Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Jaxon’s Tasting of Cosmetics

"You really don't mind, Miss Marple?" said Evelyn Hillingdon. "No, it's really all right, my dear," said Miss Marple. "I'm glad I could be of help. At my age, you know, I feel so useless in the world. Especially It's in this place, lounging around all day. No work. I'm so glad to be with Molly. You go and see your sights. Pelican Point, isn't it? " "Yes," said Evelyn, "Edward and I both love it there. I like watching the birds swoop down to catch the fish. Tim's with Molly now. But he has things to attend to , and don’t worry about leaving her alone.”

"That's right," said Miss Marple, "and it's hard for him. You gotta be on your guard, don't you? Now that you've tried it—well, come on, my dear. " Evelyn went to the group that was waiting for her—her husband, the Dysons, and three or four others.Miss Marple checked the knitting utensils she was going to bring, and seeing that they were all packed, she went to the log house where the Kendalls lived. As she walked up the loggia, she heard Tim's voice through the half-open French windows. "I beg you to tell me why you did it, Molly. For what, did I do something wrong? There must be a reason. Why didn't you tell me?"

Miss Marple stopped in her tracks.The room was silent for a while before Molly's voice was heard.Her voice was dull and tired. "I don't know, Tim; I really don't. I think—I'm possessed." Miss Marple knocked at the window and entered the room. "Oh, you're here, Miss Marple, thank you so much." "Come on," said Miss Marple, "I'd be so glad to be of help. I'm just sitting in this chair, right?You look better, Molly.I'm so happy. " "I'm all right," Molly said. "Much better. Just a little—a little sleepy."

"I can't talk," said Miss Marple. "Lie still and rest. I knit my wool." Tim gave her a grateful look and went out.Miss Marple sat down in the chair. Molly was lying on her left side.With a dazed and exhausted look on his face.She said in a thin voice, "Thank you very much, Miss Marple. I—I think I'm going to sleep." She leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes.Her breathing calmed down.But still very abnormal.Years of caring experience made Miss Marple almost unconsciously start to straighten the sheet and tuck it under the mattress on her side.Plugging and plugging, the cricket's hand touched a very hard, rectangular object.She was a little curious, so she pulled her head out from under the mattress.is a book.Miss Marple cast a quick glance at the woman lying motionless on the bed, apparently asleep.

Miss Marple opened the book.She found it was a recently published book on neurosis.As soon as she flipped through it, she easily found an explanation describing the onset of paranoid phobias and other schizophrenic symptoms. This is not a book of a technical nature, but a book that can be easily understood by laymen.Miss Marple looked at the book, but her face became gloomy. After a minute or two, she closed the book.Then, stooping down, carefully put the book back in its place. She shook her head very puzzled.She stood up gently from the chair.She moved a few steps towards the window, then turned her head abruptly.Molly's eyes were open, but when Miss Marple was about to turn her head away, they were closed again.For a moment Miss Marple was not sure if she had imagined that brief glance.So, Molly is pretending to sleep, right?This should also be natural.Maybe she was afraid that if she woke up, Miss Marple would talk to her.That might be it.

Did Molly's quick glance hide unkind cunning?I really don't know, Marble thought to herself, I really don't know. She made up her mind to speak to Dr. Graham as soon as possible.She sat back down on the chair beside the bed.After about five minutes, she believed Molly had really fallen asleep this time.No one could lie so still and breathe so evenly. Miss Marple stood up again.She is wearing sneakers today.It may not look very elegant, but it is the most suitable in this climate, and it is the most roomy and comfortable to wear on the feet. She paced lightly in the bedroom a few times, and stood in front of the two floor-to-ceiling windows that could be seen outside.

There was no one around in the front yard of the hotel.Miss Marple turned back and was just about to sit down.But it seemed to hear some noise outside.Is it the scuffing of heels on the loggia? She hesitated for a while, then walked to the window, pushed the window out a little, stepped forward, turned her head into the house, and then spoke. "I'll be out in a minute, my dear," she said; "I'll go back to my room to see where I've put that pattern, and I remember exactly bringing it with me. I'll come right away, are you okay? ’ Then she turned her head, nodded and said:

"Asleep, poor boy, that's all right." She walked quietly across the loggia, stepped down the steps, and walked quickly towards the path to the right. She walked a few steps between the two rows of hibiscus bushes, and anyone who saw her must have wondered why Miss Marple suddenly made another sharp turn, stepped across the flower bed to the back of the cabin, and entered the cabin by the second door. .This door leads to a shed that Tim occasionally uses for errands, from which she passes into the living room. The room had wide curtains half drawn to block out the sunlight.Miss Marple slipped behind a curtain.From the window she could clearly see anyone who tried to enter Molly's bedroom.It was about four or five minutes before she saw any movement.

