Chapter 27 Section 27

"So you can see, as I first surmised, that it turned out to be very, very simple. It's the simplest of crimes. There seem to be a lot of men murdering their wives these days." Mrs. McGillicuddy looked at Miss Marple and Inspector Craddock."I would be very grateful if you could tell me a little more about your latest discovery," she said. "Well, he saw a good chance of marrying a rich lady," said Miss Marple, "Miss Crackenthorpe. Only, he couldn't marry her, because he already had a wife. They had been separated for many years, But she wouldn't divorce him. Inspector Craddock told me about the girl who called herself Anna Strowenska. That fits what he said. She had an English husband. It was her love for her. I heard from a friend of mine. She was also heard to be a devout Catholic. Dr. Quimper could not risk bigamy by marrying Emma Crackenthorpe. So he, a ruthless man, decided to get rid of her. He was in Killing her on a train and then putting her body in a sarcophagus in a warehouse was a really clever idea. You know, he made it look like it had something to do with the Crackenthorpes. In Before this he had written a letter to Emma, ​​in which he claimed to be Martine, the woman Edmund Crackenthorpe had said he would marry, and Emma had told Quimper everything about her brother. Doctor. Later, when the time was right, he encouraged her to report the matter to the police. He wanted everyone to think that the dead body was Martine. I think he may have heard that the Paris police were already investigating about Anna Stella Vinceka. So he arranged for a postcard from her from Jamaica."

"He could easily arrange to meet his wife in London, tell her he wanted her to be reconciled, and said he wanted her to come back with him 'to meet his family'. The next part of the story is unpleasant to think about, and we don't have to. Talk about it. He's a greedy man, of course. When he thinks about paying taxes, and how much his income is reduced by paying them, he starts thinking: It would be nice to have more money. Maybe he's deciding to kill him The wife had thought of that before. Anyway, he started spreading rumors that someone was going to poison old Mr. Crackenthorpe to make way for himself. He ended up putting arsenic in the food of the family. Of course, Not much, because he didn't want Mr Crackenthorpe dead."

"However, I still don't understand how he can do it," Craddock said. "He was not at their house when the chicken curry was made." "Ah, but there was no arsenic in chicken curry back then," said Miss Marple. "He put the arsenic in later - that's when he took the leftover chicken curry for testing. He probably put the arsenic in the cocktail jar earlier. Of course, later he was performing the doctor's order. In office, it was easy to poison Alfred Crackenthorpe, and it was easy to send Harold the pills to London. Can defend himself from being suspected. Everything he does is bold, cruel, and greedy. I'm very, very happy," Miss Marple tried to look like a foolish old woman might With a fierce look, she ended her speech. "I'm glad they haven't abolished the death penalty because I do think that if anyone should be hanged, it's Dr. Cumper."

"True! True!" said Inspector Craddock. "You know, I think, even if you only see a person from behind," Miss Marple went on, "the appearance of the back can be said to be characteristic. I think, if Elsby sees Dr. Quinpo Exactly the same as the man she saw on the train, that is, with his back to her, bent forward, with his hands on her neck, then I'm almost sure she'll recognize him, or make a noise. A cry. That's why I made that little plan with Lucy's help." "I must admit," said Mrs. McGillicuddy, "that I was taken aback. I couldn't help saying 'That's him!' But, you know, I didn't see the man's face, and..."

"I was afraid you would say that, Ethrow," said Miss Marple. "That's what I was going to say," said Mrs. McGillicuddy. "I was about to say it, and of course I didn't see his face." "That," said Miss Marple, "would be bad! You know, dear, he thinks you really recognize him as the murderer. I mean, he won't know you didn't see his face." "It was a good thing I kept my mouth shut," said Mrs. McGillicuddy. "I won't ask you to say another word," said Miss Marple. Craddock suddenly laughed. "You two," he said, "you two make a perfect couple. What's next, Miss Marple? What's the happy ending? What's going to happen to poor Emma Crackenthorpe, for example?" Sample?"

"Of course she'll forget about the doctor," said Miss Marple, "and, I think if her father dies—I don't think he's as strong as he thinks—she'll cruise around the world, or Will stay in a foreign country like Gilaldine Webb. I think maybe there will be a good result. I hope, she will meet someone better than Dr. Cumper." "And what will happen to Lucy Esborough? Will there be good news, too?" "Perhaps," said Miss Marple, "I should not be surprised to hear her wedding bells." "Which one of them will she choose?" said Democracy Craddock.

"Don't you know?" said Miss Marple. "No, I don't know," Craddock said. "You do?" "Oh, yes, I think I know," said Miss Marple. Then she looked at him; there was a mysterious gleam in her eyes. --Complete--