Six AT THE THREE CROWNS

Inspector¹ Narracott was not destined² to see Major Burnaby until he hadhad a protracted³ interview with Mrs. Belling—licensed proprietor⁴ of theThree Crowns. Mrs. Belling was fat and excitable, and so voluble thatthere was nothing to be done but to listen patiently until such time as thestream of conversation should dry up.
“And such a night as never was,” she ended up. “And little did any of usthink what was happening to the poor dear gentleman. Those nastytramps—if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a dozen times, I can’t abear thosenasty tramps. Do anybody in they would. The Captain had not so much asa dog to protect him. Can’t abear a dog, tramps can’t. Ah, well, you neverknow what is happening within a stone’s throw.
“Yes, Mr. Narracott,” she proceeded in answer to his question, “the Ma-jor is having his breakfast now. You will find him in the coffee room. Andwhat kind of a night he has passed with no pyjamas⁵ or anything, and me awidow woman with nothing to lend him, I can’t say, I am sure. Said itmade no matter he did—all upset and queer he was—and no wonder withhis best friend murdered. Very nice gentlemen the two of them, thoughthe Captain had the reputation of being close with his money. Ah, well,well, I have always thought it dangerous to live up to Sittaford, miles awayfrom anywhere, and here’s the Captain struck down in Exhampton itself.
It’s always what you don’t expect in this life that happens, isn’t it, Mr. Nar-racott?”
The Inspector said that undoubtedly⁶ it was. Then he added:
“Who did you have staying here yesterday, Mrs. Belling? Anystrangers?”
“Now let me see. There was Mr. Moresby and Mr. Jones—commercialgentlemen they are, and there was a young gentleman from London.
Nobody else. It stands to reason there wouldn’t be this time of year. Veryquiet here in the winter. Oh, and there was another young gentleman—ar-rived by the last train. Nosey young fellow I call him. He isn’t up yet.”

分享到：