Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

I can hardly imagine what such a coincidence could have happened to Mrs. Price Ridley, but I do wonder what made her go to the police.Does she really have any important evidence, or what she thinks is important evidence, to provide?Either way, we'll find out soon. We see Mrs. Price Ridley speaking threateningly to a bewildered police sergeant.She was very angry, and I could tell by the quivering of the bow of her hat.Mrs. Price Ridley wore, I believe, what is called a "Matron's Hat."In the small towns around Muchburnham, this hat is unique.The hat rested freely on the hair and felt a little overweight thanks to a large ribbon bow.Griselda was always threatening to buy a matron's hat.

Mrs. Price Ridley paused for a moment in her eloquence as we entered. "Mrs. Price Ridley?" asked Colonel Melchett, lifting his hat. "Let me introduce Colonel Melchett, Mrs. Price Ridley," I said. "Colonel Melchett is our county police chief." Mrs. Price Ridley looked at me indifferently, but gave the Colonel a graceful smile. "We have just come round to your house, Mrs. Price Ridley," explained the colonel, "and I hear you have come here." Mrs. Price Ridley softened completely. "Ah!" she said, "I'm glad it's getting a little attention. Shameless, I say. Shameless."

There is no doubt that murder is shameless, but I would not use such a word to describe murder myself.It surprised Melchett too, I could see that. "Can you provide any clues to this?" he asked. "That's your business. It's the police's business. I should ask, what do we pay taxes for?" One cannot tell how many times this question is asked in a year. "We are doing our best, Mrs. Price Ridley," said the Constable. "But this gentleman hasn't even heard of it, and wants us to tell him!" she shouted. We all looked at the policeman.

"My wife called," he said, "very annoyed. About the obscenity, I think." "Oh! I see." The colonel frowned. "We're not talking about the same thing. You're here to make an accusation, aren't you?" Melchett is a smart guy.He knew that if it was an angry middle-aged lady, there was only one thing to do—listen to her.When she has said all she wants to say, give her the chance to listen to you. Mrs. Price Ridley began to talk at length. "Such outrageous things should stop. It shouldn't happen. To get a phone call in your own home and be insulted - yes, insulted. I'm not used to things like this happening to me. Since the war, People's morals are declining. No one cares what is said, and as for what they wear—"

"Exactly," said Colonel Melchett hastily. "What happened?" Mrs. Price Ridley drew a breath, and said: "I got a call—" "What time?" "Yesterday afternoon—evening, to be exact. About six-thirty. I went to answer the phone, not suspicious. But I was immediately attacked and threatened with obscene language—" "What exactly are you talking about?" Mrs. Price Ridley flushed slightly. "I refuse to make a statement on this." "Of obscene language." The sergeant said softly in a bass voice, meditating. "Very bad language?" asked Colonel Melchett.

"Depends on what you call bad language." "Can you understand?" I asked. "Of course I understand." "Well, that can't be bad language," I said. Mrs. Price Ridley eyed me suspiciously. "An educated lady," I explained, "is not familiar with bad language." "It wasn't like that," said Mrs. Price Ridley. "At first, I must admit I could take it. I thought there was something. And then the—the man started to say something." "Spitting out bad words?" "Exactly. I'm rather surprised."

"Have you used threatening language?" "Yes. I'm not used to being threatened." "How do they threaten you? Bodily harm?" "not quite." "Mr. Price Ridley, I'm afraid you must be more specific. How are you threatened?" Mrs. Price Ridley seemed reluctant to answer that. "I don't remember exactly. It was very disturbing. But then, right at the end - I was really very disturbed at the time, this - the bad guy laughed." "Is it a man's voice or a woman's voice?" "A depraved voice," said Mrs. Price Ridley gravely, "I can only describe it as a depraved voice. Rough and gruff by one moment, high-pitched by one. A peculiar one, indeed." the sound of."

