Nine
A fter leaving a message at the police station, the Chief Constable¹ announced his intention of paying a visit to MissMarple.
“You’d better come with me, Vicar,” he said. “I don’t want to give a member of your flock hysterics. So lend theweight of your soothing² presence.”
I smiled. For all her fragile appearance, Miss Marple is capable of holding her own with any policeman or ChiefConstable in existence.
“What’s she like?” asked the Colonel, as we rang the bell. “Anything she says to be depended upon or otherwise?”
I considered the matter.
“I think she is quite dependable,” I said cautiously. “That is, in so far as she is talking of what she has actuallyseen. Beyond that, of course, when you get on to what she thinks—well, that is another matter. She has a powerfulimagination and systematically³ thinks the worst of everyone.”
“The typical elderly spinster, in fact,” said Melchett, with a laugh. “Well, I ought to know the breed by now. Gad,the tea parties down here!”
We were admitted by a very diminutive⁴ maid and shown into a small drawing room.
“A bit crowded,” said Colonel Melchett, looking round. “But plenty of good stuff. A lady’s room, eh, Clement⁵?”
I agreed, and at that moment the door opened and Miss Marple made her appearance.
“Very sorry to bother you, Miss Marple,” said the Colonel, when I had introduced him, putting on his bluff⁶ militarymanner which he had an idea was attractive to elderly ladies. “Got to do my duty, you know.”
“Of course, of course,” said Miss Marple. “I quite understand. Won’t you sit down? And might I offer you a littleglass of cherry brandy? My own making. A recipe of my grandmother’s.”
“Thank you very much, Miss Marple. Very kind of you. But I think I won’t. Nothing till lunch time, that’s mymotto. Now, I want to talk to you about this sad business—very sad business indeed. Upset us all, I’m sure. Well, itseems possible that owing to the position of your house and garden, you may have been able to tell us something wewant to know about yesterday evening.”

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