Chapter 13 Chapter Twelve New Lamps for Old Lamps

Miss Bulstrode had also a gift which set her above most women.She is good at listening to other people's conversations. Kelsey Dato and Adam talked to her, and she listened in silence.She didn't even twitch an eyebrow. Then she said only one sentence: "amazing." "You're amazing," Adam thought, but he didn't say it out loud. "Well," said Miss Bulstrode, in her habit of cutting straight to the point, "what do you want me to do?" Inspector Kelsey cleared his throat. "Here's the thing," he said, "and we felt we should tell you all about it—for the school's sake."

"Of course," she said, "my first concern is the school. I have to. How well the pupils are cared for and how well they are safe is entirely my responsibility--and the same, though less so, for the staff. I One more thing to say now. It would be better for me if there was as little publicity as possible about Springer's death. It's a purely selfish opinion - although I think my school is important in its own right , not only to me. And I understand well that if you think it necessary to make a big splash, you will have to. But is it necessary?" "No need," said Inspector Kelsey. "That's what we call them these days—they come out with guns, and make fun of shooting people. They usually do it with a sort of retractable dagger. But some of these boys did have guns. They happened to be caught by Miss Springer when they committed the crime, and they shot and killed her. That's all we have to say to the outside world—so we can be safe. Make up your mind to work quietly. Keep the papers out of the matter. But, of course, The Meadows is a famous school. Murder is news. Murders in The Meadows are hot news. "

"I think I can help you in that respect," said Miss Bulstrode briskly. "I can also be of some use to those at the top." She smiled and listed several names, including the Home Secretary. , two newspaper tycoons, a bishop and the education secretary. "I'll do my best." She looked at Adam. "Do you agree?" Adam said hastily: "I agree. We've always liked to do it quietly." "Will you continue to be my gardener?" asked Miss Bulstrode. "If you don't object. Then I don't feel restricted where I'm going. I can keep an eye on what's going on around me."

This time Miss Bulstrode raised her eyebrows. "Don't you think there will be more murders?" "no no." "That pleases me. I don't think any school can survive two murders in one term." She turned to Kelsey. "Have you checked the gym? It would be embarrassing if it doesn't work." "We're done looking. Clean—I mean, from our point of view. Whatever the cause of the murder—there's nothing there to help us right now. Just a gymnasium with average equipment." "Is there nothing in the student's closet?" Inspector Kelsey smiled.

"Well--assorted things--there's a book--in French--called ""--with--well-illustrations. It's a valuable book." "Ah," said Miss Bulstrode, "so she hid it here! Giselle Dobre, I suppose?" It made Kelsey respect Miss Bulstrode all the more. "There is not much that can be hidden from you, miss," he said. "Candide won't do her any harm," said Miss Bulstrode. "And now I come back to my first point. You don't intend to say much about the school. Don't worry. Can the school help you? Can I help you?" "I don't think there's much to help at the moment. The only thing I'd like to ask is, has anything disturbed you this term? Is there anything or anyone who has attracted attention?"

Miss Bulstrode was silent for a moment.Then she said slowly, "I'll answer you honestly: I don't know." Adam hurriedly said: "Have you ever felt as if there was something out of the ordinary?" "There is—just a feeling. I can't be sure. I can't pinpoint anyone, or anything—unless—" She was silent for a while, then she said: "I felt—I felt—that I had neglected something which I should not have neglected. Let me tell you." She gave a brief account of Mrs. Upjohn's affairs and of Mrs. Veronica's disturbing sudden arrival" Adam was interested in that.

"Let me set this straight, Miss Bulstrode. When Mrs. Upjohn looked out of the front window, which opened onto the driveway, she recognized a person. There was no What, you have more than a hundred students here, and it is likely that she saw some parent or relative she knew. But you must have the idea that she was very surprised to see that person-in fact, you also It's just that she never expected to meet this person in Fangcaodi, right?" "Yes, that was exactly my impression at the time." "And then you look in the opposite direction through this window and you see a student's mother, very drunk, and that completely distracts you from what Mrs Upjohn is saying, doesn't it? "

Miss Bulstrode nodded. "She talked for several minutes, didn't she?" "right." "When you look back at her, she's talking about espionage, about the intelligence work she did during the war before she got married, isn't she?" "right." "That could be connected," Adam mused. "It's someone she knew during the war. A parent or relative of one of your students, or maybe a teacher here." "Not a teacher here," Miss Bulstrode disagreed. "Probably so." "We'd better ask Mrs. Upjohn," Kelsey said. "As soon as possible. Do you have her address, Miss Bulstrode?"

"Of course. But I think she's gone abroad by this time. Wait a minute—I'll find out." She pressed the buzzer on the desk twice, then hurried to the door and stopped a student who was walking by. "Pola, will you go and get me Julia Upjohn?" "Yes, Miss Bulstrode." "I'd better get out of here before this student comes," Adam said. "I'm afraid it's not natural for me to be here for Inspector Kelsey's questioning. Let him pretend to call me here to question me. You can't find anything out of me for a while, so you have to tell me to go."

