Chapter 15 Chapter 15 The Acts of a Woman

One morning two days later, Miss Marple sat staring at her plate with no appetite at all.He picked up the handset and dialed the number vigorously, "Dali, this is Jane. I want to ask you something, listen carefully now. You tell Inspector Kleder that Hitt Bakerk has a crush on Marina Gray talked a whole bunch of how she got chickenpox and got up to see Marina and asked her for a picture, is that true?" "How much is true." "Is it chickenpox?" "Oh, it might be something like that. Mrs. Oak was talking to me about vodka, so I wasn't listening." "Are you sure," said Miss Marple, with a breath, "that she wasn't talking about whooping cough?"

"Whooping cough?" asked Mrs. Buntry in surprise. "Of course not. She has to make up and do her hair when she has whooping cough? It doesn't have to be." "I see—did you drop by someone? Did she mention makeup?" "Oh, she made a point—she's not one to put on makeup. But I guess you're right. She didn't have chicken pox! . . . Maybe it was wheals." "You say that," said Miss Marple coldly, "because you yourself have had pimples before and you can't go to the wedding. You're hopeless, Darley, hopeless." She slammed the receiver down, cutting off Mrs. Buntry's startled protest.

Miss Marple sulked like an angry kitten.Finally, her mind returned to her own family affairs.Then there was a knock on the door.Miss Marple said loudly, "Come in." Here comes Julie. "Come serve the tray," she said. "I was late this morning and heard about that poor Arthur Bakerk." "Arthur Baker? What's the matter with him?" "Didn't you hear? He's in the police station now," Julie said. "They asked him if you could come over and help with the case, and then you'll know what it means." "When did this happen?" asked Miss Marple.

"This morning," replied Julie. "I think," she went on, "it gives away the fact that he was married to Marina Gray." "What?" Miss Marple stood up. "Arthur Bakerk was married to Marina Gray?" "It's said to be so," said Julie, "but no one knows about it. They were only married for a year or two. Then she won an Academy Award and he didn't deserve her. They divorced easily, and he obediently It's been a long time since I left, changed my name and changed my surname, and returned to England, you don't think it's a big deal, do you?"

"Oh. No," said Miss Marple. "No, I didn't even think about it. All I can think of is——Julie, take the basin away, I'm going to get out of bed." Miss Marple fumbled into her clothes and said sharply, "Call me a Fudge taxi." "Oh, got it. You want a lift?" "Just ask him to come, won't you?" said Miss Marple. "Please ask him to come at once." Julie looked at her incredulously, and then did as she was told. "Honey, we don't think there's any problem, do we?" she said anxiously. "We're all right," said Miss Marple, "especially me. I'm not used to procrastination, and what I want is actual action."

"Did Mrs. Baker say anything that upset you?" "Nothing troubles me," said Miss Marple, "I'm just annoyed at my stupidity. But really, I didn't realize it until today when I got inspiration from Dr. Hedak--and now I suspect I'm Didn’t remember it right. Where is my medical book?” She walked straight down the stairs and finally found the book she wanted on the bookcase in the living room.Opening the table of contents, she muttered, "page two hundred and ten."After reading for a while, she nodded with satisfaction. "Excellent," she said, "very interesting. I'm sure no one thought of it, nor did I, until the two things came together."

Then she shook her head, a wrinkle appeared between her brows, if someone... She recalled what she had heard about that day again... The more she thought about it, the wider her eyes widened.Does anyone get a benefit?Could it be him?She was suspicious.No one thought of the pastor, he was the most unpredictable person. Still, she went to the phone and dialed it. "Good morning, pastor, I'm Miss Marple." "Oh, yes, Miss Marple—what can I do?" "I was wondering if you could do me a little favor about the party on the day Mrs. Backcock died. I think you were standing very close to Miss Gray when the Backcocks arrived."

"Yes—yes—I was standing in front of them, and it was a miserable day." "Indeed, I think Mrs. Bakerk was telling Miss Gray about their meeting in Bermuda. Especially when she was sick and got up to see her." "Yes, yes, I remember." "Do you remember Mrs. Bakerk mentioning her illness?" "I think about it now - let me see - it's measles - at least not really measles - it's German measles - a mild disease that some people don't feel much about. I remember one of my niece--" Miss Marple stopped him from talking about his niece, so she interposed, "Thank you, Reverend," and hung up.

"Here comes the taxi, my dear," said Julie, hurrying in now.Miss Marple put on her hat and buttoned her coat, and she stepped out to the waiting taxi. The taxi drove quickly, and when Miss Marble arrived at Goldstein Manor, she rang the doorbell and asked to see Jason Luther. The servant who replaced Ghisper was an old man with an ugly face. He refused when he saw Miss Marple. "Mr. Luther," he said, "he doesn't see anybody without an appointment, especially today—" "I didn't make an appointment," said Miss Marple, "but I can wait," she added.

