Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Asking the people present

1 Dayas House must have gone through hardships during the war years.The garden where asparagus used to be planted is now full of thriving wheatgrass, and only a few swaying asparagus clusters stand gracefully, showing its continued use.Senecio, bindweed and other noxious plants flourished and thrived. It can be seen at a glance that part of the vegetable garden has been turned into a military training site.Here, Craddock found a morose old man leaning thoughtfully on a shovel. "You want Mrs. Haymes? I don't know where you'll find her. She's got an idea of ​​what to do. Doesn't listen to anyone's opinion.I can teach her by the hand--if she wants--but what's the use?These young ladies just don't listen!I thought they knew everything, because they put on trousers and sat down. ① At that time, traditional British women, especially in the countryside, wore skirts. ——Annotation.

Go for a ride on a tractor.But what is needed here is a garden.This is not something that can be learned in a day.A garden is what this place needs. " "It seems so," said Craddock. The old man took this as a slander. "Look well, sir, what do you think I can do with such a big place? Three big men plus a kid, that was before.This number is also needed now.But not many men can do the job like me.I work here sometimes until eight o'clock at night.It's eight o'clock. " "What do you rely on for light when you work at night? An oil lamp?" "I don't mean this time of year, of course. I mean summer evenings, of course."

"Oh," Craddock replied, "I'd better go to Mrs. Haymes." The country bumpkin showed some interest. "What do you want her for? You're the cops, aren't you? She's in trouble? Or something to do with the paddock? Masked men break in and hold a whole house with a revolver. That sort of thing never happened before the war. It never happened. Deserters, unmistakable, are deserters. Outlaws roam the countryside.Why didn't the army arrest them all? " "I don't know," said Craddock, "there's been a lot of gossip about this robbery?"

"Of course. What are we doing here? That's what Ned Barker said. Go to the movies a lot, he said. But Tom Lillie said he was here to let the gringos have fun. Sure enough, he said, here The girl that Miss Blacklock cooks is a bad temper--she must have something to do with it, he said. She's a Communist, or something worse, he said, but we don't like it here Kind of stuff. Marlene, that's the one behind the iron bars, you know, she's saying that Miss Blacklock's must have something valuable. You wouldn't think of that, she said, because I'm sure where Miss Blacklock goes All right, except that she had a bunch of fake pearls on. Then she said--it might be the real one. But Flory (that's old Bellamy's daughter) said, 'Nonsense' She said—'It's nothing—that's cosmetic jewelry. ' she said.Cosmetic jewellery—it would be a good idea to get a string of fake pearls to put on.The country gentlemen used to call it a Roman pearl, or a Parisian diamond—my wife was a lady's maid, I know that.But what's the point?It's all glass!I reckon that young Miss Simmons wore 'cosmetic jewellery,'—gold ivy leaves, and dogs and all.

You don't see much real gold these days--they're made of dull lead these days for wedding rings, too.I call it junk, worth nothing but mud money. " Old Ash paused for breath, and went on: "'Miss Blacklock doesn't have a lot of money in her house, I know,' said Jim Hudgens. As far as that goes, he's the one who counts, because his wife often Go to work in the small paddock, this woman knows what's going on there best. If you ask me again, there's nothing to say." "Did Mrs. Hudgens see anything she said?" "She said Micky was messing around in there. Micky's got a terrible temper, and the way she looks! Called her a workman in her presence one morning."

Craddock stood for a moment, checking over and over in his mind, trying to figure out what the old gardener said, and grasp its essence.This remark gave him a clear view of a side of the Chipping Crighorn villager's view, but he felt that it was of little help to his task.He turned and walked away, and the old man called out reluctantly behind him: "My son is sliding lightly down a tree trunk."Phil...'s face was flushed, and his hair was messed up by the branches.She stood on the ground and looked at him in surprise. "Rosalind as well," thought Craddock automatically, for Inspector Craddock was a Shakespeare buff and played the melancholy Jaques with great success in "As You Like It" for the Police Orphanage. .

After a moment he corrected his opinion.Philippa Hymes is too dull, and his natural beauty and passive character are strongly English, but twentieth-century rather than sixteenth-century English.Quite well-bred, emotional, and lacks the spark of naughtiness. "Good morning, Mrs. Haymes. Sorry to frighten you. I am Inspector Craddock of Middleshire Police. I would like to speak to you." "About last night?" "yes." "Will it be a long talk? Can you—" She looked around suspiciously. Craddock pointed to a fallen tree trunk. "Nothing very formal," he said genially, "but I'll try not to take up much of your time."

