Chapter 8 chapter eight

On the way to the police station, we were all silent.Haydock stepped back a little, and whispered to me: "You know, I don't like it. I don't. There's something here that we don't understand." He looked very worried. Inspector Slack is at the police station.After a while we were face to face with Lawrence Redding. He looked pale and scruffy, but quite composed—and I thought he was pretty good at keeping his composure under the circumstances.Melchett snorted and faltered, obviously nervous too. "Listen, Redding," said he, "I understand that you made a statement here to Inspector Slack. You say you arrived at the Vicarage about a quarter to seven, found Protheroe there, and quarreled with him. One, shot him and walked away. I'm not recounting it to you, but that's how it went."

"yes." "I have to ask a few questions. We've told you, and you can answer as you wish. Your lawyer..." Lawrence interrupted him. "I have nothing to hide. I killed Prothero." "Oh! Well..." Melchett snorted again. "How did you carry a gun with you?" Lawrence said hesitantly, "The gun is in my pocket." "Did you go to the Vicarage with a gun?" "yes." "why?" "I always carry a gun." He hesitated again before answering the question, which, I'm absolutely sure, wasn't telling the truth, "Why did you set the alarm clock back?"

"Alarm clock?" He seemed puzzled. "Yes, the pointer points to twenty-two past six." A look of fear flashed across his face. "Oh! That - yes. I - I changed the time." Haydock said suddenly, "Where did you shoot Colonel Protheroe?" "In the study at the Vicarage." "I mean what part of the body was shot?" "Oh!—I—to the head, I think so. Yes, the head." "Can't you be sure of that?" "Since you already know, why do you need to ask me?" This is a feeble excuse.There was a noise outside.A policeman without a helmet brings a note.

"It's for the priest. It's urgent." I unfolded the note and it read: Please do come to me.I am at a loss.Everything is horrible.I have to tell someone.Come now, and you can bring whoever you want. Anne Protheroe. I exchanged glances with Melchett.He understood.We all go out together.I glanced over my shoulder at Lawrence Redding's face.His eyes were fixed on the note in my hand. I have seldom seen such a face full of anguish and despair. I remember Anne Protheroe sitting on my couch and saying, "I'm a desperate woman." Her words weighed heavily on my heart.Now I sort of see the reason for Lawrence Redding's heroic act of self-sacrifice.Melchett was talking to Slack.

"Do you have any clues as to Redding's activities earlier that day? We have some reason to believe he shot Prothero earlier than he says. Look for clues to that, will you?" He turns to me.Without a word I handed him Anne Protheroe's note.After reading it, he opened his mouth in surprise.Then he looked at me inquiringly, "Is that what you were alluding to this morning?" "Yes. At that time, I was not sure whether it was my duty to say it. Now I am absolutely sure." So I told him what I saw in the studio that night. The colonel talked to the inspector a few words, Then we walked towards the "old house".Dr. Haydock came with us, and the door was opened by a very dignified valet, with just the right amount of mournful solemnity in his manner. "Good morning," said Melchett. The lady's maid told her we were here and wanted to see her, and then please come back here and answer a few daily questions."

The manservant left in a hurry, and came back in a moment to say that he had passed on the word. "Now, let's see what happened yesterday," said Colonel Melchett. "Did your master have lunch at home yesterday?" "Yes, sir." "Is he in the same mood as usual?" "It seems the same to me, yes, sir." "What happened after that?" "After lunch, Mrs. Protheroe went to bed and the Colonel went into the study. Miss Lettice went to a tennis party in the coupe. At four-thirty Colonel and Mrs. Protheroe were having tea in the drawing-room. They wanted a car to take them to the village at five-thirty. As soon as they left, Mr. Claremont called." He bowed to me. "I told him they were gone."

"Well, when was the last time Mr. Redding was here?" asked Colonel Melchett. "Tuesday afternoon, sir." "I hear there's some discord between them, isn't it?" "I think so, sir. The colonel has ordered me to keep Mr. Redding out of the house." "Did you actually hear them arguing?" asked Colonel Melchett bluntly. "Colonel Protheroe's voice is very loud, sir, especially when it is raised with anger. I hear some words here and there." "Are these words enough for you to know the reason for the quarrel?" "I think, sir, that it has something to do with a picture Mr. Redding is painting--a picture of Miss Lettice."