"Go. Remember, my eyes will never let you go!" Kelsey growled and grinned. "By the way," said Adam, stopping by the door, to Miss Bulstrode, "if I've been a little bit abusive, say, if I've been too friendly with some of your teachers, you don't care. ?” "To which teachers?" "Well—for example, Mademoiselle Blanche." "Mademoiselle Blanche? Do you think she—" "I think she's bored here." "Ah!" Miss Bulstrode looked rather stern. "Perhaps you are right. Anyone else?" "I want to deal with everyone." Adam said enthusiastically, "If you find that some students have lost their minds and sneaked into the garden to have a tryst, please believe that my intention is purely 'police dog style. '—if there is such a word."

"Do you think the student might know anything?" "Everyone always knows something, even if there is something they don't realize they know." "Perhaps you are right." There was a knock at the door, and Miss Bulstrode called, "Come in." Julia came to the door, out of breath" "Come in, Juliekie. " Inspector Kelsey bellowed: "You can go now, Goodman, go, and get on with your work." "I told you, I don't know anything about anything," said Adam hard-faced.He walked out, still muttering: "Exactly." "I'm sorry, Miss Bulstrode, to see me panting like this," said Julia apologetically, "I ran all the way from the tennis court." "Never mind. I just wanted to ask your mother's address—that is, where can I see her?" "Oh! You must write to Aunt Isabel. Mother has gone abroad." "I have your aunt's address here, but I need to speak to your mother myself." "I don't know how you can see her." Julie Ji said, frowning, "Mom has already arrived by bus." "By bus?" Miss Bulstrode started. Julie Ji nodded vigorously. "She likes it," Julie Kie explained. "Of course it's much cheaper. It's just a little uncomfortable, but Mum doesn't mind. Doing the math, I think she'll be here in about three weeks." "I see—that's right. Tell me, Julie Key, did your mother ever mention to you that she saw a man here who she knew while working in the war?" "I don't think so, Miss Buldertrode. No, certainly not." "Your mother did intelligence work, didn't she?" "Oh, yes. Mama seems to love this job. Not because it actually sounds exciting to me. She never brags about it, or about getting caught by the Gestapo or having her toenails pulled out." , or something like that. I think she was working in Switzerland—or maybe Portugal?" Zhu Liji then confessed: "People are really tired of hearing the old war stories, and I probably haven't listened to them seriously." "Well, Julia, thank you. That's all." "There's such a thing!" said Miss Bulstrode, after Julia had gone. "Take the bus to Anatolia, that's what the kid said. It's like saying her mother got on the No. 73 bus." Like Marshall-Snellgrove Clothing Company." Jennifer left the tennis court sullenly, swishing the tennis racket as she walked.She was frustrated with too many double faults on her serve this morning.It's certainly not because she can't serve well with this racquet, but because she seems to be unable to control her serve lately.But her backhand has indeed improved, thanks to Springer's good coaching.Springer is now dead, and in many ways a sad one. Jennifer takes tennis seriously.This is one thing she always has on her mind. "Sorry--" Jennifer looked up, startled.A well-dressed blond woman, carrying a long, flat package, stood a few feet away from her on the path.Jennifer was puzzled, how could she not see this woman walking towards her just now, what happened?She didn't expect that this woman might have hid behind a tree or a rhododendron bush first, and now she just ran out from there.Jennifer would not have thought of this layer.For why should a woman hide behind a rhododendron bush and then suddenly run out of it? "Excuse me, where can I find a girl named"—she glanced at a note—"Jennifer Sutcliffe?" said the woman with a somewhat American accent. Jennifer was amazed. "I am Jennifer Sutcliffe." "Ah, what an interesting thing! It's really a perfect coincidence. When looking for a student in such a big school, you should ask her all the time. People say that such a thing will never happen." "I guess that sort of thing happens sometimes," said Jennifer, who wasn't interested. "I'm here today for lunch with some friends," the woman went on. "I happened to mention this at a cocktail party yesterday, and your aunt—or maybe yours?—my Bad memory. She told me her name and I forgot. Anyway, she asked me to come over here once and give you a new tennis racket. She said you've been asking her for one Just a new racket." Jennifer was overjoyed immediately.It seemed like a miracle, quite a miracle. "It won't be Aunt Rosamund. She won't give me anything but ten shillings at Christmas." "Yes, I remember now. That's the name, Campbell." She handed the package over, and Jennifer eagerly took it.The package is loosely packed.Jennifer let out an exclamation of delight as the racket emerged from under the wrapping. "Oh! This racket is great!" Jennifer exclaimed loudly. "What a good racquet, I've been dying for a new one. You can't play decent shots without a decent racquet." "Yeah, I think so too." "Thank you for bringing it," Jennifer said gratefully. "School always bores me. So many girls. Oh, by the