Chapter 7 Chapter VII

Colonel Melchett was short and dapper, and he had a habit of snorting suddenly when you didn't expect it.He has red hair and bright, piercing blue eyes. "Good morning, Vicar," he said, "a nuisance, isn't it? Poor Protheroe. Not that I like him. I don't. No one likes him, for that matter. A nuisance. I hope it doesn't disturb you too much?" I said Griselda wasn't too disturbed. "That's fine. It's terrible that it happens in one's house. I must say I'm amazed at what happened to young Redding--he'd do that with no regard for anyone's feelings. "

I felt like laughing out loud, but Colonel Melchett evidently understood that the idea of ​​a murderer being sympathetic was nothing unusual, so I tried to keep my composure. "I must say I was a bit surprised when I heard the fellow walked into the police station and turned himself in," continued Colonel Melchett, sitting down in his chair. "How did this happen?" "Last night. About ten o'clock. The guy slipped in, dropped a pistol, and said, 'Here I am. I did it.' That's it." "What explanation did he give for the murder?" "Very little. Of course we told him he had to confess, but he just laughed. Said he came here to see you and found Prothero here. They quarreled and he shot him. Wouldn't say yes Why the quarrel. Listen, Claremont--it's only for the two of us--do you know anything about it? I've heard some rumors--about him being barred from the house and all that. What is it? Did he seduce the Colonel's daughter, or what? We'll try to keep the girl out of it, for reasons we all know. Is it the troubles of love?"

"No," I said, "you'll have to take my word for it, it's something quite different, but I can't say much more at the moment." He nodded and stood up. "It's good to know. There's a lot to talk about. Too many women in this part of the world. Oh, I've got to go and see Dr. Haydock. He's been called out for something, but Should be back by now. I don't mind telling you I'm sorry for Redding. He's always struck me as a decent lad. Maybe they'll find reasons to justify him. Wounds of war, The thrill of a cannonball shock, or something else. Especially if no apparent motive can be found. I have to go. Would you like to come along?"

I said I would love to, and we went out together. Haydock and I are neighbors.His servant said the doctor had just returned and led us into the dining room.Haydock was eating eggs and ham at a steaming plate.He gave me a friendly nod of welcome. "I'm sorry I'm out. To deliver the baby. I was up most of last night, busy with your business. I've taken the bullet out for you." He pushed a small box across the table.Melchett watched carefully. "0.25 inches?" Haydock nodded. "I'll save the technical details for enquiry," he said. "All you need to know is that death is literally instantaneous. Why would he do it, little fool?

By the way, it's amazing that no one could hear the gunfire. " "Yes," said Melchett, "that surprised me, too." "The kitchen window is open on the other side of the house," I said, "and the study, pantry, and kitchen doors are all closed, and I doubt you'll hear anything, and the only The maid alone." "Well," said Melchett, "even so, it's puzzling. I wonder, did that old lady—what was her name?—Marple, hear anything? The study window It's open." "Maybe she heard something," Haydock said. "I don't think she heard," said I. "She came to my apartment just now and said nothing of the sort, and if there was anything worth mentioning, I'm sure she would have done so."

"Maybe heard it, but didn't pay attention - thought it was the backfiring of the car." I noticed that Haydock was much more lively and cheerful this morning.He seemed to be someone who tried to hide his good mood. "Maybe it's the muffler?" he added. "That's probably it. Then nobody hears anything." Melchett shook his head. "Slack didn't find such a thing. He also asked Redding. At first Redding seemed clueless, and then he flatly denied using any such thing. I think his statement is still credible." "Yes, indeed, poor fellow."

"Damned little fool," said Colonel Melchett, "I'm sorry, Claremont. But it is! We're not used to thinking of him as a murderer, after all." "Did he have any motive?" asked Haydock, draining the last of his coffee and pushing away from his chair. "He said they had an argument and he shot him on the spur of the moment." "Do you want it to be manslaughter?" The doctor shook his head. "It cannot be justified. He sneaked up on the Colonel from behind while he was writing and shot him through the back of the head. This kind of quarrel is too strange."

"There's not enough time for an argument anyway," I said, remembering Miss Marple's words. "Sneaking in, shooting him, setting the clock back to six-twenty, and leaving again would take up all his time. I can never forget his face when I met him at the gate, and the tone of his voice when he said, 'You'll see Prothero—oh, you'll see him! ' That in itself is enough to make me doubt what happened just a few minutes ago. " Haydock stared at me. "What do you mean—what just happened? When do you think Retin shot him?" "A few minutes before I got to the house."

The doctor shook his head. "Impossible. Impossible. He died long before that." "But, my dear fellow," cried Colonel Melchett, "you said it yourself that half an hour was only a rough estimate." "Half an hour, thirty-five minutes, twenty-five minutes, twenty minutes—possible, but less time, impossible. Listen, if that's the case, I'll still be warm when I get there." Our faces are friendly.Haydock's face began to change, and suddenly grew gray and old.This change in him puzzled me. "But, listen, Haydock," said the colonel, "if Redding admits to shooting him at a quarter to seven—"

Haydock jumped up. "I tell you it's impossible!" he growled. "If Redding says he shot Prothero at a quarter to seven, Redding is lying. Damn it! I tell you I'm a doctor and I know that.The blood started to coagulate. " "If Redding is lying," said Melchett, then stopped and shook his head. "We'd better meet him at the police station," he said.