Chapter 27 Chapter Twenty Six

Mrs. Riva pushed open the door of the "Peacock Emblem", and walked towards the bar with some unsteady steps, muttering in a low voice.She is not a stranger in this inn, the bartender greets her very warmly. "How do you do, Flossie," he said, "how's the guest?" "That's not right," Mrs. Riva said. "That's not fair. No, that's not right. I know what I'm talking about, Fred, and I say, that's not right." "Of course that's wrong," Fred reassured. "What's the matter, I want to know? It's the same as usual, my dear?"

Mrs. Riva nodded.She paid and began to stop sipping. Fred walked off to greet other guests.After drinking, Mrs. Riva felt better. Although she was still muttering in a low voice, her anger subsided a lot.When Fred turned around, she also spoke much softer. "Anyway, I don't want to take it anymore," she said. "No, I won't. If there's anything unbearable, it's cheating. I can't stand being cheated on me." "Of course," Fred said. His practiced eyes glanced at her. "Although there have been several times," he thought in his heart, "but I think she can bear it once or twice, probably something made her feel sad."

"Deceit," said Mrs. Riva, "prevarication—evasion—well, you know what I mean." "Of course I understand," Fred said. He turned to greet another acquaintance.Mrs. Riva continued to mutter. "I don't like that, I don't want to put up with it. I'm going to say this. People can't think they can do that to me. No, absolutely not. I mean, that's not right. If you don't stand up for yourself, who will You resist? Old Fu, have another drink." She raised her voice a little. Fred listened to her. "If I were you, drink this and go home." He advised her.

He didn't know what made the old lady so sad.She usually has a very smooth temper and is kind. "It's going to kill me, Fred, you know that?"She said, "If you want people to do something, you should explain it clearly. They should explain what they mean and what they are doing. Liar, shameless liar! That's what I want to say, and I don't want to bear it anymore." "If I were you, I'd put down the glass and go back." Fred saw her drop a tear. "Go back, it's going to rain, and it's going to rain hard, and your pretty hat will be ruined."

Mrs. Riva smiled gratefully. "I've always liked cornflowers," she said. "Oh, my God! I really don't know what to do." "I'll go home and sleep," said the bartender kindly. "Oh, maybe, but—" "Oh, go back, and don't spoil your hat." "That's true," said Mrs. Riva. "Yes, that's true. It's a very deep—deep—no, I don't mean that—what do I mean?" "Thank you very much, Fred." "Where?" Mrs. Riva got off the high chair and walked unsteadily towards the door. "Something must have upset old Flossy tonight," said a visitor.

"Usually she's a happy bird—yet there are always bad things," said another with a sad face. Mrs. Riva stepped out of the "peacock emblem", raised her head and looked at the sky hesitantly.Yes, maybe it's going to rain.She walked down the street, stepping a little harder, turning left, right, and stopped in front of a very dirty house.When she took out the key and stepped up the doorstep, someone below made a sound, and a head poked out from behind the door, looking up at her. "There is a gentleman upstairs waiting for you." "wait for me?"

Mrs. Riva seemed surprised. "Well, you could say he's a gentleman, well dressed and all, but just kind of weird." Mrs. Riva finally found the lock, turned the key, and entered. Smells of cabbage, fish, and eucalyptus fill the house, especially on the porch.Mrs. Riva climbed the stairs, holding on to the banister with one hand.She pushed open the door on the second floor, went in, then stood there in a daze, taking a step back. "Oh," she said, "it's you." Inspector Hardcastle got up from his chair. "Good night, Mrs. Riva." "What's your business?" Mrs. Riva's attitude was not as elegant as usual.

"I've got to come to London on business," said Inspector Hardcastle, "as I have something to talk to you about, so I've come to you by chance. Well—the woman downstairs seems to think you're going to be here soon." Will be back." "Oh," said Mrs. Riva, "I, I don't know—this—" Inspector Hardcastle pushed forward a chair. "Sit down, please," he said politely. Their identities seemed to be reversed, he became the host, she became the guest, Mrs. Riva sat down and looked at him attentively. "You said you wanted to talk to me about something?" she said.