"Maybe, it's actually a joke." The colonel comforted. "If so, it's a wicked thing. I might have a heart attack." "We'll investigate," said the colonel. "Inspector, will you? Pursue this call. Could you be more specific about what you said on the phone, Mrs. Price Ridley? " In Mrs. Price Ridley's mind two thoughts were at war: the thought of silence wrestled with the thought of revenge.Thoughts of revenge prevailed. "Of course, this kind of thing can't go on," she began. "Of course not." "The brute began by saying--I hardly want to repeat him--"

"Go ahead, go ahead," Melchett encouraged. "You are an old witch who specializes in spreading gossip!" I, Colonel Melchett, have turned out to be an old gossip-monger. "But this time, you've gone too far. Scotland Yard is after you for libel." "Naturally, you're quite surprised," said Melchett, biting his beard to hide a smile. "Unless you keep your mouth shut from now on, you're going to get retribution—all kinds of retribution. I can't tell you about the menacing tone in which they spoke. I gasped and asked, 'Who are you? ’ or so the question, and the voice answered: ‘The Avenger.’ I couldn’t help yelling softly. It sounded awful, and then—the man laughed. Laughed, very clearly. That’s it. I Heard them hang up. Of course I asked the telephone exchange what number they just called me, but they said they didn't know. You know what the telephone exchange is. Very rude, no sympathy at all."

"Quite right," I said. "I was dazed," continued Mrs. Price Ridley, "so nervous that when I heard a gunshot in the woods, I swear. I was just out of my wits. Take a look." "A shot in the forest?" Inspector Slack asked alertly. "I was in a state of jitters, and I thought it sounded like a cannon fire. 'Ah!' I exclaimed, laying down on the couch exhausted. Clara had to bring me a glass of burrata. Slee gin." "Shocking," Melchett said. "Shocking. It's all making you sick. Did you say the gunfire was loud? It seemed so close?"

"That's literally how I felt at the time." "Of course, of course. What time did this all happen? It helps us track down the call, you know." "About half past six." "Can't you tell us a more accurate time?" "Oh, you see, the little clock on my mantelpiece had just struck the half-hour, and I said, 'That clock must be fast.' (It was fast.) So I matched the clock with the watch I was wearing. It was only ten past six, but then I held it to my ear and found it had stopped. So I thought: 'Oh, if the clock is fast, I'll hear the church tower bell in a moment .' Then, of course, the phone rang and I just forgot about it." She paused, panting. "Oh, that's enough," said Colonel Melchett. "We'll have someone look into it for you, Price. Mrs. Ridley." "Take it as a silly joke, and don't worry, Mrs. Price Ridley," I said. She looked at me coldly.Apparently she still resents me about the pound notes. "Some very strange things have been going on in this village lately," she said to Melchett, "very strange things indeed. Colonel Protheroe is going to look into them, and what is the result? Poor man. Perhaps I will Is it next?" With that, she got up to leave, shaking her head with an ominous melancholy.Melchett said cautiously, "No such bad luck." Then he turned serious and looked at Inspector Slack inquiringly. The big man nodded slowly. "The matter is close, sir. Three people heard the gunshot. We have to find out who fired it. This Mr. Redding incident has delayed us. But we can start with a few doubts. Originally thought that Mr. Redding Guilty, I wasn't going to bother to investigate. But that's all changed now. One of the first things to do is track down that call." "Order too big for Price Ridley?" The Inspector grinned. "No—although I think we'd better look into that, or the old lady's going to come here and bother us again. I mean that anonymous phone call that got the priest out." "Yes," Melchett said, "that's important." "Secondly, find out what someone was doing that night between six and seven. I mean, everyone in the 'old house', and everyone in the village. " I let out a sigh. "What an amazing drive you have, Inspector Slack." "I believe that hard work pays off. Mr. Claremont, let us begin by documenting your own activities." "Very willingly. Called about half-past five." "Is it a man's voice or a woman's voice?" "A woman's. At least it sounds like a woman's. But of course I think it was Abbott talking." "Didn't you recognize Mrs. Abbot's voice?" "No, I didn't. I wasn't paying attention to the sound, or paying attention to it." "And you went right away? On foot? Don't you have a bicycle?" "No." "I see. So you used—how far?" "Nearly two miles, whichever way you go." "Through the 'old house' woods is the shortest way, isn't it?" "It is. But it's not a very easy road. I come and go by field paths." "Was it the way you came out facing the vicarage door?" "yes." "Where's Mrs. Claremont?" "My wife is in London. She came back by the six-fifty train." "That's right. There's also the maid I've seen. That's all for the investigation of the pastor's apartment. My next step is to go to the woods of the 'Old House'.Then.I want to speak to Mrs. Lestrands.Strange that she had gone to see Colonel Protheroe the night before he was murdered.There are so many strange things about this case. " I also think so. "I glanced at the alarm clock. It was almost lunch time. I invited Melchett to join us for a potluck meal, but he said he had been invited to the 'Blue Boar' hotel. The hotel served cuts of meat and two vegetables. A very tasty lunch. I think he chose wisely. Mary's temper may have been more elusive than usual after being questioned by the police.