Jaxon, in a crisp white uniform, walked up the steps of the loggia.He stood on Luru for a moment, then seemed to tap lightly on the half-closed window.Miss Marple heard no response from the room.Jaxon looked furtively around, then slipped through the door.Miss Marple moved towards the door leading to the bedroom.She didn't go in, but kept her eyes close to the crack of the door. Jaxon has entered the house.He approached the bed and looked at the woman sleeping on the bed.After that, he turned around and did not walk towards the corridor leading to the living room, but entered the bathroom through another door.

Jaxon tiptoed over the shelf above the sink.The panic on his face was self-evident. "Well," he said, "I—I didn't... "Mr. Jackson," said Miss Marple with the utmost surprise. "I thought you'd be here too," Jaxon said. "Would you like to fetch something?" asked Miss Marple. "Actually," said Jaxon, "I just wanted to see Mrs. Kendall's cream." Miss Marple admired Jaxon's tact in admitting his actions, seeing a bottle of face cream in his hand. "It smells really good," he said, wrinkling his nose and sniffing. "In terms of ingredients, it's a pretty good cosmetic. Cheap brands are not good for the skin. It's easy to get pimples on the face. Sometimes it's the same as foundation .”

"You seem to know a thing or two about it," said Miss Marple. "I worked in a pharmacy for a while," Jaxon said, "I learned a lot about cosmetics. Get a delicate bottle and put it in a high-end package. You don't know how to scare women to death." "Are you here—?" Miss Marple interrupted him intentionally. "Oh no. I'm not here to talk to you about cosmetics," Jaxon admitted. "You can't tell a big lie just now," thought Miss Marple; "I'll see what you make up." "The thing is," said Jaxon, "that Mrs. Waders lent Mrs. Kendal her lipstick two days ago. I came to get it back for her. I knocked on the window and Mrs. Kendal was asleep. It’s very familiar, I think it’s okay for me to come in and look for it in the bathroom.” "Oh, yes," said Miss Marple, "you found it?" Jackson shook his head. "Maybe it's in her purse," he said casually. "I'm not going to look for it anymore. Anyway, Walters didn't say she must. She just mentioned it casually." He said, and looked again. See other toiletries. "No cosmetics, is there? Oh, she doesn't need any cosmetics at her age. The skin is already very good." "Look at women, they must have a different vision than ordinary men." Miss Marple asked with a smile. "That's right. I think different occupations will change one's perspective." "Do you know much about medicine?" "Oh, yes. When I used to work, I learned a lot. I think there are too many drugs nowadays. Too many tranquilizers, cardiotonic drugs and a lot of magic pills. If there is a doctor's prescription That's okay, but there are a lot of medicines that you can buy without a doctor's prescription. Some medicines are very dangerous." "Well," said Miss Marple, "yes, I agree." "You know, it has a very bad effect on human behavior. Sometimes, a lot of teenagers go crazy like that. It's not natural. These children are drugged. Of course, this It's nothing new either. It's been around for a long time. In the East—I haven't been there myself, of course—everything is known to be strange. You never know what medicine women give their husbands. For example, in In India, a long time ago, young women often married an old man. I think they can’t kill the old man, because they are afraid that if they are discovered, they will be burned alive; even if they are not burned to death, they will be regarded as heresy by their families .In those days, being a widow in India was not worth it. So they gave the old man medicine, made him weak and stupid, dreamed all day, and slowly became half crazy." He shook his head and said: " Yes, a lot of bad things can be done." He seemed to be addicted, and said: "There are witches, you have heard of them. We know a lot about witches now. Do you know why they are willing to admit that they are witches and go to the witch convention on a broomstick? " "Torture," said Miss Marple. "It's not often because of this," Jaxon said. "Well, of course many of them were really tortured, and some confessed everything before being tortured. In fact, it's not so much confession as bragging. I tell you, they have ointments on them. What they call the Sacrament of Unction.Some scopolamine preparations.An ointment such as atropine; after being applied on the body, it will give people the illusion of floating, feeling like flying in the air.They thought it was natural, which is ridiculous.And look at those assassins— Medieval Syria or Lebanon or something.Give them some hashish, and it makes them float like heaven, meet fairies, and live forever.Then tell them that people feel this way after death, but if they want to feel this way, they must first kill for the Lord.Oh, I'm not making up a story, it's true. " "The main fact," said Miss Marple, "is that people are very gullible." "Oh, yes, I suppose it