Eleven
M ISS M ARPLE C OMES TO T EA
II f Letitia Blacklock seemed slightly absentminded when Mrs. Harmon came to tea and brought a guest who wasstaying with her, Miss Marple, the guest in question, was hardly likely to notice the fact since it was the first time shehad met her.
The old lady was very charming in her gentle gossipy fashion. She revealed herself almost at once to be one ofthose old ladies who have a constant preoccupation with burglars.
“They can get in anywhere, my dear,” she assured her hostess, “absolutely anywhere nowadays. So many newAmerican methods. I myself pin my faith to a very old-fashioned device. A cabin hook and eye. They can pick locksand draw back bolts but a brass¹ hook and eye defeats them. Have you ever tried that?”
“I’m afraid we’re not very good at bolts and bars,” said Miss Blacklock cheerfully. “There’s really nothing much toburgle.”
“A chain on the front door,” Miss Marple advised. “Then the maid need only open it a crack and see who is thereand they can’t force their way in.”
“I expect Mitzi, our Mittel European, would love that.”
“The hold-up you had must have been very, very frightening,” said Miss Marple. “Bunch has been telling me allabout it.”
“I was scared stiff,” said Bunch.
“It was an alarming experience,” admitted Miss Blacklock.
“It really seems like Providence² that the man tripped himself up and shot himself. These burglars are so violentnowadays. How did he get in?”
“Well, I’m afraid we don’t lock our doors much.”
“Oh, Letty,” exclaimed Miss Bunner. “I forgot to tell you the Inspector³ was most peculiar⁴ this morning. He insistedon opening the second door—you know—the one that’s never been opened—the one over there. He hunted for the keyand everything and said the door had been oiled. But I can’t see why because—”
Too late she got Miss Blacklock’s signal to be quiet, and paused openmouthed.
“Oh, Lotty, I’m so—sorry—I mean, oh, I do beg your pardon, Letty—oh, dear, how stupid I am.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Miss Blacklock, but she was annoyed. “Only I don’t think Inspector Craddock wants thattalked about. I didn’t know you had been there when he was experimenting, Dora. You do understand, don’t you, Mrs.

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