"A few little things," said Inspector Hardcastle, "just a few little things." "You mean—about Harley?" "That's right" "Gah, listen," Mrs. Riva put on a slight challenge, and at the same time Inspector Hardcastle smelled alcohol and said, "Haley and I are in the past, I don't want to talk about it Remember him. I went to you when I saw the picture in the newspaper, didn't I? I told you about him, it was a long time ago, I don't want to think about it. I have nothing else to give You say. I told you all I remember, and now I don't want to hear anything."

"It's just a small problem." Hardcastle said kindly with a deep apology. "Well, well," Mrs. Riva said rather rudely, "tell me what it is." "You admit that that person is your husband, or you say that that person had a form of marriage fifteen years ago. Is that so?" "I think this time you should know how many years it has been true." "More accurate than I thought," Inspector Hardcastle said to himself first, and then went on, "yes, you're right on that point. Married on May 15." "They say the Bride of the Month is always bad luck," said Mrs. Riva sadly. "It hasn't brought me any luck."

"Despite all these years, you can easily recognize him." Mrs. Riva made a disturbed movement. "He hasn't aged much," she said. "Halley has always taken care of himself." "Besides, you added our identifying marks. You wrote to me and told us about the scars." "Yes, it's right behind his left ear. Here." Riva raised his hand and pointed to that place. "Behind the 'left ear'?" Hardcastle emphasized. "This—" She seemed to hesitate for a moment, "Yes. Well, I think so. Yes, I'm sure it is. Sometimes, right and left can be confusing, isn't it? Yes, right at The left side of his neck. Here." She pointed to the same spot again. "And you said he was shaving his face, didn't you?" "Yes, the dog jumped on him. We had a dog at the time, and he liked to move. He jumped on Harley, who had a razor in his hand, and just cut it off, bleeding a lot, and leaving Permanent scars." Her tone was more confident now. "This is very important, Mrs. Riva. Some people look very similar, especially after being separated for many years. There is often a mistake. But to find another person with similar scars in the same place as your husband-well, This. This identification is very valuable and there is no risk of error, is it? The case seems to be moving forward." "Very happy for you," said Mrs. Riva. "This shaving thing. When did it happen?" "About one oh, about six months after we got married, yes, around that time. We didn't get dogs until the summer, I remember." "Then it was about October or November of 1948. Isn't it?" "And then your husband left you in 1951..." "It's not that he left me, it's that I drove him away," Mrs. Riva said proudly. "I see. Say what you like. Anyway, you haven't seen your husband since you kicked him out in 1951, and you didn't see his picture in the newspaper until recently?" "Are you sure that's the case, Mrs. Riva?" "Of course I did. I never saw a picture of him until that day. I had never seen Harley Casterton before." "That's odd, you know," said Inspector Hardcastle. "That's very odd." "Why—what do you mean?" "Well, the cell structure of the scar is a strange thing. Of course, a scar is a scar, and it looks the same to you and me, but doctors can tell a lot of truths. They can tell how long the scar is. .” "I do not know what you're talking about." "Oh, it's very simple, Mrs. Riva. According to the forensic doctor and other doctors' discussions, the tissue of your husband's scar behind the ear obviously indicates that the injury was no older than six years ago." "It doesn't make sense," said Mrs. Riva. "I don't believe it. I—no one can say that. Anyway, it's not—" "So, you know," went on Hardcastle in a gentle voice, "if the scar is from six years ago, it means that if the man 'was' your husband, he There was no scar when I left you in 51." "Maybe not, but anyway, he's Harley." "But you haven't seen him since we parted, Mrs. Riva. If you haven't seen him, how do you know he had a scar five or six years ago?" "You've got me confused," Mrs. Riva said, "you've got me confused. Maybe not as early as 1948—one can't remember everything. Anyway, I know Harley has that scar." "I