might be said." "People believe what other people tell them," said Miss Marple. "Indeed, we all have this tendency." Then she said, "Who told you the stories about India, poisoned with mandala?" Husband?" Before he could answer, she asked pointedly: "Major Balgrave?" Jackson looked a little surprised. "It's—yes, he told it. He told me a lot of stories like that. Of course, a lot of it was before he was born, but he told it like he knew it all." "Major Balgrave does give the impression of being well-informed," said Miss Marple, "but what he tells people is often not true." She said thoughtfully: "Major Balgrave, does he have any knowledge?" A lot of retribution." There were some noises in the compartment bedroom.Miss Marple turned her head sharply.She walked quickly from the bathroom into the bedroom.Lucky Dyson was standing in the window. "I—oh! I didn't expect you to be here, Miss Marple." "I've just been in the bathroom for a while," said Miss Marple with a dignified but somewhat reserved manner. In the bathroom, Jaxon couldn't help pursing his lips into a small smile.The Victorian reservedness always amused him. "I wonder if you want me to stay with Molly for a while," said Lucky.She looked at the head of the bed and said, "Is she asleep?" "I think so," said Miss Marple, "but it's not necessary. Go and play by yourself, my dear. I thought you were out enjoying the scenery with the rest." "I was going," said Lucky, "but as I was going, my head hurt like hell. I called it off. I thought maybe I could help." "It's very kind of you," said Miss Marple, sitting back in her chair, and picking up the yarn. "I'm fine here, though." Lucky hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked out.Miss Marple waited for a while, then tiptoed back to the bathroom, but don't trust anything anyone tells you, trust no one, and many of the people she talked to here unfortunately were like St. Mary Mead's Several people are somewhat alike; how to sort out a clue like this?Her mind was increasingly focused on the victim.Someone was about to be killed, and she wanted to know who it was as soon as possible.There must be some clues.Did she hear it?noticed?What about things you saw? Someone had told her something that must have something to do with the case, was it Jeann Prescott?Joann Prescott said a lot of things to a lot of people.scandal?Gossip?What the hell did Joanne Prescott say? Greg Dyson, Lucky—Miss Marple's thoughts were on Lucky.Because of a natural suspicion, Miss Marple is convinced that luck must have something to do with Greg Dyson's first wife.Every arrow specifies this.Could the mortal victim she feared be Greg Dyson?Lucky wants to try his luck and find another husband.So, not only do you have to be free again, but can you inherit a huge inheritance as Greg Dyson's widow? "Really," said Marple to herself, "this is all speculation. I'm being stupid again. I know I'm being stupid again. The truth must be pretty simple, if you can get the little things out of the way. The problem is too many little things." "Talk to yourself?" said Mr. Rifle. Miss Marple was startled.She didn't notice him coming.Esther Walders helped him walk slowly from the cabin to the restaurant terrace. "I didn't notice you at all, Mr. Raifel." "Your lips are moving. How is your emergency operation going?" "It's still very urgent," said Miss Marple, "but it's definitely something so simple that I don't see—" "I'm glad it's that simple. Don't forget to call me if you need any help." When he saw Jaxon coming along the path, he turned his head and said: "You're back, Jaxon. Where did you slip off to? You're never around when you're needed." "I'm sorry, Mr. Rifle." He leaned deftly under Mr Ryfell's shoulder and asked: "On the terrace, sir?" "Accompany me to the bar and ask." Mr. Laifel said, "Okay, Yishu, you can go change your evening dress now. Come find me on the terrace in half an hour." He went with Jackson.Mrs. Waders sank into the chair beside Miss Marple.She rubbed her shoulder lightly. "He doesn't seem to weigh much," she said, looking at Mr. Ryfell from a distance, "but my shoulders are numb. I haven't seen you all this afternoon, Miss Marple." "Yes, I'm looking after Molly Kendall," explained Miss Marple. "She seems much better." "There's never been anything wrong with her, as far as I can see," said Esther Walders. Miss Marple raised her eyebrows.Yishu Walders' tone was very cold. "You mean—you think she's going to kill herself..." "I don't think she tried to kill herself at all," Essue Walders said. "I don't believe she took too much medicine. I think Dr. Graham must be very clear." "Your words really interest me," said Miss Marple. "I wonder why you say that." "Because I daresay that's the way it is. It happens all the time. I think it's a way of asking people to care," Esther Walders said. "'I'm dead and you'll regret it,'" Miss Marple quoted. "That's what it is," echoed Esther Walders, "though perhaps it wasn't her motive for this incident. If your husband doesn't care too much about you