Chapter 26 Section 26

"Now, Esper, do you fully understand what I want you to do?" "I quite understand," said Mrs. McGillicuddy, "but, Jane, I gotta tell you, it seems odd." "That's not surprising at all," said Miss Marple. "But I find it odd that as soon as you arrive at someone's house you immediately ask if you can--well, go upstairs--" "It's cold now," Miss Marple pointed out, "and you're always eating something inappropriate—well, that's why you ask to go upstairs. I mean, it happens a lot. I remember poor Lu Isa Felbert came to see me once, and in the space of half an hour she asked to come upstairs five times, and that was because of a bad Cornwall pastry."

"Just tell me what you mean, Jane," said Mrs. McGillicuddy. "That's exactly what I don't want to do," said Miss Marple. "You're so pissed off, Jane. First of all, you're making people come all the way back when they don't need to—" "I'm sorry about that," said Miss Marple, "but there's nothing I can do, you understand? Someone could kill at any moment. Ah, I know they're all on guard, and the police are using Do everything possible to prevent accidents. However, there is still the greatest possibility: the murderer may be too smart, and the result will make them hard to guard against. Therefore, you should understand, Elsby, you have the responsibility to come back. After all, you and I have been educated by adults since we were young. According to the teaching, you must be responsible in doing things, right?"

"Of course we were brought up that way," said Mrs. McGillicuddy. "When we were kids we never did anything sloppy." "That's all right, then," said Miss Marple. "Now here comes the taxi," she said.At this time, a soft car horn was heard outside. Mrs. McGillicuddy put on her salt and pepper overcoat, and Miss Marple wore many shawls and scarves.So, the two old people got into a taxi and went to Roseze Villa. "Who could be in the coming car?" asked Emma, ​​looking out of the window.At this moment the car passed quickly by the window. "I think it must be Lucy's old aunt."

"What a nuisance!" said Cedric. He was lying on a bench with his legs over the edge of the mantel, reading a copy of Country Living. "Tell her you're not home." "You said to me, 'Tell her you're not home', do you mean I should go out and say that? Or do you want me to ask Lucy to say that to her aunt?" "Didn't think of that," said Cedric, "I guess I thought of the days when we had butlers and porters—don't remember if we ever had servants like that. I seem to recall a porter and that kitchen maid before the war. Good friends, cause a riot. Isn't there an ugly old woman cleaning for us now?"

At that moment Mrs. Hart opened the door, and it was her turn to polish the brass this afternoon.Miss Marple came in, her scarf and shawl swinging wildly, followed by a tall figure who did not match her. "I do hope," said Miss Marple, taking Emma's hand, "that we have not disturbed you. But, you know, I intend to be home the day after tomorrow. So I cannot help but come and see you." , bid you farewell and thank you for looking after Lucy. Ah, I forgot. May I introduce my friend Mrs. McGillicuddy? She is currently staying with me." "Good day," said Mrs. McGillicuddy, looking very attentively at Emma, ​​and then at Cedric.Now that he was on his feet, Lucy walked in.

"Aunt Jane. I didn't expect..." "I must come and say goodbye to Miss Crackenthorpe," said Miss Marple, turning to her. "She's been so kind to you, so kind, Lucy." "Lucy is kind to us," said Emma. "Yes, indeed," said Cedric, "we made her work like a drudgery. Waiting in the wards, upstairs and downstairs, running around, burning the sick's food . . . " Miss Marple broke in and said, "I'm very, very sorry to hear you've been ill. I hope you're fully recovered by now, Miss Crackenthorpe?" "Oh, it is quite well now," said Emma.

"Lucy told me you were very ill. Very dangerous, wasn't it? Food poisoning? I heard it was mushrooms." "The reason is still somewhat unclear," said Emma. "Don't you believe that," said Cedric, "you must have heard the rumours, Miss—er—" "Marple," said Miss Marple. "Well, as I say, there must be rumors all over the place. There's nothing like arsenic poisoning to make a little commotion around here." "Cedric," said Emma, ​​"I hope you don't say that. You know Inspector Craddock said--" "Hmph!" said Cedric. "Everyone knows. Even you heard something, didn't you?" He turned to Miss Marple and Mrs. McGillicuddy.