The servant was speechless, and he drew back.At this moment a young man came up to Miss Marple; he looked cheerful and spoke with an American accent. "I've seen you before," said Miss Marple, "in Uptown and you asked me the way to Breham Cross Street." Hayley Braston smiled kindly. "I think you've been a great help, but you've been doing a disservice and going in the wrong direction." "My God, really?" said Miss Marple. "So many Crouse Streets, isn't it? Can I see Mr. Luther?" "What's the matter? It's not very well," said Hayley Preston. "Mr. Luther is a busy man and he really can't be bothered. I think you should tell me what you want from him."

"I'm afraid," said Miss Marple, "that I want to see Luther himself, and," she continued, "I shall wait here until I see him." She sat down more firmly in an oak chair. Hayley Preston hesitated, finally walked away, went upstairs, and returned with a tall man in Scottish cloth. "This is Dr. Gilkes, and this is Mar—" "Miss Marple." "You are Miss Marple," said Dr. Gilkes.He looked at her with great interest. Hayley Preston walked away quickly. "I heard about you," said Dr. Gilkes, "from Dr. Hedak." "Dr. Hedak is a very good friend of mine." "Obviously. Now you want to see Mr. Jason Luther? Why?" "I must see him," said Miss Marple. Dr. Gilkes looked her over. "You're going to wait here until you see him?" "yes." "You can," said Dr. Gilkes, "but I'll tell you why you can't see Mr. Luther. Her wife died in her sleep last night." "Dead!" cried Miss Marple. "What's the matter?" "Too much eye drops. We are keeping the news from the press for the time being, so I ask you to keep it a secret too." "Of course. Was it an accident?" "I think it was an accident," Gilkes said. "It could be suicide, though." "Possibly—but not likely." "Maybe someone forced her?" Gilkes shrugged. "The chances of accident are slim. And such a thing," he said firmly, "is unlikely to prove." "I see," said Miss Marple, taking a breath. "I'm sorry, but I must see Mr. Luther." Gilkes looked at her. "You wait here for a while." He said and walked into Luther's office. Jason Luther was looking up when Gilkes walked through the door. "There's an old lady waiting downstairs," said the doctor. "Looks about a hundred years old, and she says she has something to see you. If I were you, I'd see her." Jason Luther looked up, his face was pale and tired: "Is she crazy?" "No, not at all." "I don't see why I—oh, well—it must be something important to ask her in." Gilkes nodded and went out to tell Miss Marple. After Miss Marple went in, Jason Luther stood up from the table, a little surprised at the slender old lady. "You're looking for me?" he asked. "What can I do for you?" "I am sorry to hear of your wife's death," said Miss Marple. "I can see that you are very sad, but there are some things that need to be clarified, or an innocent man will suffer." "Innocent man? I don't understand what you mean." "I mean Arthur Bakerk," said Miss Marple. "He is being questioned at the police station." "Questioning about my wife's death? But that would be absurd. He's never been here, or around, and doesn't know her." "I think he knew her," said Miss Marple. "He was married to her." "Arthur Backcock? But he—he's Hitt Backcock's husband. Perhaps you—" he said softly and apologetically—"you're mistaken?" "Both of them were married," said Miss Marple. "He married your wife before she came into the world of shadows." Jason Luther shook his head. "My wife first married a man named Alfred Pod, who was a real estate agent, and then they found out that it was not suitable, and they broke up not long after." "Alfrey later changed his name to Bakerk," said Miss Marple, "and he's still in the real estate business." "I am surprised by your words. Miss Marple, what do you want from me?" he asked. "I want to stand on the stairs where you and your wife were standing that day." He glanced at her quickly. Could this be another troublemaker?But Miss Marple looked calm and serious. "Come with me if you want that," he said. He led her to the landing and stopped at the turn-around of the landing. "My wife is standing here," Jason pointed to the place, "and she shakes hands with guests as they come up, and then comes to me. " "Here she stands," said Miss Marple. She walked up to where Marino Gray was standing and did not move.Jason Luther looked at her, confused but interested.Miss Marple raised her right hand slightly as if she wanted to shake hands. She looked at the stairs as if there were guests coming up from there, and then looked ahead. There was a large painting on the wall on the upper half of the stairs, which was from the Italian Revival period. Replicas of famous paintings.There are two narrow windows next to the painting, one overlooking the garden and the other over the stables and the hyacinths.But Miss Marple paid no attention to this, and only looked at the picture. "You must have heard one thing," she said, "Ms. Buntry told me that your wife looked at the painting and got a stiff look on her face." She watched the Virgin in her red and blue robes, smiling. Looking at the holy baby in her arms. "The smiling Madonna," she said, "is a religious picture, but also a picture of a happy mother and baby. Is that so, Mr. Luther?" "That's right, that's how it is." "It's clear to me now," said Miss Marple, "very clear. The whole thing is simple, isn't it?" She looked at Jason Luther. "Simple?" "I think you know very well," said Miss Marple. A bell rang downstairs. "I don't think so." Jason Luther said, "I know it very well." He looked at the stairs, where there was a sound. "I know that voice well," said Miss Marple. "Inspector Drett, don't you?" "Yes, it seems to be him." "He wants to see you too. You don't mind if he comes?" "not at all." "There's not much time to waste now, is there? It's high time we learned the truth." "I think you think it's pretty straightforward," Jason Luther said. "Very simple," said Miss Marple, "too simple to see."