"thanks." "Just taking a statement. When did you go in after work last night" You saw the body? " "yes." "Do you know him? Have you seen him before?" "there has never been." "Do you think his death was accidental or a deliberate suicide?" "Not at all." "Did you not see him when he came to the mansion?" "'No. I believe it must have been in the morning, when I was away. I was not in during the day.' , 'Thank you, Mrs. Hymes.One more thing, do you have any valuable jewelry?Rings, bracelets, things like that? "

Philippa shook his head. "My engagement ring—a pin or two." "'And, as far as you know, is there anything of particular value in the mansion?" "No. I mean some pretty nice silver - nothing out of the ordinary." "Thank you, Mrs. Haymes." 2 Craddock made his way back from the kitchen garden, where he came face to face with a large, ruddy-faced woman in a well-fitting corset. "What are you doing here?" she asked aggressively. "Mrs. Lucas? I'm Inspector Craddock." "Oh, so it is. I beg your pardon. I don't like strangers intruding into the garden and wasting the gardener's time. But I understand that you are on official business."

"indeed so." "May I ask if we're going to stand still like the atrocities that happened at Miss Blacklock's last night? Was it the gangsters? " "To our satisfaction, Mrs. Lucas, it was not the work of the gang." "There's a lot of robbery these days. The police are lax." Craddock said nothing. "I take it you're talking to Philippa Hymes?" "I need her account as an eyewitness." "You can't wait until one o'clock, I suppose? Anyway, it's fairer to ask her on her time rather than mine..."