"Myself," said Mrs. McGillicuddy, "just returned from a foreign country, the day before yesterday," she added. "Well, you don't know the local gossip, then," said Cedric. "There's arsenic in the chicken curry, that's all. Lucy's aunt must have known." "This—" said Miss Marple, "I've only heard—I mean, it's only a guess, but, Miss Crackenthorpe, I certainly don't want to embarrass you." "You mustn't take my brother's word for it," said Emma. "He just likes to embarrass people." She smiled at him affectionately as she spoke.

The door opened.Mr. Crackenthorpe came in, beating the floor with his cane angrily. "And afternoon tea?" he said. "Isn't afternoon tea ready yet? You, girl!" he said to Lucy. "Why didn't you bring the tea in?" "Just right, Mr. Crackenthorpe. I'll bring it in now. I was setting the table." Lucy went out of the room again.Emma therefore introduced Mr. Crackenthorpe to Miss Marple and Mrs. McGillicuddy. "I love timing," says Crackenthorpe. "Punctuality and economy. Those are my two mantras." "I believe it is very necessary," said Miss Marple, "especially when taxes and prices are going up."

Mr. Crackenthorpe snorted indignantly: "Taxes! Don't talk to me about the robbers. A poor poor man! That's what I am. Now I'm getting worse, not better. My Son," he said to Cedric, "when you get this house, the socialists will take the place from you and turn it into a welfare center or something. And with all your interest income to sustain it!" Lucy reappeared with a tray of tea.Brian Easterly followed, carrying a tray of sandwiches, bread, butter, and cake. "What's this?" Mr. Crackenthorpe examined the tray. "Cake with icing on top? Did we have a party today? No one talked to me about it."

