Chapter 10 chapter Ten

"I trust, Marshall, that you understand why I have asked you to come to this meeting." "Yes, of course," said Mr. Marshall. "As a matter of fact, if you hadn't proposed it, Mr. Argyle, I would have proposed it myself. The announcement was in all the papers this morning, and will no doubt spark renewed interest in the case in the press." "Several reporters have called asking for interviews," Mary Durant said. "Yes, that's to be expected, and I think I should advise you to take the no-comment position, and of course you're happy and grateful, but you'd rather not talk about it."

"The inspector general Hu Xu who was in charge of this case at the time asked to come and interview us tomorrow morning," Leo said. "Yes. Yes, I'm afraid the case will be reopened to some extent, although I really can't think that the police have much hope of achieving anything concrete. After all, two years have passed and people may remember Everything—the people of the village, I mean—has been forgotten by now. It's a pity, of course, that in some respects, it's just helpless." "The whole thing seemed pretty clear," said Mary Durant, "that the whole house was locked and locked up for thieves, but if anyone begged my mother for any particular accident, or pretended to be Her friend, then I have no doubt that my mother let that man in. I think, in fact, it must be. My father thinks he heard the bell just after seven."

Marshall turned to Leo. "Yes, I think I did," Leo said. "Of course, I don't remember now, but I had the impression at the time that I heard the doorbell. As I was about to go downstairs, I thought I heard the door opening and closing. There were no voices or forced The sound of doors coming in or any sort of rough behavior. If there was one I figured I'd hear it." "Yes, yes," said Mr. Marshall. "Yes, I think it must be like this. Ah, we know too well that many unscrupulous people make up sad stories, trick people into letting them into the house, and knock the housekeeper unconscious after entering the door. Run as much money as you can find. Yeah, I think we have to assume that's the case for now, I guess."

He spoke too convincingly.He looked at the people around him as he spoke, noticing them, categorizing them in his mind.Mary Durant, good-looking, unimaginative, undisturbed, even aloof, clearly confident.Behind her, in a wheelchair, is her husband.A smart guy, Philip Durant, Marshall thought.A man who might have been very accomplished and accomplished, were it not for his unreliable judgment in business.He didn't take it all as calmly as his wife, Marshall thought.His eyes were alert and thoughtful.He knew all too well what the whole thing meant.Of course, Mary Durand may not be as calm as she seems.She has always been able to hide her feelings since she was a child.

Philip Durant moved slightly in his chair, and looked at the lawyer with a pair of bright and intelligent eyes with slight mockery, and Mary turned her head suddenly.The lawyer was almost taken aback by the loving look she gave her husband.He knew, of course, that Mary Durant was a loving wife, but he had so far thought of her as a calm, rather unenthusiastic woman, free from sudden manifestations of intensity that would surprise him.So that's how she feels about that guy, isn't it?As for Philip Durant, he looked uncomfortable.Anxiety about the future, Marshall thought, he might be!

Opposite the lawyer sat Michael.Young, handsome, full of resentment.Why is he full of resentment?Marshall thought incidentally.Hasn't everything been done well for him?Why does he have to have this expression of always being at odds with the world?Beside him sat Tina, who looked very much like an elegant little black cat.He has dark skin, soft voice, big black eyes, and quite reserved and elegant demeanor.Quiet and quiet, maybe the surface is quiet and the heart is full of emotions.Marshall really knew very little about Tina. She took a job suggested by Mrs. Argyle as a librarian in the county library.She has a one-floor apartment in Hongming, and she only comes home on weekends.Apparently a docile, contented member of the family.But who knows?In any case, she had nothing or should have nothing to do with the case.She wasn't here that night.Although, in this respect, Hongming is only twenty-five miles away.Still assuming Tina and Michael have nothing to do with the case.

Marshall cast a quick glance at Kirsty Lindstrom, who was looking at him somewhat defiantly.Suppose, he thought, that she was the one who went out on a rampage against her employer.He wouldn't really be surprised.Having practiced law for many years, nothing really surprises you.There is a term in modern jargon: the repressed spinster.Envy, jealousy, real or imagined grief.Yes, they have a theory; and what a convenience, Marshall thought a little inappropriately.Yes, it is very convenient for a foreigner.Not a family member. But Kirsty Lindstrom would deliberately blame Jack?Heard the quarrel and took advantage of it?That's hard to believe.Because Kirsty Lindstrom loved Jack.

She has always been devoted to all children.No, he couldn't believe he would.It's a pity, because—but he really shouldn't let his thoughts go any further along this line. His eyes continued to flick to Leo Argyle and Gwenda Fern.The news of their engagement has not yet been announced, which is fine.a wise decision.In fact he had written to suggest so.Of course this may be an open secret locally and there is no doubt that the police are working on this line.From the police point of view, this is the correct answer.There are countless precedents.Husband, wife and another woman. Only, for some reason, Marshall could not believe that it was Leo Argyle who had attacked his wife.No, he really couldn't believe it.After all, he had known Leo Argyle for years and had great respect for him.An intellectual, a compassionate man with his head buried in books and a detached philosophy of life.Not the kind of man who would murder his wife with a poker.Of course, at a certain age, when a man falls in love - but, no!That's what's in the newspaper.Clearly a delight to read, all over the British Isles on Sundays!But, really, can't imagine Leo...

