderful house, she was,with carpets hanging up all over the walls, which seems a funny place to put carpets. And off she went. She come backagain three years later. Yes. Terrible time, she’d had. Terrible. They lived in a nasty little house made of earth. Yes, itwas. And nothing much to eat except what they call cos-cos which I always thought was lettuce26, but it seems it isn’t.
Something more like semolina pudding. Oh terrible it was. And in the end he said she was no good to him and he’ddivorce her. He said he’d only got to say ‘I divorce you’ three times, and he did and walked out and somehow or other,some kind of Society out there took charge of her and paid her fare home to England. And there she was. Ah, but thatwas about thirty to forty years ago, that was. Now Nora, that was only about seven or eight years ago. But I expectshe’ll be back one of these days, having learnt her lesson and finding out that all these fine promises didn’t come tomuch.”
“Had she anyone to go to here except her—her mother—your cousin, I mean? Anyone who—”
“Well, there’s many as was kind to her. There was the people at The Old Manor House, you know. Mrs. Glynnewasn’t there then, but Miss Clotilde, she was always one to be good to the girls from school. Yes, many a nice presentshe’s given Nora. She gave her a very nice scarf and a pretty dress once. Very nice, it was. A summer frock, a sort offoulard silk. Ah, she was very kind, Miss Clotilde was. Tried to make Nora take more interest in her schooling27. Lots ofthings like that. Advised her against the way she was going on because, you see—well, I wouldn’t like to say it, notwhen she’s my cousin’s child though, mark you, my cousin is only one who married my boy cousin, that is to say—but I mean it was something terrible the way she went on with all the boys. Anyone could pick her up. Real sad it is.
I’d say she’ll go on the streets in the end. I don’t believe she has any future but that. I don’t like to say these things,but there it is. Anyway, perhaps it’s better than getting herself murdered like Miss Hunt did, what lived at The OldManor House. Cruel, that was. They thought she’d gone off with someone and the police, they was busy. Alwaysasking questions and having the young men who’d been with the girl up to help them with their enquiries and all that.
Geoffrey Grant there was, Billy Thompson, and the Landfords’ Harry28. All unemployed—with plenty of jobs going ifthey’d wanted to take them. Things usedn’t to be like that when I was young. Girls behaved proper. And the boysknew they’d got to work if they wanted to get anywhere.”
Miss Marple talked a little more, said that she was now quite restored, thanked Mrs. Blackett, and went out.
Her next visit was to a girl who was planting out lettuces29.
“Nora Broad? Oh, she hasn’t been in the village for years. Went off with someone, she did. She was a great one forboys. I always wondered where she’d end up. Did you want to see her for any particular reason?”
“I had a letter from a friend abroad,” said Miss Marple, untruthfully. “A very nice family and they were thinking ofengaging a Miss Nora Broad. She’d been in some trouble, I think. Married someone who was rather a bad lot and hadleft her and gone off with another woman, and she wanted to get a job looking after children. My friend knew nothingabout her, but I gathered she came from this village. So I wondered if there was anyone here who could—well, tell mesomething about her. You went to school with her, I understand?”
“Oh yes, we were in the same class, we were. Mind you, I didn’t approve of all Nora’s goings-on. She was boymad, she was. Well, I had a nice boyfriend myself that I was going steady with at the time, and I told her she’d doherself no good going off with every Tom, Dick and Harry that offered her a lift in a car or took her along to a pubwhere she told lies about her age, as likely as not. She was a good mature girl as looked a lot older than she was.”
“Dark or fair?”
“Oh, she had dark hair. Pretty hair it was. Always loose like, you know, as girls do.”
“Were the police worried about her when she disappeared?”
“Yes. You see, she didn’t leave no word behind. She just went out one night and didn’t come back. She was seengetting into a car and nobody saw the car again and nobody saw her. Just at that time there’d been a good manymurders, you know. Not specially14 round here, but all over the country. The police, they were rounding up a lot ofyoung men and boys. Thought as Nora might be a body at the time we did. But not she. She was all right. I’d say aslikely as not she’s making a bit of money still in London or one of these big towns doing a striptease, something ofthat kind. That’s the kind she was.”
“I don’t think,” said Miss Marple, “that if it’s the same person, that she’d be very suitable for my friend.”
“She’d have to change a bit if she was to be suitable,” said the girl.
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1
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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2
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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beetling
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| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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5
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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6
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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7
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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8
atmospherical
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| adj.空气的，气压的 | |
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9
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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10
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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11
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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12
mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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13
enquiring
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| a.爱打听的，显得好奇的 | |
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14
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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15
malign
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| adj.有害的；恶性的；恶意的；v.诽谤，诬蔑 | |
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16
verity
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| n.真实性 | |
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morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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22
ailments
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| 疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 ) | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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24
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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25
audit
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| v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听 | |
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26
lettuce
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| n.莴苣；生菜 | |
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27
schooling
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| n.教育；正规学校教育 | |
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28
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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29
lettuces
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| n.莴苣，生菜（ lettuce的名词复数 ）；生菜叶 | |
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