way, Mrs. Campbell asked me to take your old racket home." She picked up the racket that Jennifer had dropped on the ground. "Your aunt—no—your godmother says she's going to have the racquet restringed. The racket really needs restringing, doesn't it?" "I don't think it's worth changing." Jennifer said indifferently. She was still waving and fiddling with her new treasure to see if it was all right. "But it's always useful to have an extra racket," said her new friend. "Oh dear." She glanced at her watch. "I thought it was early. I have to run back." "Have you—would you like to hire a taxi? I ​​can call and hope you like the racket." She literally ran along the path towards the school gate.Jennifer yelled again behind her: "Thank you very, very much." Then she triumphantly went to find Julie Ji. "Look!" She swung the racket intentionally to attract attention. "Yo! Where did you get it?" "My godmother sent it over. Aunt Gena. She's not my aunt, that's what I call her. She's very rich. I think Mama told her I was always mumbling about my racket No. It's a beautiful racket, isn't it? I must remember to write and thank her." "I hope you remember!" said Julia solemnly. "That's right, but you know, sometimes a person just forgets things. Even if it's something you really want to do." Jennifer saw Shesta walking towards him at this moment. "Look, Shesta, I've got a new racket. Look what a nice racket." "This racket must be very expensive." Shesta looked at the racket carefully and said, "I hope I can play tennis well." "You're always letting yourself hit the ball." "I never seem to know where the ball's going to come from," Shesta said dazedly, "or make a tennis jersey like the one worn by American champion Ruth Allen. I think it's very nice, maybe I want both." She smiled, full of joy and anticipation. "Siesta never thinks of anything but clothes." Julie Ji said contemptuously as they walked with her friend, "Do you think we will be like this in the future?" "I think so," Jennifer said gloomily. "It's really annoying." They entered the stadium, which is now officially evacuated by the police.Jennifer carefully secured the racket with the racket clip. "Look how cute it is!" she said, stroking the racket affectionately. "Where's that old racket?" "Oh, she took it." "Who?" "The woman who brought me this racket. She met Aunt Gena at a cockatiel and Aunt Gena asked her to bring this to me because she was coming here today and Aunt Gena said she would Take my old racket back, she's going to have the strings changed." "Oh, that's it..." Zhu Liji frowned. "What did Bully tell you to do?" Jennifer asked. "Bli? Oh, nothing really. Just for Mom's address. But she doesn't have an address because she's on the bus. Somewhere in Turkey. Jennifer—look, your racket is actually No need to switch lines." "Oh, yes, Julia, loose as a sponge." "I know. But it's actually my racquet. I mean we swapped it. It was my racquet that needed to be restringed. Yours, the one I have now, has been restringed. You said it to me yourself. Yes, your mother had rewired it before you left the country." "Yeah, that's right." Jennifer looked a little taken aback, "Oh, well, I thought this woman—whoever she was—I should have asked her name, but I was so dazed with joy— —really think that racket needs to be restringed.” "But you said just now: She said it was your Aunt Gina who said the racket needed to be changed. And if it didn't need to be changed, your Aunt Gina wouldn't think it needed to be changed." "Oh, this—" Jennifer looked impatient, "I think—I think—" "What do you think?" "Maybe Aunt Gena just thinks if I want a new racket it's because the old racket needs a new string. What does it matter anyway?" "I don't think so," Julia said slowly, "but I do think there's something odd about it, Jennifer. It's like—like. You know, Aladdin." Jennifer giggled. "Just imagine, touching my old racket—I mean your old racket—and having a genie appear before your eyes! Julia, if you molded an oil lamp twice, a genie If the devil really appears, what will you ask of him?" "There's a lot to ask for," Julia hissed ecstatically. "A tape recorder, a stud dog—or maybe I'd like a Great Dane—and a hundred thousand pounds, and a black Satin party dresses, and, oh, many, many other things. What do you want?" "I don't know what I really want," Jennifer said. "Now that I have such a nice new racket, I don't want anything else."

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Notes: in a story.There is a warlock who will be poorer than Aladdin to deceive people into a cave to steal the order of God.When Ah was about to leave the cave after taking the lamp, the sorcerer suspected that Ah was going to take the lamp for himself, and locked Ah in the cave.After Ah managed to escape from the cave, he accidentally discovered that an old oil lamp he had obtained turned out to be a magic lamp. As long as he stroked it a few times, a kind of eagle would appear immediately for him to drive.Whatever he wants, God Skin can make him get what he wants.After King Ala recruited him to be his horse, the sorcerer took advantage of Ala's absence in the palace and cheated the magic lamp from the princess with the trick of "exchanging the old lamp with a new lamp", which caused a disturbance.