Chapter 6 Chapter Six

The lights on the screen came on.Advertisements flashed across the screen.Ushers in movie theaters walk around with cases of lemonade and ice cream.Arthur Calgary watched them closely.A brunette buxom girl, a tall dark-haired guy and a small blonde guy.That was the person he had come to meet—Jack's wife.Jack's widow, now the wife of a man named Joey Craig.It was a pretty, kind of boring little face, with makeup on, brows furrowed, and hair horribly stiff with a cheap perm.Arthur Calgary bought her a box of ice cream.He had her home address and was determined to visit, but he wanted to meet her before she knew him.Well, that's it.Not in all respects the kind of daughter-in-law Mrs. Argyle would have liked very much.No doubt this was why Jack kept her from the public.

He sighed, carefully hid the ice cream under the seat, and leaned back in the chair, when the lights went out and the movie started playing.He immediately stood up and left the cinema. At eleven o'clock the next morning, he called on the address given to him.A boy of sixteen opened the door and answered Calgary's inquiry: "The Craigs? Attic." Calgary climbed the stairs.He knocked on a door and Maureen Craig opened it. With the uniform and makeup removed, she looks like a different girl.A silly little face, kind but not particularly interesting.She looked at him, frowning suspiciously.

"My name is Calgary. I believe you have had a letter about me from Mr. Marshall." Her face brightened. "Oh, so it's you! Come in, come in." She stepped back and let him in. "Sorry about the mess. I haven't had time to tidy it up yet." She swept loose laundry off a chair, pushing aside the leftovers from her previous breakfast. "Sit down, please. It's good of you." "I felt like that was the least I could do," Calgary said. She smiled awkwardly, as if she didn't quite understand what he meant. "Mr. Marshall wrote and told me," she said. "About that story Jack made up—turned out to be true. Somebody gave him a ride to Drymouth that night. So it was you, wasn't it?"

"Yes," said Calgary. "it's me." "I really haven't recovered yet," Maureen said. "Been talking about it for half the night, Joey and I. Really, I said, it could have been on the movie. Two years ago, wasn't it, or nearly?" "Almost, yes." "It's the kind of thing you actually see in the movies, and of course you tell yourself it's all bullshit and doesn't happen in real life. And now it's happening! It's happening! It's really Exciting, isn't it?" "I suppose," said Calgary, "it might be thought that way." He looked at her with a vague pain.

She went on chatting happily. "Poor Jack's dead and can't know about it. He's got pneumonia, you know, in jail. I think it's moisture or something, don't you think?" Calgary knew she had a romantic vision of prison in her mind.A dank dungeon with rats biting people's toes. "At the time, I must say," she continued, "it seemed for the best that he died." "Yes, probably... yes, I think it must be." "Well, I mean, he's been locked up there year after year. Joey says I'd better get a divorce, and I'm planning to."

"You wanted to divorce him then?" "Oh, it's no good being chained up by a man who's been in prison for years, isn't it? Besides, you know, while I like Jack and all, he's not what you call steady; I never really thought we marriages will last." "Did you actually start the divorce process when he died?" "Oh, so to speak. I mean, I went to see the lawyer. Joey asked me to: of course, Joey never could stand Jack." "Joy is your husband?" "Yeah. He did electrical stuff. Had a good job and they valued him. He'd always tell me Jack was no good, but of course I was just a kid, silly. Jack had a thing, you know."

"From all I've heard about him, it seems so." "He's good at tricking women—I don't know why, really. He's not good-looking or anything, monkey-faced, I call him that a lot. He's got his way, though. You'll find you'll do anything he Something you do. You know, it worked for a while. Right after we got married, he got in trouble for a customer's car at the auto shop where he worked. I don't know how The boss was very angry anyway. But Jack lied to the boss's wife. Very old, she. Must be almost fifty, but Jack sucked up her ass and played her around until she lost her head and didn't know she Heads on the ground or feet on the ground. In the end she would do anything for him. Tricked her husband, she, into telling him he wouldn't move Jack if he lost money. But he never knew where the money came from Of: His own wife paid for it. That really made us laugh, Jack and me!"

Calgary looked at her with mild disgust. "Is that—so funny?" "Oh, I suppose it's funny, don't you think? Really, it's ridiculous. An old woman like that who's crazy about Jack and takes out her savings for him." Calgary sighed.Things never turn out the way you imagine, he thought.Day by day he found that the man he had worked so hard to clear was less and less pleasing to him.He could almost understand and take the same view that he had so marveled at Sunny Point. "I'm just here, Mrs. Craig," he said, "to see if there's anything I can--well, do for you to make up for what has happened."

Maureen Craig looked slightly puzzled. "It's nice of you, I'm sure," she said, "but why should you? We're all fine, Joey's making money and I have a job myself. I'm an usher, you know, in a movie theater." "Yes, I know that." "We're going to buy a TV next month." The girl continued proudly. "I'm glad," said Arthur Calgary, "more than I can say - that this unfortunate incident has left no - er, permanent shadow." He was finding it harder and harder to pick the right words to speak to the girl Jack had once married.Anything he said sounded pompous and contrived.