and you love him like hell, it's the kind of thing you'd do. idea." "Don't you think Molly Kendall loves her husband?" "Well," said Esther Walders, "do you think so?" Miss Marple thought for a moment. "I," she said, "sort of think so." She paused for a while before saying, "Maybe, I'm wrong." A sneer emerged from the corner of Yi Shu's mouth. "I'll tell you, I've heard a little about her. I know about both of them." "Did Miss Prescott tell you?" "Oh," Yi Shu said, "One or two people told me about it. Another man was involved. A man she likes very much. Her family is extremely against it." "Yes," said Miss Marple, "I've heard that too." "And then she married Tim. Maybe she liked him a little bit. But the man didn't let it go. I sometimes think maybe he followed her here." "Really? But—who?" "I don't know who it is," Yi Shu said, "It's conceivable that they must be very cautious." "Do you think she likes this other man?" Yi Shu shrugged. "I'd say he's a badass," she said, "but that's usually the kind of man who's the one who wins the hearts of women the most." "You haven't heard what kind of man--what he does-- Something about this? " Yi Shu shook her head and said, "No. Some people speculate, but you can't believe it. Maybe it's a married man. Maybe it's because of this, her family doesn't like it; Bad guy. Maybe a drunkard, or something illegal, I don't know. But she still likes him. I know that for sure." "Did you see or hear anything?" asked Miss Marple angrily. "Of course I won't talk nonsense." Yi Shu said.The tone is cold and hard, with some unwelcome taste. "These murderers—" Miss Mapie began again. "Can you not talk about the murderer?" Yi Shu said, "You have already messed up Mr. Raifel. Can you leave it alone? You won't find out anything more, I dare say." Miss Marple stared at her. "You think I know, don't you?" she said. "I think I know, at least, I'm pretty confident." "Then, shouldn't you tell what you know—try to save it?" "Why would I do that? What's the use? I can't produce any evidence. What's the result? Nowadays, people can easily get a reduced sentence. What's the charge of evading responsibility? Stay in prison for a few years It came out faster than it rained." "Suppose, because you didn't speak, someone else was killed—another innocent person died?" Yi Shu shook her head with great confidence. "Impossible," she said. "That's not quite right." "I can assure you. Besides, I can't think of anyone who would—" She frowned, and then said almost contradictoryly, "maybe—shirk responsibility. Maybe it was a last resort—psychologically so Unbalanced. Geez, I don't know. Right now, she'd better run off with him, whoever he is, and we can forget about it, too." She glanced at her watch, gave a little cry anxiously, and stood up. "I have to go change." Miss Marple sat watching her go away.Pronouns are always the most confusing thing, she thought.And a woman like Esther Walders likes to spread it all over the place.Had Esther Walders had some reason to believe that both Major Balgrave's and Victoria's deaths had been committed by a woman?seems like it.Miss Marple thought to herself. "Oh, Miss Marple, sitting here all alone—not even knitting?" It was Dr. Graham, whom she had been looking for for a long time but could not find, and now he himself came to the door and wanted to chat with her for a few minutes.Marple knew in his heart that he would not sit for long, because he had to change his clothes for dinner too, and he always had dinner very early.She explained to him that she had been at Molly's bedside that afternoon. "It's hard to believe she recovered so quickly," she said. "Oh, well," said Dr. Graham, "it's not surprising. You know, she doesn't take much medicine. " "Oh, as far as I know, she's had half a bottle of pills." "No," he said, "I don't think she ate that much, I think she wanted to, but at the last minute she probably threw half of it away. Man, if you really want to kill yourself, you often don't want to die. They always find ways not to take all the medicine. It’s not often that they deliberately deceive people, but they are just subconsciously taking care of themselves.” "Or, I think maybe on purpose. I mean, trying to show you is..." Miss Marple stopped. "Possibly," said Dr. Graham. "For example, maybe she had an argument with Tim." "They don't quarrel, you know. They seem to be very affectionate. But I think there's always going to be a fight. I don't think it matters what she is now. She can get out of bed and do things as usual.However, it would be best to keep her in bed for a day or two—" He stood up, nodded happily, and walked towards the restaurant.Miss Marple sat on the chair for a while, and all kinds of scenes ran in her mind: The book under Molly's mattress, the one where Molly pretended to be asleep... Joann Prescott and, later on, those things Essu Wadders said... Then she circled back to where it all started—Major Balgrave. Something was struggling in her mind.It's about Major Balgrave. If she could remember, she should—