Emma's face flushed a little. "Dr. Kunpo is coming to tea, Father. It's his birthday. And—" "Birthdays?" the old man said disdainfully. "What does he do with birthdays? Birthdays are just for children. I never count my birthdays. I don't want others to celebrate me." "That's much cheaper," agreed Cedric, "and you save the candle on your cake." "Enough talk, boy," said Mr. Crackenthorpe. Miss Marple was shaking hands with Brian Easterly. "Of course," she said, "I've heard about you from Lucy. Why, when I see you I think of a man I knew at St. Mary's. That's the country where I lived many years. Lonnie Wells, the son of a lawyer. He took over his father's business and for some reason never seemed to settle down. He went abroad to East Africa to run cargo ships on the lakes there. Was it Victoria, Nyanza, or Al Uncle? Can’t remember. No matter what he did, he lost all his capital in the end. Very unfortunate. Not your relative, I believe? He looks like a real person.” "No," said Brian, "I don't think I have any relatives named Wells." "He's engaged to a very nice girl," said Miss Marple, "very clever. She tried to dissuade him from that. But he didn't listen to her advice. He was wrong, of course. You know, when it comes to In matters of money, women have great judgment. Of course, I don't mean big financial matters. No woman can hope to understand that. That's what my dear father said. Women understand only the use of money in daily life... . . . what a delightful view you have from this window of yours!" she said, walking across to the window. Emma also came to join her. "Such a large pasture. How picturesque are the cattle against the trees! We would never have dreamed that we were in the middle of a city." "We're a little out of season, I think," said Emma. "If the windows were open now, you could hear the traffic coming and going in the distance." "Oh, of course," said Miss Marple, "there's noise everywhere, isn't it? Even at St. Mary's Ranch. We live very close to the airport now. When those jets go Well, it was really scary. The window pane of my little study was broken in two pieces one day. It was the vibration of the plane passing through the sound barrier, and I was told later, but I never knew what it was mean." "Actually, that's very simple," Brian said, approaching pleasantly. "You see, it looks like this." Miss Marple's bag fell to the floor.Brian picked it up for her very politely.Meanwhile, Mrs. McGillicuddy went up to Miss Emma and spoke to her in a low voice.Her voice sounded painful, and the pain was real, because Mrs. McGillicuddy disliked what she was doing. "May I go upstairs?" "Of course," said Emma. "I'll take you there," said Lucy. Lucy and Mrs. McGillicuddy left the room together. "It was cold when I drove here today," Miss Marple explained vaguely for her. "About the sonic barrier," Brian said, "you know, it's like this—ah, hello, here's Kumpo." Dr. Kunpo came in his car.He rubbed his hands when he came in, looking cold. "It's going to snow," said he, "that's my guess. Hello, Emma, ​​how are you? Well, what's this?" "We made you a birthday cake," said Emma. "Do you remember? You told me it was your birthday." "I didn't expect all this," said Dr. Cumper. "You know, it's been years—oh, yes, sixteen years, I suppose—sixteen years when no one remembers my Birthday." He looked touched, almost disturbed. "Do you know Miss Marple?" Emma introduced him. "Ah, yes," said Miss Marple. "I've seen Dr. Quumpel here before. He came to see me the other day when I had a bad cold, and he was very kind." "Hope is restored now?" Dr. Kunpo said. Miss Marple told him she was well now. "Quinpo, you haven't seen me lately," said Mr. Crackenthorpe, "though you take care of my health, I may be dying." "I don't think you're going to die yet," said Dr. Kunpo. "I'm not going to die yet," said Mr. Crackenthorpe. "Come on, what are we waiting for?" They sat down to tea.Miss Marple took a piece of bread and buttered it, and then went on to prepare a sandwich. "These are—?" She hesitated. "It's fish," Brian said, "I helped make it." Mr. Crackenthorpe chuckled. "Poisoned fish paste," he said, "this is what is caught in it, and it will kill you if you eat it." "Father, please don't say that." "You must be careful what you eat in this house," said Mr. Crackenthorpe to Miss Marple. "My two sons have been poisoned like flies. Who did it--that is I need to know." "Don't be scared off by what he says," said Cedric, handing the plate again to Miss Marple. "They say a little arsenic will make you look better, as long as you don't eat too much of it." many." "You, then, have a piece yourself," said Mr. Crackenthorpe. "Shall I be a royal servant, and taste the food for poison?" said Cedric. "Look at me." He took a sandwich and put it in his mouth whole.Miss Marple gave a small, demure laugh, and took a sandwich.She took a bite and said, "I do think it's brave of you to joke like that. Yes, really, I thought it was a brave thing. I do admire courage." She gasped suddenly and began to feel a lump in her throat. "A fishbone," she gasped, "in my throat." Kunpo stood up quickly.He walked over to her side.He helped her retreat to the window and told her to open her mouth.He took out a box from his pocket, picked out a pair of tweezers, and poked into the old man's throat with a doctor's skillful technique.At this moment, the door opened.Mrs. McGillicuddy came in, followed by Lucy.Mrs. McGillicuddy gave a sudden gasp when she caught sight of the vivid picture before her.It was: Miss Marple leaning back, the doctor holding her throat and holding her head. "That's him," exclaimed Mrs. McGillicuddy. "That's the man on the train..." Miss Marple slipped out of the doctor's grasp with incredible speed and walked up to her friend. "I think you'll recognize him, Elsby," she said. "No, don't say another word." She turned triumphantly to Dr. Kunpo and said, "Doctor, when you strangled him on that train When that woman, you don't know that someone actually saw you do that. You don't, do you? That's my friend, Mrs. McGillicuddy. She saw you. Do you understand? She saw it with her own eyes Yours. She was in another car going parallel to yours." "What the hell—" Dr. Quumpel hurried to Mrs. McGillicuddy's side, but Miss Marple quickly came between him and her again. "Yes," said Miss Marple, "she saw you, and she can recognize you now. She will testify in court. I don't think that happens very often." Miss Marple's voice was soft But full of sorrow. "Very few people actually saw a murder happen. Of course, it's usually circumstantial evidence. But the circumstances of this murder were unusual. There were actually eyewitnesses." "You bloody old hag," said Dr. Quumpel, rushing towards Miss Marple.But this time it was Cedric who grabbed his shoulder. "So you're the damn murderer! Are you?" said Cedric, turning him sharply. "I never liked you; I always thought you were a bad person, but, God knows, I didn't suspect you." Brian Easterly came running quickly to help Cedric.Inspectors Craddock and Bacon entered by the front door. " "Doctor Kunpo," said Bacon, "I must warn you..." "Warning ghost!" said Dr. Kunpo. "Do you think anyone will believe what two crazy old women say? Who will believe all this nonsense about trains?" Miss Marple said: "Esper McGillicuddy reported the murder to the police immediately on the twentieth of December, and gave the character of the man." Dr. Kunpo shrugged his shoulders vigorously. "That damn thing will see such a coincidence!" "But—" said Mrs. McGillicuddy. "Hush, Elsby!" said Miss Marple. "How could I kill a woman I don't know?" Dr. Kunpo said. "She is not a strange woman," said Inspector Craddock. "She is your wife."