Melchett snorted contemptuously. "Did you see Mr Redding leave?" "Yes, sir, I saw him out." "Does he look angry?" "No, sir, it seems to me that he is somewhat happy." "Ah! Didn't he come to the house yesterday?" "No, sir." "Is anyone else coming?" "Not yesterday, sir." "Oh, what about the day before yesterday?" "Mr. Dennis Claremont came in the afternoon. Dr. Stone was here for a while. Then a lady came in the evening." "Master?" Melchett was surprised. "Who is she?"

The manservant could not remember her name.It was a lady he hadn't seen before. Yes, she said her name.He told her that the family was having dinner.She said she was willing to wait.So he led her into the little living room. It was Colonel Protheroe she wanted to see, not Mrs. Protheroe.He told the colonel.Immediately after supper the colonel abandoned the living room. How long has this lady been there?He thought it was about half an hour.The colonel himself saw her out.what!Yes, he remembered her name now.It was a lady called Les Strands. This is astonishing. "Strange," Melchett said, "really very strange."

But we did not pursue the matter in detail, for at that moment the servants came to say that Mrs. Protheroe wanted to see us. Annie was lying on the bed.She was pale, but her eyes were bright.There was something about her face that puzzled me--it was sombre and determined. "Thank you for coming in time," she said to me. "I think you understand my point in telling you to bring with you whoever you like." She paused. "It's better to get out of this quickly, right?" she said, with an odd, self-pitying smile on her face. "I think you're the one I should tell the truth to, Melchett. You see, I killed my husband."

Melchett said softly: "My dear Mrs. Protheroe—" "Oh! It's true. I think I've said enough, but I don't get hysterical about anything. I hated him for a long time, so I shot him yesterday." She lay back on the pillow and closed her eyes. "I'm done. I think you're going to arrest me and take me away. I'll get up and get dressed as soon as I can. But right now, I'm feeling tired." "Mrs Protheroe, do you know that Mr Redding has confessed to this murder? Annie opened her eyes and nodded happily. "I know. Silly boy. You know, he loves me very much. It's a noble thing to do, but it's a fool." "Does he know that you committed this murder?" "Yes," "How did he know?" She hesitated. "Did you tell him?" She still hesitates.Finally, she seemed to have made up her mind. "Yes—I told him..." She twitched her shoulders in an angry motion. "Aren't you going now? I've told you and I don't want to talk about it anymore." "Where did you get the pistol, Mrs. Protheroe?" "A pistol? Oh, it's my husband's. I took it out of his wardrobe drawer." "I see. Then you went to the Vicarage with the gun?" "Yes. I knew he'd be there—" "What time was it?" "It must have been after six—a quarter of an hour later—twenty minutes later—about that time." "Did you take the pistol just to kill your husband?" "No—I—made it for myself." "I see. But you went to the vicarage, didn't you?" "Yes. I went to the window. There was no sound. I looked into the house and saw my husband. Then something approached me - and I fired." "and after?" "Then? Oh, then I ran away." "And tell Mr Redding what you've done?" I noticed again that she hesitated a moment before saying, "Yes." "Did anyone see you entering or leaving the parsonage?" "No—except Miss Marple. I talked to her a little while. She was in her garden." She moved restlessly on the pillow. "Isn't that enough? I told you. Why do you continue to upset me?" Dr. Haydock moved closer to her and felt for her pulse. He nodded to Melchett. "I'll stay with her," he said softly, "you make the necessary preparations. She should not have been left behind.could be dangerous for her. " Melchett nodded. We left the room and went down the stairs.I saw a thin and haggard man coming out of the next room, and I followed him up the stairs suddenly. "Are you Colonel Protheroe's valet?" "Yes, sir," startled the man. "Do you know where your late master kept a pistol?" "Not so far as I know, sir." "Not in his wardrobe drawer, either? Think about it, man." The valet shook his head affirmatively. "I'm quite sure he hasn't, sir. If so, I haven't seen it either. I'm sure." I hurried down the stairs and followed the others. Mrs. Protheroe lied about the pistol. why?