What about this woman?He didn't know much about Gwenda Fern.He observed the full lips and mature figure.She was in love with Leo, yes.Yes, maybe have been in love with him for a long time.Divorce, he thought.How would Mrs. Argyle feel about the divorce?He really didn't know, but he didn't think the idea would go up to Leo Argyll, he was old school.He didn't think Gwenda Fern was Leo Argyle's mistress, which raised the possibility that if Gwenda Fern saw a chance of getting rid of Mrs. Pause before thinking about it.Will she sacrifice Jack without conscience blaming?He really didn't think she liked Jack much.Jack's charm didn't work on her.And women, Mr. Marshall knew so well - were ruthless, so Gwenda Fern could not be excluded.After such a lapse of time, it is very doubtful whether the police will find any evidence.He saw no evidence that there might be any against her.She was in the house that day, with Leo in his study, and she said good night to him and left him to go downstairs.No one could say whether she had turned into Mrs. Argyle's drawing-room, picked up the poker, and walked behind the unsuspecting woman.Then, after Mrs. Argyle had been soundlessly knocked down, Gwenda Fern had only to drop the tongs and go home by the front door, as she always did.If she did, he saw no chance of the police or anyone else finding out.

His eyes turned to Hester, a beautiful girl.No, not pretty, but beautiful.Something strange and uncomfortably beautiful.He really wanted to know who her parents were, she had a wild, lawless taste.Yes, the word "desperate" can almost be associated with her.What is she so desperate for? She foolishly ran away from home, went on stage, and foolishly had an affair with a bad man; then she made sense, went home with Mrs. Argyle and settled down again.However, it is still impossible to really exclude Hester, because I don't know what she thinks in her heart.You don't know what she's going to do in desperate moments of desperation.But the police won't know either.

In fact, Mr. Marshall thought, it seemed that even if the police knew who did it, there was probably nothing they could do about it.On the whole, therefore, the situation is satisfactory.Satisfactory?As he considered the words, he was a little taken aback.But is it satisfactory?Is stalemate really the desirable end of the whole thing?Did the Argyle family themselves know the truth?He was suspicious.He thinks he doesn't know.they do not know.Except, of course, for one of them who must know very well... no, they don't know, but do they have suspicions?Well, if they're not suspicious now, sooner rather than later, because if you don't know you can't help but guess, trying to remember something... uncomfortable.Yes, very uncomfortable situation. All these thoughts did not take much time.Mr. Marshall came back from his own thoughts to see Michael's mocking eyes fixed on him. "So that's your verdict, isn't it, Mr. Marshall?" said Michelle. "An outsider, an unknown intruder, a villain who murdered and robbed and then escaped?" "It looks," said Mr. Marshall, "as if that's the answer we'll have to accept." Michel suddenly leaned back in his chair and laughed out loud. "That's our word, and we're going to stick to it, huh?" "Well, yes, Michel, I would suggest that." There was a clear warning in Mr. Marshall's life. Michael nodded. "I understand," he said. "That's your suggestion, yes. Yes, maybe you're quite right. But you don't believe it, do you?" Mr. Marshall gave him a very hard look.Such is the disease of those without legal vigilance.They insist on saying things that are better left unsaid. "Whatever the value;" he said, "that's what I mean." His decisive tone carried a heavy reprimand.Michel looked around the table. "What do we all think?" he asked broadly. "Gah, Tina, my dear, keep your head down quietly, don't you have any ideas? Any unacknowledged opinions, in other words? And you, Mary? You don't say much." "Of course I agree with Mr. Marshall," said Mary, rather severely. "What other answers might there be?" "Philip doesn't agree with you," said Michel. Mary turned sharply to look at her husband.Philip Durant said calmly: "You'd better keep quiet, Michel. It's no good talking too much when you're in a dilemma. And we're in a dilemma." "So nobody's going to have an opinion, is it?" said Michelle. "Okay, that's it. But let's all think about it when we go to bed tonight. It might be a good idea, you know. After all, everyone wants to know where they are, in other words, don't you know at all?" Kirsty? You usually know a little bit. As far as I can remember, you've always known everything, though I'll tell it for you, and you never tell anyone else." Kirsty Lindstrom said solemnly: "I think, Michel, you should keep quiet. Mr. Marshall is right. It's not wise to talk too much." "We can vote," Michael said. "Or put your name on a slip of paper and throw it in a hat. It'd be fun, wouldn't it? See who gets the most votes?" Kirsty Lindstrom's voice was louder this time. "Calm down," she said. "Stop being as stupid and reckless as you used to be. You're grown up now." "I'm just saying let's all think about it," said Michel, startled. "We'll think about it," Kirsty Lindstrom said. Her voice was more spicy.