know," said Hardcastle at length, rising up, "I think you'd better think over what you've said, Mrs Riva, you don't want to get into trouble, you know it. " "What do you mean, cause trouble?" "This," said Inspector Hardcastle apologetically, "perjury." "Perjury. Me!" "Yes. You know, it's a serious offense. You're going to get in trouble, and even go to jail. Of course, you haven't sworn in the coroner's court, but you may be required to give evidence at the ordinary court. Then--oh, I hope Can you think about it, Mrs. Riva. Maybe someone—suggested you tell us the story of the scar?" Mrs. Riva stood up tall, her eyes were open, and she looked invincible. "I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life," she said. "It's ridiculous. I'm just doing my duty. I'll see you, help you, tell you what I remember, and if I'm wrong , that's a natural thing. After all, I know a lot of—well, gentlemen friends, and it's inevitable to make mistakes. But I don't think I 'did' anything wrong. That man was Harley, and Harley had a A scar. I'm sure. And now, you, Inspector Hardcastle, come here to imply that I'm lying." Hardcastle stood up suddenly. "Good night, Mrs. Riva," he said, "I just want you to think about it, and so on." Mrs. Riva held her head up.Hardcastle walked out the door and left.Suddenly, Mrs. Riva's attitude changed 180 degrees.The original defense suddenly collapsed, looking scared and worried. "Get me in," she murmured, "get me in. I—I don't want to. I—I—I don't want to trouble myself for other people. Told me many things, lied to Me, deceive me. Despicable, really despicable!" She staggered back and forth, and finally made up her mind, picked up the umbrella in the corner of the room, and went out again.She walked to the end of the street, hesitated for a moment in front of the telephone booths, then walked to a post office, went in, changed the change, and entered one of the telephone booths.She cast the telephone station and said the other party's number.She stood and waited. "It's connected, please talk." She opened her mouth and said: "Hey... oh, it's you. I'm Flossie. No, I know you told me, but I had to. You haven't been telling me the truth. You haven't told me where I might be. You Just saying, if this man is identified, it will embarrass you. I never dreamed that I would be involved in a murder... Ah, of course you said that, but anyway, that's not what you told me... Yes, I am. I think you're mixing things up... Ah, I don't want to bear it anymore, I'm telling you... Something went wrong, eh, this, an accomplice—or so, you know what the term means. Although, I always thought it was costume jewelry, anyway, I'm afraid, I tell you! . . . Ask me to write, tell them about the scar. Now, the scar seems to have been only a year or two ago, and But I insisted that he stayed when he left me many years ago... That's perjury, I'm going to jail. Ah, don't coax me, it's useless... No... Keeping promises is one thing... I know that... I know you pay me, and it's not much... Ah, well, I'll listen to you, but I won't... well, well, I won't say... What did you say?... How much? … A LOT OF MONEY. HOW DO I KNOW YOU HAVE  … Ah yes, of course that’s different. You swear you had nothing to do with it? . . .— I mean kill… No Ah, I believe you won't. Of course, I understand this...Because there are so many people in contact, it is inevitable to get confused,,, that's not my fault... You can always make things seem reasonable ...you...you always do....ah, yes, I'll think about it, but soon...tomorrow? What time?...Yes, yes, I'll come, but no check, maybe bounced...I Really didn't know I'd have to get involved in this... well. Ah, if you say so.    meaning. For that money, it's worth taking a little risk with the police.Life will be much easier in the future, and it doesn't really need to be very risky.All she had to say was that she forgot or couldn't remember.Many women can't remember events that happened less than a year ago.All she had to say was that she mixed Harley with other men.Oh, there's a lot she can say--Mrs. Riva is, of course, a shrewd person.How depressed she was before.What a joy to be in right now.She began to think seriously, thinking about what to do first after getting the money? ...