Chapter 9 Chapter nine

After leaving a message at the police station, the police chief expressed his desire to visit Miss Marple. "You'd better come with me, Reverend," he said, "I don't want one of your congregation to become hysterical, so I beg you to be there as a consolation." I laugh while saying nothing.Despite her frail appearance, Miss Marple was able to keep her composure in the presence of any policeman or police chief. "What's she like?" asked the Colonel when we rang the bell. "I think her opinion has a lot of value," I said cautiously, "that is, when she talks about things she's seen with her own eyes. Of course, when you see her perspective, it's not just that." —Oh, that's another matter. She has a rich imagination and can logically connect everyone's weaknesses."

"Actually, she's a typical bad old woman," Melchett said, laughing again. "Oh, I should know the kind by now. My God, there's a tea party here!" A small maid opened the door for us and ushered us into a small drawing room. "It's a little small," said Colonel Melchett, looking around, "but there's plenty of fun. A lady's room, isn't it, Claremont?" I feel the same.At this moment, the door opened and Miss Marple appeared. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Miss Marple," said the colonel.After I introduced him, he put on a vigorous military demeanor.I think this kind of demeanor must have appeal to older ladies. "Having to perform official duties, you know that."

"Of course, of course," said Miss Marple. "I quite understand. Sit down, please? May I buy you a little cherry brandy? I make it myself. It's my ancestral craft." "Thank you very much, Miss Marple. You are very kind. But I think it is better for me not to drink. It is my policy to drink nothing before lunch. Now, I want to talk to you about this sad business." —A very sad thing indeed. Disturbing to all, I am sure. Oh, and from the position of your house and garden, it seems that you might be able to tell us what we wanted to know about last night. "

"As a matter of fact, I have been in my little garden since five o'clock yesterday afternoon, of course, from there--well, it is almost impossible for one not to see what is going on in the neighbourhood." "I understand, Miss Marple, that Mrs. Protheroe passed this road last night, did she?" "Yes, she passed. I called her, and she praised my roses." "Can you tell us about what time it was?" "It was just a minute or two after a quarter past six, I must say. Yes, yes, the church clock just chimed a quarter past six." "Very good. After that?"

"Well, Mrs. Protheroe said she was going to call her husband who was at the parsonage, so that they could go home together. She came by the path, you know, by the back door into the parsonage, and across the garden." "She came from the small road?" "Yes, I'll show you." Miss Marple took us out into the garden with great enthusiasm, and showed us the path that ran along the garden. "It's the opposite way from the steps leading to the 'Old House,'" she explained. "That's the way they're going to go home together. Mrs. Protheroe is coming from the village."

"Very well, very well," said Colonel Melchett, "you say she went to the vicarage by way, don't you?" "Yes. I saw her round the corner of the house. I suppose the colonel hadn't been there yet, for she came back almost at once, and went across the lawn to the studio--there was the house. The vicar let Redding Mister uses it as a studio." "I see. But—didn't you hear the gunshot, Miss Marple?" "I didn't hear a shot then," said Miss Marple, "but when did you hear one?" "Yes, I thought there was a gunshot somewhere in the woods. But it was a good five or ten minutes later—and, as I said, out in the woods. At least I was Think so. That can't be—that certainly can't be—"

She stopped, pale with excitement. "Well, well, we shall discuss all these circumstances in a moment," said Colonel Melchett. "Continue your narrative, please. Has Mrs. Protheroe entered the studio?" "Yes, she went in and waited. Presently Mr. Redding came out of the village along the lane. He came to the Vicarage door, looked about—" "And saw you, Miss Marple." "Actually, he didn't see me," said Miss Marple, flushing slightly. "Because—you see, I was just stooping and trying to pull out those nasty dandelions, you know. Too much work. Then he walked through the door and into the studio."