Why couldn't he speak to her naturally? "I fear it may be a great sorrow to you." Bei stared at him wide-eyed, her wide-open blue eyeballs ignoring what he meant. "It was horrible," she said, "all the neighbors were talking about, and the most disturbing thing, though I have to say the police were very kind, in every way. Very polite to me, what to say All said politely." He doubted whether she had any affection for the dead man.He asked her a question abruptly. "Do you think he did it?" he said. "You mean, I think he killed his mother?"

"Yes. Exactly." "Er, of course—er—er—yeah, I guess I think so. Of course, he said he didn't, but I mean you can never believe anything Jack says when it looks like It has to be him. You know, he can get very violent, Jack will, if you go against him. I know he's in some kind of trouble. He doesn't want to tell me much, he just curses at me when I ask his time. But he left that day and said it would be all right. His mother, he said, would pay for it. She had to. So of course I believed him." "As far as I know, he never mentioned your marriage to his family. You haven't met them, have you?" "No. You know, they're upper class, with a big house and all. I don't make a good impression on them. Jack thought it best not to let them know about me. Besides, he said if he took me there, his mother Would want to dominate my life and his life. She couldn't help wanting to dominate other people's lives, he said, and he was fed up with it—we were fine on our own, he said." She didn't show any expression of indignation, and really thought her husband's behavior was natural. "I suppose you were shocked when he was arrested?" "Oh, of course. How could he do such a thing? I said to myself, but there's always a way. He's always been very violent when he's upset." Calgary leaned forward. "Let's put it this way. Are you really not surprised that your husband stole a lot of money by hitting his mother over the head with the poker?" "Oh, er-Mr. Calgary, I'm sorry, that's a bit too harsh to say. I don't think he meant to hit her that hard. Don't think he meant to kill her. She just won't pay him, and he grabbed the poker , threatens her, and when she insists, he loses control and gives her a dick. I don't think he meant to kill her. That's just his bad luck. You know, he needs that money badly. If he can't get it Go to jail." "So—you don't blame him?" "Oh, of course I blame him... I don't like that kind of violence. And your own mother! No, I don't think it's okay to do that. I'm starting to think that Joey is right, telling me I shouldn't be with Jack It doesn't matter. But, you know how it is, it's hard for a girl to make up her mind. Joey, you know, was always rigid. I've known him for a long time. Jack was different. He Educated, etc. He looks like he's very rich, spends money everywhere, and of course he has his way, as I've been telling you. He can fool anyone. He did. I didn't Pity. 'You'll regret it, ma'am,' said Joy. I thought it was just sour grapes, if you know what I mean. But in the end Joey was totally right." Calgary looked at her.He wondered if she still didn't understand the full meaning of his words. "How to say right?" he asked. "Oh, got me in all sorts of trouble, him. I mean, we've always been respected. My mother raised us very carefully. We've always behaved well. No gossip. And the police arrested my husband! And There are neighbors who know it all. It's in all the papers. The News of the World and all that. And so many reporters come and ask questions. Puts me in a very bad place." "But, my dear boy," said Arthur Calgary, "you do realize now that it was not he who did it?" For a moment, that fair and beautiful face showed a bewildered expression. "Of course! I forgot. But anyway—well, I mean, he did go up there and make a fuss and threaten her and all. He wouldn't have been arrested at all if he hadn't, can you?" "No," said Calgary, "no. It's true." Maybe this pretty, stupid girl is more practical than he is, he thought. "Oh, that's horrible," Maureen continued. "I didn't go see his family right away. They must have known what to do. Afterwards, Mum said it was better to go and do myself a favor, she said. After all, she said, you have rights and it's better for them to see you knew how to take care of them. So I went. The foreign woman who was there to help opened the door for me, and at first I couldn't make her understand. It looked like she couldn't believe it. 'Impossible,' she kept saying.' Totally Impossible.' That kind of breaks my heart.' We're married,' I said, 'and not at the registry. It's at church.' The way my mother wants it! And she said, 'Not really.' I don't believe it.' Then Mr. Argyle came and was very nice. Tell me not to worry and would do everything in his power to defend Jack. Asked if I was short of money--and gave me a regular weekly stipend. Even And now it's on time. Joey doesn't like me accepting it, but I say to him, 'Don't be stupid. They don't need that money, do they?' And send me a nice check as a wedding present, and he, When Joy and I got married. And he said he was very happy, said he hoped this marriage would be happier than the last. Yes, he was very nice, Mr. Argyle." She turned her head away as the door opened. "Oh, Joey's back." Joey was a quiet, fair-haired young man.He frowned slightly after listening to Maureen's explanation and introduction. "I hope it's all over," he said disapprovingly. "Forgive me for saying so, sir. But it's no good bringing up the past. That's how I feel. Maureen's out of luck, all I can say is—" "Yes," said Calgary. "I quite understand your point." "Of course," said Joy Craig, "she shouldn't have turned in a guy like that. I knew he wasn't good. There were already stories