"I'm in a hurry to get back to headquarters." "It's not because anyone expects much consideration these days, nor is it because anyone expects others to do a decent job for the day. But I'm late for work, and it's half an hour to dawdle when I come. Eleven o'clock Zhong’s tea break is ten minutes away. I don’t do any work when it’s raining. When you call Liu Cao, the lawn mower keeps breaking down. It’s five to ten minutes before the end of work and people are here again .” "My understanding is that Mrs. Haymes left here at five-twenty not five o'clock yesterday." "Well, I bet she left at the time you said. But she got what she deserved. Mrs. Hammers quite liked the job, though sometimes I didn't see her when I came out." Son. She was born a lady, of course, and every one felt a duty to do something for these poor people who were widowed young because of the war. That's not to say it's not a hassle to do so. Those long school holidays, and the arrangements made for them, meant she got extra time off from work.I just told her that summer camps are so cool these days, you can send kids there and let them have a good time, and they'll think it's a lot more fun than swinging with their parents.They don't actually have to run home during the summer vacation. " "But Mrs. Hammers doesn't appreciate the suggestion?" "That girl, she's as stubborn as a donkey. Just a year ago, I had the tennis courts mowed up, and the lines were drawn every day. But old Ash drew the lines crookedly. There's no People consider whether it is convenient for me!" "I suppose Mrs. Hammers' wages are lower than normal?" "Of course. What else does she expect?" "It's all right, I believe," said Craddock. "Good-bye, Mrs. Lucas." 3 "Terrible," said Mrs. Swettenham, beaming, "quite-quite-dreadful. I mean, the editors of the Izvestia should be more careful about accepting advertisements. See I felt very awkward about that announcement. That's what I said then, didn't I, Edmund?" "Do you remember what you were doing when the lights went out, Mrs. Swettenham?" asked the Inspector. "How it reminds me of my Old Nan: where was Moses when the light was gone? Of course the answer was 'in the dark'. We were that way last night. All stood there wondering what was going to happen.And then, you know, that creepy feeling when everything goes dark.Then the door opened--just a shadowy figure standing there, a revolver, a beam of light that blinded you, and a menacing voice saying 'Save your life! 'Oh, I've never had such a treat.Then, about a minute later, it was a horrible feeling, the real bullet, just whizzing past our ears!That must be like a commando in combat. " "Where were you standing or sitting, Mrs. Swettenham?" "Let me see, I was—who was I talking to, Edmund?" "I don't know anything, mother." "Am I talking about Miss Hinchcliff feeding cod liver oil to (the bird) in cold weather? Or Mrs. Harmon—no, she's just here. I think I'm talking to Esther Colonel Brook said, I think it is very dangerous to build an atomic bomb research station in England. It should be built on a deserted island to prevent radiation from leaking." "You don't remember whether you were standing or sitting?" "Does it matter, Inspector? I'm at the window, or near the fireplace, for I'm near the bell when it strikes. Such an exciting time! Waiting to see what's about to happen. " "You describe that the light from the flashlight blinded you. Was the light directed at you?" "Just shoot me in the eye. I can't see anything." "Is that man holding the flashlight still, or shooting people one by one?" "Oh, I really don't know. How did he do it, Edmund?" "The flashlight slowly shone on us one by one. He wanted to see what we were all about. I guess he was afraid that we might try to rush towards him." "Where was your exact position, Mr. Swettenham?" "I've been talking to Julia Simmons. We're both standing in the middle of the room—the long one." "Is everyone in that room? Is there anyone in the room at the end of the living room?" "That's where Philippa Haymes came in. She's over there by that fireplace. I think she's looking for something." "Do you think the third bullet was suicide or was it an accident?" "I don't know. The man seemed to turn around suddenly, then stumbled and fell to the ground" "But it really confused people. You need to know that it is actually impossible to see anything. Then the refugee girl in the distance Scream." "I know you unlocked the dining-room door to let her out?" "That's right." "Surely the door was locked from the outside?" Edmund looked at him curiously. "Of course it is. Why, you wouldn't imagine—" "I just want to get the facts straight. Thank you, Mr. Shamtenham." 4 Inspector Craddock was obliged to spend a long time with Colonel Easterbrook and Mrs. Easterbrook, and he had to listen to a long lecture on the psychological aspects of the case. "Psychological methods" "That's the only thing that matters today." The colonel told him, "You have to know the criminal. To a man far more experienced than I am, the whole pitfall here is obvious. Why does this fellow Want to post an announcement? psychological reasons.He wanted to advertise himself as "attractive." Employees in restaurants brushed past him as fellow travelers, perhaps looking down on him because he was a foreigner. Maybe a girl had turned him down once, and he wanted her to pay attention to him.Who are the idols in movies these days "gangsters" Tough guy?Great, then he'll be a tough guy.violent robbery.mask?Revolver?But he also needed an audience "had to have an audience. So he arranged for an audience. Then, at the climax, he played a character that was out of the question" He's not just a thief, he's a murderer.He fired—and blindly"" Colonel Easterbrook paused, cleared his throat complacently, and then triumphantly said, "It's clear, that's all, it's clear. " "It's wonderful," said Mrs. Easterbrook. "You know the whole story, Archie." There was admiration and warmth in her voice. Inspector Craddock thought it was wonderful too, though he did not approve enthusiastically. "Colonel Easterbrook, where exactly were you in the house when the shots were fired?" "I'm standing with my wife at the middle table with the