"Didn't he come near the house?" "Oh, no! He went straight to the studio. Mrs. Protheroe came to meet him at the door, and they both went in." At this moment, Miss Marple stopped meaningfully. "Perhaps she's sitting there waiting for him?" I surmised. "Perhaps," said Miss Marple. "Are they out? When?" "In about ten minutes." "Is that just an approximate time?" "The church clock had just struck the half-hour. They came out through the garden gate and wandered out along the path, and it happened that Dr. Stone, coming over the steps from the road leading to the 'Old House', joined them. They They all walked together towards the village. At the end of the path, I think, but I'm not quite sure, Miss Crumb joined them again. I thought it must be Miss Crumb, because her skirt was so short."

"If you can see that far, Miss Marple, you must have pretty good eyesight." "I was looking at a bird," said Miss Marple, "a golden crested wren, I think it was such a bird. Lovely little fellow. I had my glasses on, so I just happened to See Miss Crumb (if it's her, I think so) join them." "Ah! Well, that may be so," said Colonel Melchett. "Now, since you are very observant, Miss Marple, what did you notice of Mrs. Protheroe's and Mr. Redding's expressions as they passed the lane?" "They were talking and laughing," said Miss Marple, "like they were having a good time together, you know what I mean."

"Didn't they look a little flustered?" "Oh, no! Just the opposite." "It's queer," said the colonel, "the whole thing is a little too queer." Suddenly Miss Marple startled us by saying something in a calm voice: "Now, is Mrs. Protheroe still saying she was responsible for the murder?" "My God," said the colonel, "how did you guess that, Miss Marple?" "Oh, I think it might be so," said Miss Marple, "and I think my dear Lettice thinks so too. She's a very shrewd girl indeed. But I'm afraid she's not always prudent. So Anne Protheroe to say she killed her husband. Well, well. I don't think so. No, I'm almost sure, it's not true. A woman like Anne Protheroe wouldn't do that. Still, one can't quite judge anyone's character, can one? At least, that's what I've found so far. When did she say she fired the shot?"

"Twenty past six. Just after talking to you." Miss Marple shook her head slowly and pityingly.I thought she was pitying two men so foolish as to believe such a statement.At least, we feel so. "What did she kill him with?" "pistol." "Where did she get it?" "Take it with you." "Oh, she didn't carry a gun," said Miss Marple, firmly. "I swear on it. She didn't have a gun with her." "You probably didn't see it." "Of course I'll see." "If the gun was in her handbag—" "She didn't have a handbag." "Oh, and the gun might be hidden on—well—her body." Miss Marple shot him a look full of regret and contempt. "My dear Colonel Melchett, you know what young women are like these days. They are not ashamed to show how their Creator has made them. At the top of her stocking there is no more than one Handkerchief." Melchett remained stubborn. "You'll have to admit, everything fits," he said, "the time, the overturned alarm clock that said six twenty-two, and—" Miss Marple turned to me. "So you haven't told him about the alarm clock?" "What's the matter with the alarm clock, Claremont?" I told him.He looked very unhappy. "Damn it, why didn't you tell Slack about it last night?" "Because," I said, "he won't let me tell." "Nonsense, you should insist." "Perhaps," I said, "Inspector Slack treats you very differently than he treats me. I have no chance of insisting." "The whole thing is grotesque," Melchett said. "If a third person comes out claiming to have committed the murder, I'm going to be in a madhouse." "Allow me to suggest to you—" murmured Miss Marple. "what?" "If you tell Mr. Redding what Mrs. Protheroe has done, and explain that you don't believe it is really her, and then you go to Mrs. Protheroe and tell her that Mr. Redding is innocent, then they Both will tell you the truth. The truth is very helpful, but I dare say they don't know themselves very well, poor thing." "Very well, but they are the only two people who have the motive to get rid of Protheroe." "Oh, I don't see it that way, Colonel Melchett," said Miss Marple. "Hey, can you guess anyone else?" "Oh! Of course. You see," she pointed, "one, two, three, four, five, six—yes, maybe seven. I can guess at least seven would be happy to get rid of Prosser." Colonel Luo's men." The colonel looked at her indifferently. "Seven? At St. Mary Mead?" Miss Marple nodded expressly. "I didn't name names, mind you," she said. "That's not the right thing to do. But I'm afraid the world is full of evil. A decent and upright police officer like yourself wouldn't know these things, Mel." Colonel Chet." I think the chief of police is going to have a stroke.