about him. Twice he was under the supervision of the probation officer. They Once that happens, it continues. First embezzlement, or defrauding women of their savings, and finally murder." "But," said Calgary, "it wasn't murder." "You said it, sir," said Joy Craig.He said it with complete disbelief. "Jack Argyle had a solid alibi when the murder happened. He was hitchhiking with me to Drymouth. So you know, Mr. Craig, he couldn't have done the murder." "Probably not, sir," Craig said. "But anyway, it's a pity to bring it all up, forgive me for saying it. After all, he's dead now, and it can't possibly matter to him. And it's got the neighbors talking again, and they're thinking about it again." .” Calgary stood up. "Oh, maybe from your point of view, it's an opinion. But there's such a thing as axioms, you know, Mr. Craig." "I've always known," said Craig, "that trials in England are fairly fair." "The best system in the world can make mistakes," Calgary said. "After all, justice is in the hands of people, and people make mistakes." As he walked down the street after leaving them, he felt more disturbed than he could have imagined.He said to himself, would it really be better if my memory of that day didn't come back?After all, as that self-righteous guy, that quiet guy just said, the child is dead.He has gone before an infallible judge.Whether he was remembered as a murderer or a thief made no difference to him now. Then suddenly a surge of anger surged in his heart. "But it should make a difference to someone!" he thought. "Someone should be happy. Why aren't they happy? This girl, uh, I can understand enough. She may have had a crush on Jack, but she never loved him. Probably incapable of loving anyone. But the other People, his father, his sister, his nurse... they should all be happy. They should think of him before worrying about themselves... yes - someone should care." "Miss Argyle? Second desk over there." Calgary stood for a moment, watching her. Neat, petite, very quiet and competent.She was wearing a dark blue dress with a white collar and cuffs, and her blue-black hair was coiled neatly around her neck.Her skin was dark, darker than that of the English.She also has a smaller frame.This was the mulatto whom Argyle had adopted as his daughter. The eyes that looked up to meet his were black, utterly black.A pair of eyes that tell you nothing. Her voice was low and sympathetic. "can I help you?" "You are Miss Argyle? Miss Christina Argyle?" "yes." "My name is Calgary, Arthur Calgary. You may have heard of it" "Yes. I've heard of you. My father wrote to me." "I'd love to talk to you." She glanced up at the clock. "The library closes in half an hour. If you can wait until then?" "Of course. Perhaps you'd like to have a cup of tea with me somewhere?" "Thank you." She turned to a man coming from behind him. "Yes. Can I help you?" Arthur Calgary moved away.He wandered about, looking at the books on the shelves, watching Tina Argyle all the time.She remained the same calm, competent, undisturbed.The half hour passed slowly for him, but at last the bell rang and she nodded at him. "I'll meet you outside in a few minutes." She didn't keep him waiting long.She was without a hat, just a thick dark coat.He asked where she was going. "I'm not familiar with Hongming," he explained. "There's a teahouse near the cathedral. Not good, but not as crowded as other places." They immediately sat down at a small table, and a dry and thin waitress lazily accepted their order for refreshments. "It won't be good tea," Tina said apologetically, "but I thought maybe you wanted to hide it a little bit." "Yes. I must explain why I am looking for you. You know, I have met the rest of your family, including, I may say, your brother Jack's wife-widow, and you are the only one in the family that I haven't seen yet. I've seen it. Oh yes, and your married sister, of course." "You feel the need to meet all of us?" It was very polite—but there was a certain indifference in the voice that made Calgary a little uncomfortable. "Barely a social necessity," he agrees dryly. "And it's not just curiosity." (But, really isn't it?) "It's just that I wanted to, personally to all of you, express my deep regret not being able to testify of your brother's innocence at trial." "I see……" "If you like him—do you like him?" She thought about it, and then said: "No. I don't like Jack." "And yet I've heard him from all sides—charming." She said clearly and calmly: "I don't trust or like him." "You never—forgive me—suspected that he killed your mother?" "It never occurred to me that there might be any other answer." The waitress brought their tea.The bread and butter were stale, the jam was a jellylike thing, and the cake was gaudy and unappetizing.The tea was bland. He took a sip of tea and said: "It appears—I have begun to understand—that the news I bring, of your brother's clearing of murder, may have an unpleasant effect. It may bring new—anxieties to all of you." "Because the case had to be reopened?" "Yes. Have you thought about that?" "My father seemed to think it was inevitable." "Sorry. Really sorry." "Why are you sorry, Dr. Calgary?" "I don't like being the cause of your new troubles." "But will you be at ease by keeping silent?" "Are you thinking from the standpoint of justice?" "Yes, don't you?" "Of course. Axioms seemed to me very important. Now—I'm beginning to wonder if there's anything more important at all." "for example?" He thought of Hester. "Like—innocent people, maybe." Her black eyes were even darker. "How do you feel, Miss Argyle?" She was silent for a moment, then said: "I'm thinking of that line in Magna Carta. 'We will deny justice to no one.'" "I understand," he said. "This is your answer..."