flowers." "I grabbed your arm when the shot was fired, didn't I, Archie? I was so frightened that I had to grab you." "Poor cat," the colonel comforted. It was with some difficulty that the Inspector found Miss Hinchcliffe in the pigsty. "Pigs are fine animals," said Miss Hinchcliffe, scratching the wrinkled pink back of a pig. "Good looking, isn't it? It'll be good bacon by Christmas. Well, what did you come to me for? I told your man I had no idea who that man was last night. Never." Saw him loitering or prowling about here. Our Mrs. Mopper says he's from a big hotel in Mendenham. Why doesn't he stop and rob there if he wants to? There's more to come." This is undeniable.Craddock began asking, "Where exactly were you when the accident happened?" "Accidents! It reminds me of the days of the air raids. I can tell you I saw a lot of accidents back then. Where was the shooting? You want to know that?" "right." "Just leaning on the mantel-piece, praying to God that someone would give me a drink right now," replied Miss Hinchcliff, without thinking. "Do you think the bullets were fired indiscriminately or on purpose?" "You mean shoot Litty Blacklock? How do I know that? It's hard to make sense of the impression or understand what really happened after all this happened. All I know is that all the lights went out and the flashlight was on us." Dangling around, blinding us, and then firing, I was thinking, 'If that damn Patrick Simmons was joking with a loaded revolver, somebody's going to get hurt. '" "You thought Patrick Simmons did it?" "Well, it seems possible. Edmund Swettenham has sense and writes books and doesn't bother playing practical jokes. Old Colonel Easterbrook wouldn't find such a thing amusing. But Patrick's a wild boy. I have to apologize to him for the thought, though." "Do your friends think it might be Patrick, too?" "Mergatroyd? You'd better ask her yourself. Not that you'll get anything out of her. She is in the orchard.If you like, I'll call her here right away. " Miss Hinchcliffe shouted vigorously, "Hey!" "Hi, Murgar Troyd..." "Come on..." There was a small reply. "Come on—the police," choked Miss Hinchcliffe. Miss Murgatroyd came running, panting.The dress she had lifted was down now, and her hair flowed out of the too-small hairnet.Her round, kind face was radiant. "From Scotland Yard?" she asked breathlessly. "I don't know. Otherwise I shouldn't have left home." "We haven't called for Scotland Yard yet, Miss Murgatroyd. I'm the Inspector from Milchester." "Oh, I'm sure that's all very well," said Miss Troyd vaguely, "Have you found any clues?" "Where were you when it happened is all he wants to know, Murgar Troyd," said Miss Hinchcliffe, winking at Craddock. "Oh, my God," said Miss Murgatroyd, breathlessly, "of course I should have been prepared, of course an alibi. Wait, let me see, I'm with you guys. " "You're not with me," said Miss Hinchcliffe. "Oh my God, Hinch, yes? Of course not, I've been admiring the chrysanthemums. Really poor species.And then it happened -- I just didn't really know it happened -- I mean I didn't know it was going to happen.It never occurred to me that the revolver could be real—everything was so awkward in the dark, and that horrible scream.I was wrong at the time, you know.I thought she was being murdered—I mean the refugee girl.I thought she had her throat cut somewhere across the hall.I didn't know it was him—I mean, I didn't even know there was a man.There was just a voice, you know, saying 'hands up please'. " "'Hands up!'" corrected Miss Hinchcliffe, "no 'please' at all." "I was actually enjoying myself until the girl started screaming, and it's horrible to think about it now. Just being in the dark and feeling hurt, and being in pain. What more do you want to know, Inspector?" "No," said Inspector Craddock, looking thoughtfully at Miss Murgatroyd, "I do not think so." Her friend burst into a short laugh. "He put you in the trap, Murgatroyd." "I believe, Hinch," said Miss Murgatroit, "I'd say anything if I knew." "That's not what he wanted," said Miss Hinchcliffe. She looked at the superintendent: "If you are looking for someone to ask by the location of your home, I think you want my next one to be a pastor. You can learn something from there. Harmon looks stupid in her big way--but I sometimes think she has a lot of brains.Anyway, she knows something. " They watched the Superintendent and Sergeant Fletcher stride away when suddenly Amy Murgatroyd, out of breath, said, "Oh, Hinch, am I doing badly? I'm so flustered." !" "Not at all," said Miss Hinchcliff, smiling. "On the whole, I must say you have done a very good job." 6 Inspector Craddock looked around the old old house with a feeling of comfort.The house reminded him vaguely of his home in Cumberland.Faded calico, big worn chairs, flowers and books piled here and there, a long-haired lop dog in a basket.Mrs. Harmon's excited look, her slovenliness, her impatient face, made him feel sympathy and a sense of déjà vu. But she cut straight to the point and said, "I can't be of much help to you. Because I closed my eyes at the time.I hate being dizzy.Then the gunshots rang out, and I closed my eyes even tighter.I wished, sniff, wished it was silent murder.I don't like ping pong pong. " "Then you didn't see anything." The Inspector smiled at her, "but you heard"""Oh, my God, yes, you heard a lot. Doors opening and closing, people talking silly things and gasping and old Mickey screaming like a siren--poor Bonnie screaming like a hare in a trap. Everybody shoves and you trips me and I trips you. But can't wait When there was a banging gun, I opened my eyes. At that time, others took the candle to the hall. Later, the lights were on, and suddenly everything was the same as usual. People are normal again, not people in the dark anymore. People in the dark are very different, aren't they?" "I think I understand what you mean, Mrs. Harmon." Mrs. Harmon smiled at him. "There he is," she said, "a mean foreigner--pink-faced, surprised-looking--on the ground, dead--with a revolver by his side. Almost--oh, anyway It doesn't seem to make sense." The inspector couldn't understand the reasoning either. The whole thing worried him.