Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-Two

There is nothing more to say.Miss Marple's plan worked.Lawrence Redding was not an innocent man, and hinting to him that he had been seen swapping capsules did lead him into the trap.It is a guilty conscience! Of course he was being targeted.I think his first reaction must be to run away.But he has to consider his accomplices.He couldn't leave without telling her, and he didn't dare wait until morning.So he found the "Old House" that night, followed by two of Colonel Melchett's best officers.He threw small stones at Anne Protheroe's window to wake her up.After a quick whisper, she came down to talk to him.No doubt they thought it safer to be outside than indoors, and not wake Lettice up.But in doing so, the two officers happened to overhear the conversation in full.There is no doubt about it.Miss Marple was a real genius.

The trial of Laurence Redding and Anne Protheroe was a household story.I am not going to dwell on the matter.I just want to point out that Inspector Slack deserves the credit.Said it was his zeal and resourcefulness that brought the criminal to justice. Naturally, nothing is said about Miss Marple's credit for solving the case.And this, she didn't even dare to think about it. Lettice came to see me before the interrogation began.She floated by my window, still like a ghost.She then told me that she had always suspected that her stepmother was involved in the case.Finding the missing yellow beret was just an excuse to search the study.She had hoped to find something the police had overlooked, but in vain.

"You see," she said in a dreamy voice, "they don't hate her like I do. Hate makes things easier. " Disappointed with the results of the search, she intentionally leaves Annie's earrings by the desk. "Since I know for sure that she did it, what does it matter? Just get her. She really killed him." I sighed softly.There was always something Lettice couldn't see.In a sense, she is morally colorblind. "What are you going to do, Lettice?" I asked. "At—when all this is over, I'm going abroad." She hesitated, then continued: "I'm going abroad with my mother."

I looked at her in surprise. She nodded. "Didn't it occur to you? Mrs. Lestrands is my mother. You know, she won't live long. She wanted to see me, so she came here under an alias. Dr. Haydock helped her. He was her one." An old acquaintance, once had a crush on her, you can tell! In a way, he still is. I believe, men are always crazy about their mother. Even now, she is still attractive. Anyway ,Dr Haydock did her best to help her. She came here under a pseudonym to avoid the disgusting gossip of people here. She went to see Dad that night and told him that she was not going to live long, and was very eager to see me .Papa is not human!"

He said she had lost all her rights, and said I already thought she was dead, as if I believed the lie!A man like Papa is always blind! "However, mum is not the type to give in easily. She just thought it would be appropriate to talk to dad first, but when he turned her down so savagely, she sent me a note and I arranged to leave early. Tennis party, met her at the end of the lane at a quarter past six. We just met in a hurry and agreed on a time for our next meeting. Before half past six, we said goodbye. Later, I heard that she was involved in the murder of her father , was scared. After all, she had a grudge against him. That's why I found that picture of her in the attic and poked around. I was afraid that the police would search around and find and recognize the picture. Haydo Dr. Ke was frightened, too. I believe he did think she did it sometimes! Mother was a—reckless person. She didn't care about the consequences."

She stopped. "It's weird. She and I have a heart-to-heart. Me and Daddy don't. But Mommy—oh, never mind, I'm going abroad with her. I'm going to be with her till the end..." She stood up and shook my hand. "God bless you both," I said, "and I hope much happiness will come to you one day, Lettice." "Yes," she said, with a smile on her face. "Not much happiness so far, has it? Oh, well, I guess that's all right. Good-bye, Mr. Claremont. You've always been very concerned about me, as have you and Griselda .” Griselda:

I had to admit to Griselda how disturbed I was by the anonymous letter, and she laughed at first, then spoke to me with a straight face. "But," she said, "I shall henceforth be sober and pious, like a Puritan." I don't see anything puritanical about Griselda. She continued: "Look, Len, there's an influence creeping into my life. It's creeping into yours too, but for you, it's a rejuvenating influence, at least I think: when we actually have our own kids You can't call me a child when you're here. From now on, Len, I've decided to be a real 'wife and mother', that's what they say in the book, and I've decided to be a housewife. I buy I have written two books, one on housekeeping and one on motherly love, and if that doesn't change me, I don't know what else will, these books make me laugh out loud, But not on purpose, you know. Especially the one about raising kids."

"You didn't buy a book on how to serve your husband, did you?" I asked, pulling her into my arms in a sudden surge of sympathy. "I don't have to buy it," said Griselda. "I'm a good wife. I love you very much. What more do you want?" "There's nothing left," I said. "Can you say, just once, that you love me madly?" "Griselda," I said, "I admire you! I adore you! I'm as mad for you as any human being!" My wife sighed deeply and contentedly. Then, she suddenly pushed me away. "How annoying! Miss Marple is here. Don't make her suspicious, okay? I don't want to be pointed at. Tell her I went to the golf course. Really, I left my yellow jumper there, and I go get it."

Miss Marple came to the window, stopped apologetically, and asked where Griselda had gone. "Griselda," I said, "went to the golf course." There was concern in Miss Marple's eyes. "Oh, of course," she said, "it would be very unwise to go now." Then, in an old-fashioned, spinster way, she blushed. To cover up our momentary embarrassment, we quickly turned the conversation to the Protheroe case, referring to "Dr. Stone," who was in fact a well-known craftsman who went by several different aliases.By the way, Miss Crumb was cleared of all suspicions.In the end, she admitted to taking the suitcase into the bushes, but she did so out of loyalty.Dr. Stone told her that he feared competition from other archaeologists who would resort to burglary to obtain objects that would detract from his theories.The girl evidently believed the story, which was not very plausible, completely.According to the villagers, an archaeological old bachelor needs a secretary, and she is joining him in the search for the real thing.

As we talked, I wondered how Miss Marple learned of our latest secret.But, presently, Miss Marple discreetly gave me a clue. "I hope, dear Griselda, I haven't gone too far," she murmured, pausing cautiously. "I was in Much Burnham's bookstore yesterday." Poor Griselda, that book on motherly love was bought for nothing! "I wonder, Miss Marple," I said suddenly, "that if you committed a murder, would you be found out?" "What a dreadful thought," said Miss Marple, startled. "I hope I never commit such a wicked thing." "But it's human nature," I whispered.

Miss Marple accepted the hint with an old lady's smile. "You are naughty, Mr. Claremont," she rose. "Of course, you are in a good mood." She stands in front of the window. "Please send Griselda my love and tell her that no little secret is kept from me." Indeed, Miss Marple was exceedingly lovely. --Complete--